The Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council, Ezeogo Charles Mkpuma, has pronounced curses on his colleagues who would want to betray their collective undertaking to support Governor David Umahi during March 9 governorship election.
Mkpuma who is also the paramount ruler of Ezzama Kingdom in Ezza South Local Government Area of the State, also berated his colleagues for the low turnout of voters during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls.
The chairman expressed his feelings on Thursday at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre during a meeting of Governor Umahi with traditional rulers, representatives of farmer groups, government empowerment beneficiaries, head teachers and principals of selected schools and other agriculture stakeholders
He corroborated Umahi’s remark that some traditional fathers’ failure to diligently discharge their earlier agreement was responsible for the poor turnout of voters and cautioned against a repeat of the scenario.
The Chairman further alleged that some of their members still received money from some political parties in the State against their earlier resolve, thereby mortgaging their consciences.
He decreed that anyone who would flout the agreement and continue to engage in such anti-corporate act would incur chaos and betrayal for himself and his generation.
Mkpuma said: “Your Excellency, what you have said is the truth.
“When we started, I warned my colleagues never to double deal by accepting money from multiple political parties but some of them went ahead to do so.
“Their failure to abide by our initial agreement made them to loose focus, thereby failing to do the needful and that accounted for what was experienced.
“But I want to stress that anyone among us who betrays our collective decision to throw out weight behind the Governor in Saturday’s election, betrayal and crises will follow him up to his children….”
While addressing the gathering earlier, Umahi had expressed concern over the low turnout of Voters in Saturday’s elections, indicating that the traditional rulers in the State did not mobilize their people adequately.
Maintaining that traditional rulers were the rudiments of the grassroots, Umahi urged them to be alive to their duties.
He described as sad that out of over 1.3 million registered voters in the State, less than 600,000 voters turned up at the polling centres across the State, a development he said should not be allowed to repeat itself.
Umahi, who said his return ticket should be seen by all well meaning Ebinyians as a priority, stressed that voting for him was the only guarantee to completing the numerous ongoing developmental projects scattered across the State, including the Industrial Clusters in each of the senatorial districts of the State.
The Governor, who, however, expressed optimism that he would win the election, added: “It is not as if I am not going to win, but I want 95 per cent win.”
He urged the traditional rulers, town union presidents, farmers’ groups, government empowerment beneficiaries and other stakeholders who attended the meeting to make best use of their permanent voter cards to usher in a government that would continue to address their individual and community needs.
Representatives of the various groups appreciated the Governor for his inclusive administrative style and pledged to deploy their arsenals towards the Governor’s success at the polls.
Trending
- Queues: NNPC says cause of tightness in fuel supply resolved
- LG polls: Oyo declares Friday half working day
- Ondo 2024: Ajayi emerges PDP governorship candidate
- ‘Dey play,’ Nigerians mock prophet who claims world ends today
- Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Demolition for first 3km begins Saturday
- Court subpoenas Lagos prison controller over disobedience to order
- Ondo poll: You’ll be successful tomorrow, Ganduje tells Jimoh Ibrahim, others
- Court sets aside arrest warrant against Fubara’s Chief of Staff