The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has accused Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, of allegedly deceiving the Ezza clan with promises of a power shift in 2031 in a bid to secure political support for the 2027 governorship election.
The position was contained in a statement signed by the President of AEISCID Worldwide, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, and released on Tuesday, in reaction to an endorsement rally organised by the Ezza Elders Council in Onueke and a counter press conference held by the Umuekumenyi Leaders Council in Abakaliki.
The group said Ebonyi State had become a major subject of political discussions as activities ahead of the 2027 general election continued to gather momentum.
“We, the leadership and members of the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID), have observed with honest concern the so-called rally recently organized at the Onueke Township Stadium in Ezza South Local Government Area by Ezza nation worldwide led by the Ezza Elders Council.
“Similarly, we have also followed through a World Press Conference organized by the Umuekumenyi Leaders Council,” the statement read.
AEISCID questioned Governor Nwifuru’s absence from the endorsement rally where he was endorsed for a second term, arguing that his decision to send his deputy, Patricia Obila, instead of attending personally raised doubts about his commitment to the Ezza people.
“That the absence of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru—a prime beneficiary who rather preferred to send his Deputy, Princess Patricia Obila, to represent him at the occasion of his endorsement for a second term in office by the great people of Ezza Ezekuna worldwide does not only paint a dangerous negative picture of utter negligence of the great Ezza clan but also casts a strong shadow of doubt on the sincerity of his alleged avowals to hand over power to the populous Ezza-Ezekuna clan after his possible second term in 2031.
“For us, nothing would have been more reassuring for the great people of Ezza Ezekuna than a physical presence at the so-called second term endorsement rally at Onueke and a consequent public promise to hand over power to an Ezza man in 2031,” the group said.
The diaspora group also declared support for the position taken by the Umuekumenyi Leaders Council, which endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
“Consequent upon the endorsement of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Umuekumenyi Leaders Council for the 2027 Governorship election in Ebonyi State, we align ourselves completely with the leaders of Umuekumenyi and commend them for their erudite wisdom and daunting courage to arrive at the decision to rescue Ebonyi State from the trenches of lackluster governance and developmental backwardness.
“It is now unarguable that Ebonyi has severely retrogressed in the past three years of Nwifuru’s ruinous reign without any tangible completed government project commissioned by his administration.
“We agree entirely with the position of Umuekumenyi Leaders Council that Ebonyi has been reduced to an experimental residue or trial and error programming under the current leadership of Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru—a man whom we had alerted Ebonyi people well ahead of time in the 2023 elections that he lacked the requisite capacity and competence to govern the State.
“There are therefore no surprises to keen observers that no serious business of impactful governance has taken place in Ebonyi except the looting and diversions of public funds by Nwifuru and his large coterie of expansively extended family members, ravenous aides, friends, allies and associates as alleged in several quarters.”
AEISCID pointed to the Vanco flyover and tunnel project as evidence of what it described as poor performance by the administration.
“The fact that the only signature project embarked upon by the Nwifuru administration—the Vanco flyover and tunnel—not only remains uncompleted but literally abandoned like a pool of Bethsaida speaks volumes about how much the Nwifuru administration has abandoned the serious business of governance for mere frivolities,” the statement said.
The group further argued that the governor’s alleged promise to hand power to Ezza people in 2031 should not be trusted.
“As a matter of fact, AEISCID reiterates its earlier call on the great people of Ezekuna never to be deceived by the promise that they would be handed power in 2031 after another term by Nwifuru.
“Not only can we argue that he lacks the requisite capacity to do so, hence he tactically dodged any opportunity to make a public pronouncement to that effect at our Onueke ancestral home during his so-called second term endorsement rally, we also can reassert that power, all over the world and since the history of Ebonyi State’s creation and the return of democracy, has always been taken and not given.
“Ezzas should therefore shine their eyes and vie to gain power like the rest of the State. They are not in any way lesser than the rest of Ebonyians in every facet of life.”
AEISCID also condemned what it described as threats against opposition figures by the governor.
“Finally, we condemn the resort to threats and violence on opposition by Gov. Nwifuru made during his speech at a recent rally for the endorsement of himself and the President for a second term in office at the Abakaliki Township Stadium.
“We beckon on President Bola Tinubu to please call his party’s loyalist to order as our people cannot be cowed by threats of violence. Democracy grants everyone the right and freedom to contest for any position and under no circumstances should the people face threats for exercising their franchise,” the statement added.
