By Tony Edike
ENUGU—TRADITIONAL rulers in Enugu State have resolved to intervene in the lingering political conflict between Governor Sullivan Chime and the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, with a view to restoring peace in the state.

The royal fathers have already sent two delegations to Chime and Nwodo to formally invite them to a peace meeting slated for the palace of Igwe Charles Abangwu of Ehalumona Nsukka, just as they appealed to the warring parties to close ranks, join forces and work for the good of the state.

Traditional ruler of Obimo Nsukka, Igwe Spencer Ugwuoke, who made this known while briefing reporters on the political crisis in Enugu yesterday, said the royal fathers from the three senatorial zones of the state met under the umbrella of Enugu State Development Association, ESDA, recently and resolved to wade into the face-off between the governor and the PDP national chairman in order to resolve the dispute without further delay.

According to him, the royal fathers are not happy with the recent political development  which has torn the state PDP stakeholders apart.  He added that the people of Nsukka zone (Enugu North senatorial zone) were more disturbed because “this is the first time two sons of the zone (Nwodo and Vita Abba) are occupying the exalted positions of PDP national chairman and state chairman.”

“We recently met at the palace of Igwe Charles Abangwu who is also Chairman of ESDA on the political crisis and we have sent delegations to both Governor Chime and Dr. Nwodo inviting them to a dialogue because we believe that if there is crisis anywhere somebody must settle it, and as traditional rulers we have a role to reconcile them. The traditional rulers in the three senatorial zones of the state are involved in this peace effort and we believe that the warring parties would embrace this peace move,” Ugwuoke said.

He noted that there was a “feeling of tension and unease in the political space of the state which could spill over to the everyday lives of the citizens”, explaining that the royal fathers who are expected to be non-partisan, have therefore seen the need to mediate in the interest of their subjects.

“We are still not partisan but we are however very much interested in the lives and activities of all our sons and daughters, including their political activities.  Indeed it is a duty we owe our sons and daughters to give them frank advice at all times, in a bid to ensure that they work together for the good of all,” the royal father said.

While applauding Governor Chime and Dr Nwodo for successfully discharging their respective functions as governor and PDP leader, Igwe Ugwuoke, however, said that it was painful and regrettable that “there appears to be some discord and bifurcation of ideas between the two sons of the state who had worked together as a team.

He said: “Why then should these two gentlemen who still have a hurdle to cross together outside their party during the general elections, not work together to ensure their collective success is mind-boggling and for those of us on the side-lines it is incomprehensible.

“I personally suspect the feud is being fuelled by their respective lieutenants especially those who may have considered themselves on the sidelines and perceived an opportunity to re-enter political mainstream under a guise.

“To be specific we decry and do not encourage those who resort to unwholesome practices, alien to our culture, such as a mock burial, of any persons no matter the seeming provocation.  Everybody must learn to disagree in a dignified manner.  Dialogue should continue to be the watchword.  It is the technique we traditional rulers employ in the settlement of seemingly intractable disputes which we have to adjudicate upon from time to time and we ask all to imbibe this method.”

Igwe Ugwuoke further decried the attitude of those he described as pretenders to the leadership of Nsukka Cultural Zone but who in actual fact are opposed to the actualization of Adada State to desist from distracting Governor Chime from his avowed commitment to the realization of the desire of Nsukka people for the creation of Adada State.

“Chime is the first governor to openly identify with us and set up a publicly funded agency specifically for the realization of the dreams for Adada State.  To come to distract him now from this objective is the greatest harm anybody can do to the people of Adada state.  We condemn the distraction unequivocally and call on those doing so to desist from it,” he said.