The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Special Duties and Focal Person of the Ebonyi State Diaspora Office, Rt. Hon. Barr. Valentine Okike-Uzo, has defended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru against what he described as attempts by political actors to claim credit for the governor’s emergence and future electoral success.
In a statement titled “Enemies Within, the Height of Hypocrisy,” Okike-Uzo maintained that Governor Nwifuru’s political journey and leadership are rooted in divine providence, the support of the people of Ebonyi State, and his administration’s performance in office rather than the influence of any individual or group.
According to the commissioner, Governor Nwifuru, who hails from the royal family of His Royal Highness Eze Nwifuru Nwankpu of Oferekpe Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area, rose to prominence through hard work, discipline, courage, and determination despite humble beginnings.
He recalled that shortly after assuming office, Governor Nwifuru convened an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, where participants developed the People’s Charter of Needs, a policy document that has since guided the administration’s programmes and projects across the state.
Okike-Uzo stated that the charter reflects the aspirations of Ebonyi people and has shaped the government’s interventions in critical sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, housing, education, water resources, diaspora engagement, and human capital development.
He argued that the governor’s performance has earned him widespread acceptance across the state, expressing confidence that the people would overwhelmingly support both Governor Nwifuru and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Highlighting the administration’s achievements in education, the commissioner said the state government sponsored 300 Ebonyi students to universities in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States on scholarship.
According to him, more than 70 percent of the beneficiaries graduated with distinctions, prompting the government to approve their enrolment into Ph.D. programmes. He noted that many of the beneficiaries came from less privileged backgrounds and would otherwise have been unable to afford overseas education.
He also disclosed that the state currently sponsors about 1,000 students on scholarships, comprising 300 studying abroad and 700 enrolled in Nigerian universities, adding that the beneficiaries were selected strictly on merit.
The commissioner further commended Governor Nwifuru’s humanitarian interventions, saying the administration has quietly supported numerous residents with serious health challenges without seeking publicity.
He also highlighted the governor’s efforts in completing inherited projects dating back to the state’s creation, settling pension and gratuity arrears owed to retired civil servants and local government workers, and establishing new tertiary institutions, including the University of ICT, Science and Technology and the Aerospace University.
On industrial development, Okike-Uzo said the administration revived the Ebonyi Pipe Production Industry, which now manufactures construction pipes supplied within and outside the state. He added that plans are underway to establish a cement factory to harness Ebonyi’s abundant limestone deposits.
The commissioner also praised the government’s peace-building initiatives, noting that 140 housing units were constructed for victims displaced by communal crises, enabling many affected families to return home and rebuild their lives.
He described Governor Nwifuru as an inclusive leader who has united stakeholders across political and social divides while governing without discrimination or favouritism.
Responding to what he termed “enemies within” the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Okike-Uzo accused some members of secretly supporting opposition parties despite publicly identifying with the APC. He warned that such actions would ultimately be exposed by the electorate.
The commissioner reaffirmed Ebonyi State’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commended the cordial relationship between the President and Governor Nwifuru, expressing confidence that the state’s electorate would reward both leaders with victory at the polls in 2027.
He concluded by insisting that Governor Nwifuru’s emergence was in accordance with God’s will and urged political actors not to claim exclusive credit for his rise to power, stressing that the governor remains grateful to the people of Ebonyi State for entrusting him with leadership.
