Ebonyi Monarchs Endorse Buhari For Second Term
By Joyce Aroh Abakaliki
Over 140 members of the Ebonyi Council of Traditional Rulers have endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari re-election in the February 16th Presidential general elections.
The Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Charles Mkpuma, who represented others said the endorsement of Buhari’s reelection bid was due to the cordial relationship he has with the governor, David Umahi.
Mkpuma stated this Wednesday when the President paid a courtesy visit to Ebonyi State Government House in Abakaliki during his campaign tour of the state.
Mkpuma who commended Buhari’s determination to tackle the security situation of the country with reference to the fight at eliminating Boko Haram terrorists and fight against corruption.
He said, “We appreciate your dogged determination to maintain utmost security of the country especially your effort in eliminating Boko Haram and fight against corruption which has brought respect and integrity to the country among committee of nations.
“We believe that your robust relationship with our son the governor and your loved for him and the state will surely earn you and only you, votes in Ebonyi state irrespective of party differences.”
Mkpuma, stated the traditional rulers are happy with the leadership of the governor, David Umahi, who has virtually touched every facets of human and infrastructural development of the state, adding “we the traditional rulers like other residents of the state have been rejuvenated and revived by the governor.
He told the President that Umahi deserves a second term for the sake of equity as the two former governors before him from other zones also had two tenures.
“Since the inception of the present democratic dispensation, Ebonyi state has operated rotation of the governorship seat among the three senatorial zones. Thus North had eight years with the same man, central had two terms with same man and south is entitled to eight years with the same man.
The monarchs later presented 1,000 yams and 1,000 bags to Buhari.
However, the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi in his remarks said that the south east have benefited from federal government projects while also the federal government’s agricultural programme have benefited the state immensely which has resulted in increase in rice production.
“We have also benefited very much from your agricultural programme and we have comparative advantage in agriculture and solid minerals and we are grateful for the support in this area from you. Our people may be complaining about appointment but I keep saying that you are a listening president and you are still coming. The relation with the state and the way you have taken me as your son, we are grateful”, Umahi said.
President Buhari, on his part commended the governor for infrastructural development in the state.
He promised that monies spent on the completion of the federal projects will be refunded after the review committee headed by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, would have audited the project.
President Buhari also told the traditional rulers that his administration’s plans to invest in agriculture was deliberate, recalling that the First Republic was good in agriculture, because the land was abundant and grazing routes developed.
“But subsequently we got drunk with oil money and abandoned what kept us intact. But we are going back to that (agriculture).”
He assured the monarchs that the south east will benefit from second Niger Bridge when completed and it will affect you positively in moving goods and services.
He urged them that his second return will be of benefit to them as he will not be seeking a third return.