The Ebonyi-First Vanguard has called on the Governor of Ebonyi State, Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to urgently intervene in the rising tension surrounding the troubled traditional stool selection process in the Izzo community in Ishielu LGA of the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, 24th November 2025 and signed by its Director-General, Monday Kenneth Eze, the group expressed worry that the prolonged crisis allegedly fuelled by the actions of certain influential actors has escalated into harassment, intimidation, and widespread unrest within the community.
The Vanguard euolgized Governor Nwifuru for his people-centred leadership and lauded his efforts in democratizing 75 Ebonyi communities, noting that such progress must not be derailed by the unfolding events in Izzo.
The group revealed that since the traditional crown recruitment process began in January 2025, it has been marred by violence and alleged attempts by extraneous interests to impose an offshore candidate, Monday Ogbule, through the arbitrary disqualification of other contenders.
According to the statement, the selection attempt of 14th November 2025 was disrupted by individuals seeking to “shoplift” the Izzo crown, heightening fears of a relapse into communal tension.
The group further reported that private thugs have been deployed to intimidate residents, leading to illegal detentions at Force Headquarters Abuja and the Ebonyi State Police Command.
It disclosed that Ibe Edeh, Oforbuike Mgbada, and Tochukwu Nworu are awaiting trial over what it described as framed criminal allegations, while many others have fled into hiding.
Despite the tension, Ebonyi-First Vanguard commended the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives in the Ishielu area office for standing by innocent citizens during the disrupted selection process.
It also applauded the Ebonyi State Police Command, especially the office of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua UKandu for resisting alleged attempts to declare innocent community members wanted.
The group advised extreme caution regarding the consideration of offshore candidates in a community still undergoing rehabilitation and healing from the aftermath of the Ezillo–Ezza Ezillo war, from which Izzo was created on May 16, 2016.
It insisted that any aspirant, including Monday Ogbule, should face a free, fair and credible contest, not one influenced by the “mercantile shenanigans” that characterized the earlier exercise.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace-building, the group urged Governor Nwifuru to prevent the collapse of his administration’s flagship peace and democracy programme in Izzo.
