By Tony Adibe
The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers has advised its subjects and all residents of the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria to ignore any sit-at-home order and go out to vote massively for their preferred candidates.
The advice was contained in a communiqué issued on Saturday at the end of the first 2023 Executive Committee Meeting of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers (SECTR) held in the Old Eastern Nigeria House of Chiefs in Enugu on February 15.
The communiqué said that the meeting deliberated on the role of traditional institution in ensuring peace and security in South-East particularly in the run-up to the General Elections; and took the following decisions: “First, the Royal Fathers called on the people of the South-East to go out en masse to vote for their preferred candidates during the elections and to ignore any order for sit-at-home.
“Second, the Council appealed to the security agencies to create a conducive and safe environment for the General Elections, while calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act professionally and patriotically.
“Third, the killings and destruction of property in Southeastern Region and across the country are condemned in strong terms by the Council. Fourth, the Council called on all Traditional Rulers to take control of their various domains during this upcoming election for peaceful, free and credible elections to take place.”
The communiqué was jointly signed by Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, Chairman, South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers as well as Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers.
It was also signed by Eze Joseph Nwabeke, the Ezeamara of Eziama Ntigha, and Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers. The meeting was attended by these three revered Royal Fathers and other members of the Executive Committee of the Council.
