From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
A frontline guber-aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ebonyi State, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh has commended the endorsement of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru by Governor David Umahi as his chosen prospective successor.
Dr Ezeh who made the commendation, Monday in Abakaliki, while addressing the Team Immaculate 2023, described Nwifuru's endorsement by Umahi as a huge boost to the voice of equity and fairness in a democratic nation.
According to him, "the open adoption of Mr Speaker, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, by Governor Umahi as his chosen prospective successor, has been met with jubilations among his teeming supporters, while also provoking mixed reactions and sundry debates among Ebonyians in general."
The governorship hopeful further said: "This is an expected outcome and should be considered healthy for the system. We believe that Democracy is so much about provoking and sustaining relevant conversations that would culminate in the enthronement of majority interest(s).
"Every Ebonyian, no matter his/her political views, must therefore be encouraged to uphold useful colloquy with significant civility while also sustaining the objectivity to recognise fundamental facts even when it's coming from a supposedly opposing divide.
"It is to this end that we wish to express happiness that the governor appreciates Ebonyi North people (particularly the Izhians) and deemed it right to adopt one of them as his chosen candidate. Umahi's line of choice also demonstrates that he favours the wide-range clamour for increased youthfulness in the business of governance in Nigeria.
"While we recognise the importance of other factors that ought to guide the choice of Ebonyians come 2023, the Governor must be commended for categorically reflecting the tenets of equity, fairness and power rotation in his personal preference. In his words, "....I want Ebonyi South people to know that when it was the turn of Ebonyi South, an Abakaliki man was contesting and the Abakaliki people said no, so it is the time to pay them back"
"We strongly believe that in the context of the foregoing, the Abakaliki people to which he referred are the good people of Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone who, together with the people of Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone, make up the Abakaliki breed in general.
"On Nwifuru's part, we congratulate him and welcome him into the contest, while also urging him to join us in the politics of ideas that are focused on the needs of the people. On our own, we promise to continue, like the eagle, to raise the level of discussion and discourse.
"For the records, our position on Equity and zoning does not in any way call for lowering of merits and standards. We believe that every senatorial zone in Ebonyi can present a generally acceptable candidate who the whole of Ebonyians will be proud to have as their governor.
"The candidacy of Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh has indeed raised the bar and bestrides both Equity and competence. Those whose only qualification can best be described as 'quota system' candidates must be roundly rejected because we can aim higher.
"We welcome Hon. Ogbonna Nwifuru is a worthy contestant, not an enemy.
"Together we can Recover, Rebuild and Restore the battered dignity of Ebonyians."
