ACA to A’Ibom Monarchs: Learn from Ijebu Monarch, stop questionable endorsement

Traditional Rulers in Akwa Ibom State   have been urged to learn from the Awujale of Ijebu Land and stop questionable and “chop money” endorsements of candidates for elections.

The Akwa Ibom Change Ambassadors (ACA), a frontline socio-political group whose members cut across PDP, APC, APGA, Labour, Accord and other political parties in the country who desire a change in the socio-economic and socio-political situation of the state, made this known at the weekend following the Awujale’s speech while receiving President Goodluck Jonathan in Ijebu-Ode recently.

According to ACA, the Awujale had told the President: “In Ijebu here, it is not possible for any Oba, not even in Ijebu, in Yorubaland to go out and say vote for this, vote for that. That person is looking for trouble. But they should give them the opportunity to present their programmes, so that the people can make up their minds on what to do.”

The group went further to say “the Awujale also told the President that ‘all the Chiefs congregating here, they belong to different groups. They are Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) members, All Progressive Congress (APC) members and from All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).They belong to various interestS and when they get to the gate (of the Palace), they shed their togas. PDP will remove their PDP. APC will remove their own and APGA will remove their own.”

Speaking in Uyo, the group’s National Coordinator, Ofon Udoh, said “the reverse is the case in Akwa Ibom State where Traditional Rulers are ‘forced’ to adopt candidates by Governor Godswill Akpabio. No wonder the President will go to the Awujale’s palace, the Oba of Benin’s palace, Emirs’ palaces but will never visit an Edidem. Rather, traditional rulers in the state are made to leave their palaces as early as 7.a.m to wait either at Airports or in meeting rooms for the President, who most times is made to shun them by security forces.”

“It is time our traditional fathers learnt that they are custodians of our lands and natural rulers and command due respect. It is the people who will vote, not their bogus endorsements that cannot help in any way,” the group, which is canvassing support for the APC standard bearer in the state, Obong Umana Umana, said.