The Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers has presented ‘Ofo’, a traditional symbol of authority, to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Peter Mbah.

The traditional rulers also jointly prayed for him at a consultative meeting between them and Mr Mbah’s campaign group on Wednesday in Enugu.

The chairman of the council, Lawrence Agubuzu, said Mr Mbah had demonstrated his “great respect” for the traditional institution by holding a consultative meeting with the members.

“By deciding to hold the consultative meeting, Mbah recognises that the bedrock of democracy is the people at the grassroots who are subjects of the traditional rulers,” Mr Agubuzu said.

He recalled a March 2022 meeting where the traditional rulers discussed the rotation of power to the Enugu East Senatorial District.

“The emergence of Hon. Peter Mbah as the gubernatorial candidate of PDP is in keeping with the rotational principle advocated in our earlier communique,” he said.

Mr Agubuzu also implored his colleagues to pray for his protection and to wish him success through “our joint presentation of ‘ofo’ to him”.

“As traditional rulers, we must remain absolutely non-partisan in politics while advising our subjects to vote wisely for leaders who would bring peace, security, development and prosperity to our state and country,” he said.

Responding, Mr Mbah expressed gratitude to the traditional rulers for the prayers and handing of the collective ‘ofo’ to him, adding, “the great value I attach to what you have done to me today cannot be lost by me”.

“My virtues will represent and symbolise what you have done today. If the Almighty God answers our prayers and I become your governor, I will not abandon you.

“What you have done shows what our ancestors in the state want, as you people are close to them, and you are the sole custodian of our culture and tradition,” he said.

Mr Mbah also assured the traditional rulers that he would run a people-focused and development-focused administration when elected, adding that he would continue on the trajectory of rural community development, “in which Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had excelled”.

The PDP candidate also appealed to the traditional rulers to take the message home to their subjects that they had found who would deliver their development message and give them peace and security as well.

(NAN)