From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
An Ebonyi-born business magnate, Chief James Ovuoba has described the new governor of his State, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as a child of destiny.
Ovuoba, the Chief Executive Officer/Director of General Ovuu Global Resources Limited (aka Ogbuefi) who observed this in an interview with our correspondent at the weekend, said that Chief Nwifuru is not a man-made governor.
While congratulating Nwifuru for his successful inauguration, the business mogul expressed confidence that Ebonyi would record massive investments under the present administration.
He said: "The successful election and inauguration of Governor Nwifuru is the best thing that had happened in Ebonyi State since its creation. Nwifuru's leadership experience is equal to none; for having served as a lawmaker for complete 12 years and within 8 good years, as the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly. His leadership qualities ever since he joined politics showed that he is a leader with a difference.
"Governor Nwifuru remains a destined child of God who was prepared right in the womb that one day no matter his history, he would be the Chief Servant of the Ebonyi State. The purpose of his Creator, the God Almighty to lead Ebonyi State is not man-made but a divine arrangement."
Ovuoba further noted that Ebonyi would be safe under Nwifuru's administration, urging him to be focused on his passion to liberate the State from socioeconomic enslavement.
The industrialist observed that Ebonyi's poverty level demands an aggressive combined effort to emancipate its citizens from starvation and backwardness.
He thus urged opposition forces against Nwifuru's victory in March 18 polls to close rank and form a unity government with him to develop the young state more.
He said: "There is an urgent need to fight the poverty in the land of Ebonyi State, but I know that the new governor can liberate our people from starvation and backwardness. Facilitating this plan demands a collective effort of the Ebonyi people.
"So, I'm calling on the opposition to close rank and join the man of the destiny (Nwifuru) to develop Ebonyi State because the court is not the best option now.
"Those in the court because of the outcome of the March 18 governorship election, should know that it's not their turn to rule Ebonyi State and that's why former Governor David Umahi and other great leaders of our dear State stood on their grounds to ensure Nwifuru emerged as our governor. Nwifuru's emergence as the Ebonyi State governor today should be seen as a divine and not a man-made effort.
"I'm very confident that Governor Nwifuru's government will be people's oriented, accommodative, hospitable, and friendly with both indigenes and non-indigenes, his administration has to set a standard in human empowerment, industrialisation, and rural development and add more value to our education, health and agricultural system, general security and welfare of our people, among others.
"All and sundry should give the governor maximum cooperation to enable him to deliver his mandate. And I'm sure that Nwifuru will carry everyone along because he has started well by appointment his aides on security having understood the nation faces many challenges emanating from insecurity and other harmful activities.
"Under Nwifuru as governor, Ebonyi's story will be rewritten when it comes to poverty reduction and it's only our cooperation he needs from us to keep moving our state forward."
