Politics

Imo guber: Monarch urges voters to exercise franchise, ignore security scare

Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Imo, a traditional ruler in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the State, HRH Eze Dr Oliver Ohanwe has advised eligible voters to ignore security scare and come out en masse and exercise their franchise by electing a leader of their choice.

His advice is coming as preparations for the November 11 Governorship election in Imo State continue to gather momentum.

The Vice President- South East Supreme Traditional Rulers Council regretted that some criminal elements from neighbouring states acting out scripts of their sponsors had continued to infiltrate some communities and hold indigenes of such hapless communities to ransom with intimidation, harassment, coercion and outright conscription into their devilish gang.

Eze Ohanwe while warning those fanning embers of war and violence and have lost relevance in all contemporary societies socio formation to be ignored, he described periodic elections from one democratic dispensation to another to be as the life wire of civil societies.

The traditional ruler who spoke to newsmen at his private residence in Owerri on Monday said that if a particular zone, ward, or booth is not allowed to go and vote, you are either wittingly or unwittingly giving somebody an opportunity to win the election and the person might be the wrong person.

The monarch, however, cautioned security agencies to shun overzealousness and unnecessary anxiety while monitoring the polls, stressing that utmost demonstration of civility and courtesy would encourage and motivate the people to exercise their civic responsibility.

“All should come out and vote and it is the duty of the security personnel to protect lives in a manner that is civil and which would usher in a level playing field for all participating political parties and their candidates”.
It is also incumbent on both the local and international observers to give the state a positive image”.

Eze Ohanwe who is also the chairman of the Okigwe Global Leadership Forum and a member of the founding fathers of the Imo Charter of Equity charged those who truncated the charter to reinstate it for equity, justice and fairness among the three (3) zones in of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe.

He said: “I am one of those who set up the Imo charter of equity and if it is reintroduced, the state will be like Enugu and Ebonyi that have since embraced it, reduce insecurity and political expenses”.

He lauded Governor Hope Uzodinma for his intimidating achievements noting that a vote for his second tenure would take the state to greater heights in growth and development.

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