The Ebonyi State Government has dismissed allegations made by former Special Assistant on Lands, Chief Emmanuel Igwe, describing his recent open letter on the state’s land administration as misleading, politically motivated and riddled with distortions.
In a press statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, Dr. Monday Uzor, the government said Igwe’s claims were an attempt to misrepresent the administration’s land policies and undermine the governor’s commitment to transparency and the rule of law.
The government noted that although it would ordinarily ignore what it described as a politically motivated publication, it considered it necessary to respond in order to prevent “falsehood from assuming the toga of truth.
“According to the statement, Igwe served as Special Assistant on Lands under the immediate past administration and played a key role in land administration during that period. It questioned his decision to criticize policies in which he was directly involved.
“If, by his own admission, there were irregularities in land allocations and management, where was Emmanuel Igwe when those decisions were conceived, defended and implemented?” the statement asked.
The government defended its decision to review some previous land allocations, particularly those involving lands belonging to the Ebonyi State University, insisting that the reviews were carried out in the public interest.
It argued that any allocation of university land for private development deserved to be reassessed by a responsible government committed to protecting educational institutions and public assets.
The statement stressed that reviewing previous allocations should not be interpreted as persecution or political revenge but as a lawful exercise aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and compliance with established procedures.
The government also rejected claims that Governor Nwifuru was involved in land grabbing, describing the allegation as reckless and unfounded. It maintained that every decision taken by the administration is guided by due process, legal advice and the overriding public interest.
Responding to Igwe’s reference to laws enacted during Governor Nwifuru’s tenure as Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, the government said legislation provides the framework for governance but does not prevent lawful reviews of administrative decisions where necessary.
On the claim that investors were leaving Ebonyi State, the government described the assertion as baseless, insisting that investor confidence in the state continues to grow due to ongoing investments in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, security, urban renewal, human capital development and industrialisation under the People’s Charter of Needs agenda.
The statement further maintained that the administration remains focused on delivering good governance despite political criticism.
It added that while democracy encourages constructive criticism, such criticism must be based on facts rather than what it described as half-truths, contradictions and deliberate omissions.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to justice, fairness, transparency and the rule of law, the government assured legitimate investors of continued protection while pledging to safeguard public assets for the benefit of present and future generations.
The statement concluded that no amount of political pressure or revision of history would distract Governor Nwifuru from fulfilling the mandate entrusted to him by the people of Ebonyi State.
