By Anayo Okoli
SENATOR Joy Emodi’s quest to return to the Senate representing Anambra North Senatorial District is getting the approval of critical stakeholders in her constituency if recent waves of endorsements were anything to go by.

Two groups, Congress of Anambra North People and Anambra North Youth Forum have commended the traditional rulers from Anambra North Senatorial Zone who last week endorsed  Senator Joy Emodi’s bid to return to the Senate next year to represent the zone.

Rising from a meeting, the monarchs said they would mobilise their subjects  announced the and ensure that Emodi wins next year’s election to represent the zone. They said that they were satisfied with her achievement when she held forth for the zone in the Senate before her election was annulled by the court.

In separate statements, the two groups lauded the traditional rulers for their courage in saying the truth regarding Emodi’s performance.

The youth forum noted that coming from the royal fathers who were truly grassroots people, the assessment of Emodi which led to her endorsement was “correct, authentic and genuine.”

Hon. C.Y. Okafor, Chairmanof Anambra North Youth Forum said: “We have always seen our traditional rulers as the bastion of truth, wisdom and peace. They hardly speak on certain issues, especially political issues, but when they speak, then we know that the truth and nothing but the truth has been spoken.

“For the royal fathers to sincerely access and subsequently endorse Senator Joy Emodi for the 2011 elections to represent Anambra North and complete things she left half way before she left the Senate on the orders of the Court of Appeal, means that the traditional rulers mean well for the zone and its people.

“There is no doubt that their assessment of Emodi’s support flows with the thinking of the generality of the people of the zone, especially the widows and youths who have benefitted immensely from her milk of human kindness. We have no option than to salute the royal fathers and toe their line in endorsing Senator Joy Emodi to return to the Senate come April 2011 and continue her good work for the zone”,

On its own, Congress of Anambra North People said: “Going by the calibre of traditional rulers we have in  this zone, there is no gainsaying the fact that the truth has manifested in the assessment of Senator Emodi’s performance which led the Igwes to endorse her for 2011 to represent the zone again. Our Igwes in the zone are very apolitical and they say things exactly the way they see them. We therefore associate ourselves with their position and commend them for the courage and sincerity to speak for their people.

“The Congress therefore calls on our people to hearken to the voice of the royal fathers and participate in  the coming voter registration exercise which will enable them vote in Senator Emodi to go back to the Senate and fight once more for their good”, Engr. Ifeanyi Onwuteka, leader of the Congress said.

In announcing the endorsement of Senator Emodi, the Chairman of Anambra North Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Nzekwe Kelly, noted that the traditional rulers and their subjects regretted the absence of Emodi in the Senate because of her  contributions on the floor of the Senate andr the amenities she attracted to the zone.

“When Senator Emodi was in the Senate, we used to see her speak on the floor of the Senate frequently. We, the people of this zone know what she has attracted to Anambra North and the number of people that have benefitted from her empowerment programme and our people are very impressed and happy with her. We know that the Senate is a place for intelligent and experienced people like Senator Emodi who also know the terrain and our people will like to see her back there.

“We the traditional rulers have decided that no other person except you (Emodi) will go for us. Those who feel they have money let them prepare, those with power let them prepare, but we are strongly behind you. We are asking our people to be prepared to vote for her.

If you have problems securing the ticket of your party, inform us and we will assist because we are in good terms with Governor Peter Obi, we are friendly with your National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and the state Chairman, Kwentoh. We can go and meet them and get the ticket for you.

“If you hear that another person met with us, don’t panic, our support for you is total and we meant it. Just go and prepare for the election”, the traditional rulers said while making their position known to Emodi.