A sociocultural organization in Ebonyi State, Real Unwuekumenyi Youth Assembly (RUYA), yesterday said it has not taken any decision as to which clan or local government that will produce the next Governor of the state in 2023 general elections.
The group was reacting to a statement credited to Unwuekumenyi Youths Forum fortnight ago, in which it endorsed the governorship candidate of APC, Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, as it preferred candidate, for the 2023 governorship in the State.
But in a statement signed by the President RUYA, Comrade Nweke Uchenna Charles; Director, Media & Publicity, Comr Nwankwo Benjamin C;Director, Welfare, Ezenyi Obichukwu Mgbada;Director, Contacts & Mobilization, Comrade Ogba Vincent; and Director, Planning & Logistics, Igwe Oliver Okechukwu, maintained that Unwuekumenyi Youths Forum is not only a political organization pursuing self-aggrandizement but does not in any way represent the position of the real Unwuekumenyi Youths.
According to RUYA, our consultation is still on-going across the bloc and the entire state, we urge the general public to utterly disregard any of such pronouncement until they hear from the ReaL Unwukumenyi Youth Assembly which is by no way biased or compromised.
"From all evidence available to us, this group is not only a political organization pursuing self-aggrandizement but does not in any way represent the position of the Real Unwuekumenyi Youth Assembly (RUYA).
"The Real Unwuekumenyi Youth Assembly for the purpose of clarifications is not a political but a socio-cultural organization representing all the facets of the youths of Unwuekumenyi, including all political parties,religious bodies, business men, artisans, scholars etc. and does not identify particularly with any political party," the group emphasized.
The group further added: "It is not only arbitrary but also a violation of the fundamental Human Right and a disfranchisement of the well-meaning members of Ebonyi State and Unwuekumenyi Bloc from choosing and voting any candidate of their choice; it is also a gross abuse of universal Adult suffrage.
"Under the present Unwuekumenyi (old Abakaliki) bloc as constituted, it must be recognized that the Ezza nation have presented a governorship candidate and Deputy Governorship candidate while the Izzi Clan have also graciously presented five able Governorship candidates who are by all intent and purpose highly qualified to occupy the number one seat of the state.
"Despite as stated in paragraph (4) no consultation had been made across board including our Unwuekumenyi brothers living in the Southern Senatorial part of the state before embarking on this ad-hominem pronouncement negating the unity, one love and fairness that have existed within the bloc and the state.
"The Afikpo Bloc has already presented a candidate for election in the 2023 election, which has created a need for a wider consultation across the board, and that was never done before publicizing such an undemocratic pronouncement.
"Contesting election is a fundamental human right, which must be strictly and jealously guarded, and if for any reason it should be denied a very wide consultation and agreement must be reached, which was never done.
"We urge all Ebonyians and contestants to go about their normal consultations and campaigning pending the time the Real Unwuekumenyi Youth Assembly will come up with their position paper which will not be long from now.
"RUYA is a peace-loving people, resilient, pragmatic, and can never be intimidated by the interest of any political party within the state.
"In due course, the Real Unwuekumenyi Youths Assembly, (RUYA) will also be making their position clear on all other matters involving the welfare of Ebonyi Youths, which will, in no way be biased, compromised, or disenfranchising in nature."
