The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, has called on the people of Ebonyi State to support governorship candidates who have demonstrated commitment to the state’s development through investments, business ownership, and tax contributions.
In a statement issued on Sunday ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Omebeh argued that supporting a candidate with no meaningful investment in Ebonyi State would be akin to “a man selling the land he inherited from his ancestors to pay house rent in a city,” warning that such a decision could undermine the state’s long-term economic growth and prosperity.
Quoting an Igbo proverb, he said, “A man who sells the land he inherited from his ancestors to pay for house rent in a city certainly becomes homeless when his rent expires,” stressing that patriotism should be reflected not only in political ambition but also in tangible contributions to the socioeconomic development of one’s state.
The commissioner noted that the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996 was made possible through the sacrifices of the state’s founding fathers, who devoted decades of their time, intellect, and resources to the struggle for statehood.
He also highlighted the contributions of past governors, describing them as leaders who invested in Ebonyi before assuming office. According to him, the state’s first Executive Governor, Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu, served as a lecturer and Commissioner for Education before becoming governor, while Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi played a pivotal role as one of the state’s foremost founding fathers.
Omebeh further stated that former Governor Engr. David Nweze Umahi established several businesses in Abakaliki, including Brass Filling Station, Brass Construction Company, and Osborne La Palm Hotel, which he said created employment opportunities and contributed significantly to the state’s economic and infrastructural development.
Speaking on the current administration, the commissioner said Governor Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has continued the tradition of promoting indigenous investment through policies aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and the domestication of businesses in Ebonyi State.
According to him, Governor Nwifuru, who previously served as Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, strategically established his businesses and properties within the state, thereby creating jobs and encouraging other entrepreneurs to invest locally.
He maintained that the administration’s economic policies have strengthened commerce and industry while encouraging many Ebonyi entrepreneurs to relocate or expand their businesses to the state.
On the political climate, Omebeh said the Nwifuru administration remains committed to democratic principles, the rule of law, and a multiparty political system where opposition parties operate without intimidation.
He urged voters to place the state’s collective interest above political affiliations by electing leaders with a proven record of investing in Ebonyi’s economy.
According to the commissioner, wealthy individuals of Ebonyi origin who have chosen not to establish businesses or acquire property in the state lack the moral justification to seek the people’s mandate without first contributing to the state’s development.
He concluded by advising voters to carefully assess the commitment of governorship aspirants to Ebonyi’s growth, insisting that those seeking to lead the state should have demonstrated their faith in its future through visible investments and economic participation.
