By Magnus Aluma
A socio-cultural organisation, Ezza Ezekuna Development Association (EEDA), has said that the governorship seat in Ebonyi State must remain in the Northern Senatorial District of the state till the 2031 general elections.
The Asssociation told a press conference on Thursday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, that for justice, fairness, equity and political stability, governor Nwifuru has to be voted for a second tenure.
National President of the Association, Chief Kingsley Akam, the Secretary, Comrade Uchechukwu Edeh, and a member of the association, Prof. Chike Onwe, said the Association aligns itself with the already established zoning formula governing political succession in the state.
The Association insisted that Ebonyi North senatorial zone must be allowed to complete its own two tenures of the governorship seat as done by other two senatorial zones.
“The Ezza Ezekuna Development Association believes firmly in justice, fairness, equity and political stability.
“These are not abstract values to be invoked in ceremony and abandoned in practice,” the group said.
The group further said, “this is the principles upon which durable inter-communal harmony is built, and they have contributed significantly to the peace and progress enjoyed across Ebonyi State since its creation.
“We align ourselves fully with the established zoning arrangement governing political succession in Ebonyi State, and we do so not as a new or recent conversion but as an expression of a position that the leaders and people of Ezza Ezekuna have previously declared and consistently maintained.”
The association insisted, “that position has never changed, and it shall not change.
“The governorship of Ebonyi State remains, in accordance with the zoning arraignment in Ebonyi North until 2031.
“No reasonable Ezza person, properly informed of the history of our state and properly committed to the collective stability of the state, would oppose the arrangement.
“Those who do so act neither on behalf of Ezza people nor in the interest of the peace that all our communities depend upon.”
The group, which endorsed Governor Francis Nwifuru as its sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state, dismissed a communique recently issued by a puported
Umuekumenyi leaders council against power rotation in the state.
“Political ambition, however legitimate in itself, must never supersede collective stability.
“Personal interest must never override the peace of Ebonyi State. Our position on this matter is unambiguous.”
According to the EEDA, “any conversation regarding future political succession must be approached within the framework of equity, mutual respect and the established political understanding that have guided the state’s politics from its formation.
” We reject any attempt to portray Ezza people as being in opposition to these principles.
“Ezza people have always stood on the side of justice, and under the leadership of this Association, they shall continue to do so,” the association stated.
The EEDA dismissed the Umuekumenyi Leaders Council as an organisation that has no legal existence.
“It is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. It has no constitutional foundation within the traditions or governance structures of any of the constituent clans of Umuekumenyi.
“It is, in plain terms, a contraption assembled hurriedly and without mandate by individuals pursuing personal political agenda under the cover of a name, designed to create the illusion of collective authority.
“The public, the media and all relevant institutions are advised to treat it as such.
“The individuals who participated in that charade do not represent any identifiable section, clan or community within Umuekumenyi. They were not elected. They were not delegated.
“They were not authorised by any traditional institution, socio-cultural organisation or community assembly within the Umuekumenyi family.
“They speak for themselves alone, and the positions they have articulated in their communiqué must be understood as personal opinions, not as the voice of any community, not as the position of Umuekumenyi and certainly not as the stance of Ezza Ezekuna,” the EEDA stressed.
The Association vowed that it would further resist any attempt to subvert the power rotation in the state or present its violation as the will of Ezza clan.
“We shall resist, by every legitimate means available to us, any attempt to subvert this arrangement or to present its violation as the will of Ezza people.
“We declare our irrevocable endorsement of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for a second term as Governor of Ebonyi State,” they emphasised.
The group noted that their endorsement of Governor Nwifuru was made freely, without coercion and without reservation.
They added that the governor has
demonstrated unwaivering commitment to peace, development and inclusive governance.
Leave a Reply