From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The people of Mburubu kingdom in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State have presented their choice candidate to ascend the traditional rulership of the kingdom to government.
The nominee, Chief Patrick Onuokaibe was presented to the chairman of the local government, Okechukwu Edeh by the President, Mburubu General Assembly, Chief Chijioke Nwachukwu.
Nwachukwu while presenting the nominee said that he had exhibited notable qualities which stood him out in the kingdom, hence the decision of the people to select him as their monarch.
“I come in the name of the entire Mburubu General Assembly. I have come to present Chief Ozo Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe to you as our nominee. Here are documents including the minutes of our last meeting where we all agreed that Ozo Jerry will be our traditional ruler. That is why we are here today.
A community leader, Edwin Onueze, who also spoke at the event which was held at the local government headquarters, said that over 80 per cent of Mburubu people were behind the nominee and would love to have him as their traditional head.
“We are representatives of all the people of Mburumbu who have signed these documents and who are in support of the choice of Ozo Jerry. For over one year now, our traditional ruler died and we have been without a ruler and without a town union.
“This has affected us a lot. In search of a solution, we decided to nominate a traditional ruler in accordance with the tradition of Mburubu. We all agreed that the person who can do this is Jerry Onuokaibe. This owing to his philanthropic nature and his interventions in our community.
“We are pleading with the government to help us. When the entire community has done it like this, it is as good as done already. There may be opposition but that will not stop the will of the majority of Ndi Mburubu.
Reacting, the Secretary to the Local Government who represented the chairman said that the candidate was well received and that documents presented by the delegation would be transmitted to the state government which has the authority to issue certificates of recognition and staff of office to candidates.
“You have started the process of selecting your traditional ruler. You know that it is either by selection or election depending on the constitution of the community. Since you have made the selection and have forwarded it to this local government for onward transmission to the state government.
“As we are receiving these documents, we will do the needful and send them to the state government which has the duty to issue a staff of office to traditional rulers.”
Mburubu kingdom has been without a traditional ruler since January 2022 when the community lost Igwe Emmanuel Eze who was widely regarded as the longest serving traditional ruler in the South East to the cold hands of death.