Political Parties fielding candidates for elective positions in the
forthcoming general elections have been asked to address issues of
basic concern to the country including poverty, social justice, equal opportunities, the nation’s economy, security of lives and
properties and corruption.
South East Traditional Rulers made this unanimous call at the
bi-annual delegates meeting of the South East Council of Traditional
Rulers, SECTR, held at the government house Awka, Anambra state.
The meeting which was an interactive section attracted forty delegates of the Traditional Rulers from the five states of the South East geopolitical zone namely Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi states, providing them the opportunity to rob minds and proffer
solutions to challenges facing them as traditional monarchs in their various states, as well as custodians of the Igbo cultural heritage.
The Traditional Rulers urged political parties to commit to a free, fair, transparent and peaceful electoral process in line with democratic norms and practices, including the acceptance of the outcomes in good faith without rancour or violence before, during and after the elections for the interest of all.
They called for mutual respect and harmony to be forged among the
various Igbo organizations and forums, and urged Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo as
the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization to engender a united front
and common purpose among the various pan-Igbo organizations as basis for effective engagement with other ethnic national organizations in
the quest to building a strong and united country that would guarantee
equal basic human rights to all Nigerians.
The group deplored the activities of the self-styled “Eze Ndi-Igbo” outside Igbo land, in tertiary institutions, and some churches who trivialize Igbo traditions by arrogating to themselves the titles, office, paraphernalia of traditional royalty, and canvassed for greater attention to the development and common usage of Igbo language, as well as the teaching of Igbo history and culture in schools as means of upholding and promoting the Igbo heritage.
In his speech , the Chairman of the SECTR, and the traditional ruler of
Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, encouraged members of the Union to
always work for the collective goal and aspirations of the body and the entire Igbo land.
On his part, the first Vice Chairman of the Group, and Chairman of
Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Mkpuma charged Traditional Rulers in the zone to hold their positions in high esteem to avoid acts that could drag Igbo monarchy to the mud.
In their remarks, the second Vice Chairman of the group, Igwe Lawrence
Agubuzu, and Secretary of the Association Eze Agunwa Ohiri stressed the need for traditional rulers to be mindful of their primary responsibility of sustianing peaceful coexistence and protection of cultural heritage of the land.
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