From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
The Traditional Ruler representing Izhi-speaking people in Lagos State, HRH Eze Cyprian Mbam Nwekee - the Eze Izhi-Gbirim has declared his intention to rally massive support for the Ebonyi State Governorship Standard Bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to ensure his landslide victory at the 2023 polls.
Eze Nwekee made this declaration, Wednesday at Izhiogo Primary School in the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State during the sensitization and advocacy visit of the Izzi Forum for Inclusive Good Governance and the Izhi traditional rulers to his community.
He pledged his unwavering support for Nwifuru and other candidates of the APC in the state since the party has chosen to observe the principle of zoning and power rotation.
He urged Ebonyi people especially those from Izhi land who felt aggrieved for whatsoever reason against the APC leadership presently, to handle their sensations with a spirit of love and forgiveness by throwing their weight around Nwifuru, in considering 'it is the turn of the Izhi nation to produce the governor of the State, as part of their contributions in promoting equity, fairness and social justice.'
He expressed worry about the way, the PDP leadership 'recklessly' abandoned its usual principle of zoning and power rotation both at the National and State levels, describing the new development in the party as a disintegrating prejudice against its humanly cherished policy of fairness, equity and social justice in the past.
The monarch, however, appealed to all the PDP candidates of Izhi clan extraction to dump the oposition party and support the ruling APC in 2023, assuring them of refunding the money spent for the purchase of their expression of interest and nomination forms.
He said, "we have no other choice except the APC, for the PDP leadership had failed to observe its usual principle of zoning and power rotation in the gubernatorial position of the state, this showed that the PDP had no genuine plan for the peace, unity and progress of the Ebonyi people, particularly the Izhi Nation.
"Honourable Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly is an illustrious son of Izhi land and he is ready to serve. I know too well that Ogbonna Nwifuru is a choice of the elders, the youths and women. I believe the young man will deliver if he emerges as the governor of Ebonyi State in 2023.
"This is because as Izhi people we stand on the project, that our time to produce the governor of Ebonyi State cannot be denied and today, our time has come in reality.
"That's why I stand to call on our brothers and sisters who are candidates and members of the PDP to come and join us to support massively the candidacy of Ogbonna Nwifuru, he is an illustrious son of the Izhi land and he has performed excellently in his present position as a two-term serving Speaker of our state. Ogbonna Nwifuru has been doing well, how much more if he becomes the state governor in 2023?
"Therefore, all the candidates of the PDP, whether you are contesting for senate, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly, local government chairmanship and ward councillorship positions should come to me and collect the money that you spent for the purchase of your nomination forms."
The traditional ruler commended the State Governor, Engr David Umahi for endorsing Nwifuru to be his successor come 2023, noting that the governor had fulfilled his promise to hand over his seat to a youthful man in the past six years.
Eze Nwekee said unlike the PDP whose leaders failed to sustain its usual principle of the zoning and power rotation system, believed that the victory of Nwifuru as the Chief Servant of Ebonyi people would give rise to the harvest of love, peace, unity and progress in the state.
The monarch vowed to refund the payments made by all the PDP candidates of Izhi land extraction to secure their expression of interest and nomination forms to join the APC members and their supporters to canvass massively for the landslide victory of Nwifuru in the state in 2023.
On his part, the Executive Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Chief Paul James Nwogha urged all the Izhi people to get their permanent voter cards ready to vote massively for Nwifuru to emerge the State Governor in the 2023 general elections.
Chief Nwogha also pleaded for all-inclusive support for the APC Candidate, Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Barrister Onyekachi Nwebonyi and all other candidates of the party in 2023 by the Izhi people.
Also speaking, Hon Richard Idike and Barrister Philip Oyo advocated for love, peace and unity among the Izhi people, asking all and sundry in the land to shun every divisive tendency by uniting force and vote for one candidate, Ogbonna Nwifuru under the platform of All Progressive Congress APC for the governorship position, while reaffirming their support for all his victory alongside other candidates of the party in the area.
Earlier, the Chairman of Izzi Forum for Inclusive Good Governance, Mr Dustan Nwogbaga, said the kindred issue should not be allowed to serve as a hindering factor against Izhii's political interest but to strive to get more positions for Izhi Nation.
“We should not use the issue of kindred and should never be the thing that will take away our Governorship position, rather should be our strength as we push the struggle forward.
“All who have contested for the governorship position in other political parties should come together, let’s have one candidate for the governorship position and which is Francis Nwifuru in APC,” he said.
The Ebonyi Commissioner for Education Dr Sunday Nwangele and other stakeholders from the community unveiled that izhi Nation is not contesting for the state governorship position with anybody, describing the contest as a done deal.
They explained that the state governorship position has gone round to all the Senatorial Districts, and it is now the turn of Ebonyi North, saying the Izhi Nation should be considered to take the slot under the spirit of fairness, social justice and equity.
The President of Oha Izhi Nnodo, HRH Eze Sunday Nkwegu Oketa and the Chairman of the Izzi Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Eze Fidelis Nwonumara said all Izhi indigenes and residents should vote for Ogbonna Nwifuru to become the Governor, come to the 2023 General Election.
The duo noted that the Izhi people's hospitable life can never be compared to other clans in Ebonyi State, saying that there would be more tolerance and accommodation to all residents in the Izzi clan if Nwifuru becomes the State Governor.
The event was honoured massively by the stakeholders and other people from the Izhi land, to champion the project of the Izzi Forum for inclusive good governance in Ebonyi State.
More photos:
