ASABA MONARCH DISSOCIATES SELF FROM OJOUGBOH'S ADOPTION

Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien has dismissed as 'false and reckless'' the purported adoption of a Delta North senatorial aspirant, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, by traditional rulers in the district.

Distancing himself from the purported 'endorsement,' the Asagba said he was not a party to the adoption of any aspirant for any political position in the area.

Edozien told News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba, on Tuesday, that he was sure that none of his notable colleagues in the district was involved in the 'adoption'.

Some media organisations reported that traditional rulers from the district met at Obi of Issele-Uku's palace on Saturday and adopted Ojougboh as their aspirant for the senatorial primaries.

Ojougboh, a Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters and former member, House of Representatives is seeking the Peoples Democratic Party's ticket to contest election to the Senate in 2011.

The Asaba monarch described the media report as a 'reckless claim of some politicians with penchant for name-dropping.'

He also described it as an attempt to associate important personalities with their political campaigns without the consent of such persons.

Edozien, who spoke through the Secretary of Asaba Traditional Council, Chief John Iloba, said he was not aware that a meeting of the rulers was scheduled at Issele-Uku.

According to him, it must have been a political gathering.

He said that this was the era of high politicking which was often characterised by intrigues and 'all shades of funny things.'

According to him, the purported adoption of an aspirant by traditional rulers is one of such intriques.

He advised politicians, especially those with aspirations in the forthcoming elections to 'market' themselves responsibly to the electorate and not to drag traditional rulers into political controversies.

Enquires at the palace of the Obuzor of Ibusa, Prof. Louis Nwaoboshi by NAN on the issue revealed that the monarch was not aware of the Issele-Uku meeting and adoption of the senatorial aspirant.