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Traditional rulers in Enugu have said that they decided to intervene in the face-off between Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sen. Ayogu Eze of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the interest of the future generation.
The two political juggernauts have been locked in legal battle since after the March 9 governorship election in the state.
Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Lawrence Agubuzo, stated this yesterday in the state capital when he led a delegation of the paramount rulers to Eze’s residence to urge him to withdraw his petition at the election tribunal against Ugwuanyi.
He told reporters after a closed-door meeting with Eze that their decision was for the progress and development of Enugu, stressing that the state would benefit more should their sons in politics close ranks.
“We are here to represent the people of Enugu State generally and the traditional rulers in particular. We feel that at this juncture, we should appeal to our sons in politics to close ranks and work as one for the progress and prosperity of the state,” he said on behalf of the monarchs.
The royal father disclosed that they discussed extensively with the senator, asking him to honour them by agreeing to withdraw that petition.
“He is somebody we all know. He is our son. We love him and that is why we are appealing to him, that in the interest of not only the present generation, but the future generation of Enugu State, he should withdraw the petition.”
Sen. Eze described the intervention by the kings as the climax of it all.
The APC chieftain, who noted that he had received several groups of notable personalities on the same mission, added that the visit by the monarchs, who are “the custodians of our culture and tradition”, was really a mark of respect.
He added: “I am highly honoured by their presence. I want to assure them that their effort to bring peace shall not be in vain. I have told the chairman that within the next two days, I will revert to him.
“I have been consulting widely and I also need to talk to the leadership of my party on this visit, because this visit by traditional rulers is indeed a turning point. I have had visitations from other groups, but this is the height of it.”
Eze had filed a case before the election petitions tribunal over the conduct of the last governorship election in the state, in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ugwuanyi the winner.