By Enyim Enyim

ONITSHA—Traditional rulers in Anambra State, weekend endorsed the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Dr Andy Uba for the 6 February 2010, election, saying that he would give the people good governance when given the mandate again.

Uba who came into Anambra State for the first time since he picked the LP ticket, paid a courtesy visit on some of the royal fathers to get their blessings for the political battle ahead, just as he paid glowing tribute to the late wife of former Military Head of State, Mrs Maryam Babangida.

One of the traditional rulers, who spoke at the visit in his palace, Igwe Peter Anokwu of Mbaukwu, said though royal fathers were not allowed to play partisan politics, he and his community were solidly behind Uba in the governorship contest because he was sure of the goodies he (Uba) would attract to the state if given the mandate.

At the palace of the traditional of Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, Igwe Gibson Nwosu, Uba was also given a clean bill of health to go ahead with the governorship race,  promising that he (Nwosu) will personally campaign for him to ensure that he got victory in 2010.

“I am saying from the bottom of my heart, that if Dr Andy Uba was not in the election, there would be no election. I know where we are going to and we shall get there. We saw what he did when he was at the federal level. There was no body who got a federal appointment during his tenure, who got it without him,” he added.

Earlier, in his speech, Uba appealed to the traditional rulers to support him in the race,  promising to enhance their welfare when given the mandate.

Reacting to the death of former Head of State,  Babangida’s wife, Uba said it was with deepest shock and profound sadness that he received the news of the first lady’s death.

He said, “she will be most remembered as “the first lady who through her hope inspiring project, Better Life for Rural Women raised the profile of the Nigerian women, giving them vocation and exposure”.