Magnus Aluma
The Ezza Ezekuna Youths General Assembly has endorsed Governor Francis Nwifuru’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections.
The youths group disowned the purported endorsement of the governorship candidate of the PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, by unknown youths in Isu in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
National President of the Assembly, Dr. Jeff Ogbu told reporters shortly after a meeting of the Group on Sunday that the gathering reviewed the political fortunes of Ezza people and resolved that supporting the incumbent governor was in the best interest of the clan.
According to him, the decision followed extensive consultations with elders, youths and stakeholders.
“After exhaustive discussions, we unanimously agreed that at this point we have to support the government of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
“The Governor has demonstrated love for Ezza people and has addressed many of our longstanding challenges,” Ogbu said.
He extolled the effort of the governor in restoring peace in troubled Ezza communities, including boundary disputes, and implementing development projects in the affected areas.
“Peace is the foundation of development. Governor Nwifuru promised us peace and he has fulfilled that promise, and this is the time to pay him back.
“Our position is that Governor Francis Nwifuru is our sole candidate for the office of governor in 2027.
“We will take this message to all our communities because we believe supporting him is in the best interest of Ezza people,” he emphasized.
Declaring that the Assembly had adopted Nwifuru as the sole governorship candidate of Ezza people for next year’s election, Ogbu urged his group to disregard statements from individuals or groups claiming to speak on behalf of Ezza youths.
Ogbu further said, “there is no other recognised Ezza youth body apart from this Assembly. Any other person or group of persons making political endorsements in the name of Ezza youths should be disregarded.”
An elder statesman and chairman of the Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Chief Ogodo Ali Nomeh said the Ezza people had resolved to align with Governor Nwifuru’s administration, because of his commitment to peace, equity and development.
He observed that the governor deserved a second term in line with the rotational arrangement of the founding fathers of the state.
Chief Ogodo Ali said: “Governor Nwifuru has shown that he belongs to the entire Ebonyi State. He believes in peace, equity and development. This is the time to support his second tenure.”
He dismissed the purpoted endorsement of the governorship candidate of PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, by another group from the Ezza extraction, pointing out that such endorsement was unauthorised.
“We don’t know those people. When Ezza people gather to take a position, they gather here. Anybody can claim to be Ezza, but that does not mean they represent Ezza people,” he said.
Similarly, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, described the meeting as the official gathering of the Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly, and insisted that it remained the only recognised youth organisation representing Ezza people.
No fewer than one thousand and five hundred youths of Ezza origin, gathered on Sunday at Onueke, the ancestral home of Ezza clan, to give a nod to Governor Nwifuru’s second term bid.
Leave a Reply