As the 2023 Owerri zone senatorial elections draws near, traditional rulers in Owerri zone last week, announced their decision to endorse the All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo East Senatorial candidate, Prince Alex Mbata, as next Senator for Owerri zone
In this interview with some journalists in Owerri, Chairman, Owerri Zone Council of Traditional Rulers and Deputy Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze David Osuagwu Akujobi, unveiled reasons why Mbata was endorsed for the red chambers by the revered traditional rulers.
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Excerpts:
Q: May We Know you sir
Ans: I m HRH Eze David Osuagwu Akujobi, the Oshimmiri 2 of Awaka, Deputy Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chairman, Owerri Zone Council of Traditional Rulers.
Q: Among the array of political gladiators vying for Owerri Zone senate seat, whom does traditional rulers in the zone, find worthy for the red chambers of the Senate.
Thank you very much. The 2023 senatorial election in Owerri zone will be different, because we the traditional rulers in the zone, have taken a stand and decided on whom, we want to represent us in the Senate. And there are many reasons why we took our position.
We have witnessed so much disappointment from some of our representatives and we don’t want this to continue anymore. We have suffered enough because of this.
Also,we don’t our brothers who are contesting for the senate, to start undoing themselves because of the senatorial contest.As a result of this, we, the traditional rulers in Owerri zone, which I am the Chairman, resolved uniamoulsy that we settle for Prince Alex Mbata, as our choice for Senate.
We call Alex Mbata, Ogburuhuruzor (pathfinder). This is because he has done so many things for the people of Owerri zone. And soon, all the traditional rulers in Owerri zone would converge and confer this prestigious chieftaincy title on him because he deserves it.
Aside that, all the nine local governments in Owerrri zone- Oweri municipal, Owerri West, Owerri North, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru, Aboh Mbaise, Ahiaze Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ngor Okpala, have all benefitted from Mbata’s philantrophy. He has massively empowered our people.
He has used his personal funds to help the people of the zone. He has done so much. He has built roads. He has empowered many people and more importantly, we are looking for someone, who will help and assist our Governor in Owerri zone to ensure more dividends of democracy accrue to us.
We don’t want those who will go to the Senate to create problems for us, and we believe, that if Alex Mbata is elected to the Senate, he will certainly do more for the people of Owerri Zone
Are there those in your midst who disagreed with the choice of Alex Mbata as the next Senator for Owerri zone?
We all agreed that Prince Alex Mbata is our choice for the Senate. We equally know those who are contesting for the same seat, but we want someone who has already done so much for the people of the zone to represent us. Someone with a track record of performance. A performer.
Also, we want a good person to represent us. A man of honesty and sincerity. And we have found one in Prince Alex Mbata. Our endorsement of his aspiration is not a personal thing.
The traditional rulers in Owerri zone are impressed with his good works and we are solidly behind him.
What is your assessment of the rate of PVC Collection in Owerri zone?
Ans: We, the traditional rulers, had invited INEC to come here (Premises of Council of Ndi Eze), to come and register people and they did. They did a good job and we called on our people to come and collect their PVCs and many people complied.
What is your assessment of the current senator representing the zone in the Senate.?
I don’t know him. He is not known to us, the traditional rulers. And besides, God has ordained Alex Mbata as the next senator to represent Owerri zone. Like I said earlier, we are impressed with his qualities and it is not about money. If it is about money, Alex would still win the election.
Aside Senator Chris Anyanwu and Senator Sam Daddy Anyanwu, who had represented the zone in the past, we don’t know any other Senator.And as traditional rulers and custodians of the culture of our people, we say the truth. We don’t tell lies.The gods of Owerri zone are aware of our position. And they are in support with our choice.