Ogah, who spoke at a press briefing in Abakaliki, described the alleged remarks attributed to Cubana Chief Priest as unacceptable, arguing that the businessman had no electoral mandate to speak for Ebonyi State or demand the resignation of its elected governor.
“Who is Cubana Chief Priest? What is his address that gives him the impetus to speak against our governor, the most performing governor in Nigeria?” Ogah asked.
The lawmaker said the alleged comments were not only an attack on Nwifuru but also an affront to the people and political stakeholders of Ebonyi State.
“He should withdraw that statement and apologise to Ebonyans. He is insulting Ebonyans. He is insulting us as National Assembly members and other well-meaning stakeholders of this state,” he said.
Ogah further challenged Cubana Chief Priest to demonstrate his political relevance, questioning why he should seek to influence political affairs in Ebonyi when, according to him, the socialite had no electoral mandate in the state.
“If he said he is popular, why is it that he could not win the primary of the election he contested in Imo State?” he asked.
The federal lawmaker also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate Cubana Chief Priest’s financial and business activities, alleging that his public profile should not shield him from scrutiny by relevant authorities.
“I am urging EFCC to thoroughly investigate him, investigate his bank accounts, investigate all the things he does,” Ogah said.
He also accused unnamed political actors of allegedly sponsoring campaigns aimed at discrediting the Nwifuru administration and weakening the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ogah argued that such activities could ultimately undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political fortunes in the South-East, stressing that Nwifuru remained one of the major political allies of the President in the region.
“Those people are making Mr President not to win the election in 2027, because they won't stand to work with the President,” he said.
The lawmaker equally defended the state’s security architecture, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Hope Okafor against what he described as an orchestrated campaign for her removal.
He urged the police, Department of State Services, DSS, and other relevant agencies to investigate individuals behind the alleged campaign and determine whether any offence had been committed.
“All of us can attest to the peace and security we enjoy in Ebonyi State. The Army, the police, the Civil Defence and the DSS are doing marvellously well in Ebonyi State,” Ogah said.
He also criticised another critic of the state government, Charles Otu, accusing him of allegedly mobilising persons from outside Ebonyi State to participate in a demonstration in Abuja against the state government.
Ogah alleged that the protesters were presented as Ebonyians despite allegedly originating from different parts of the country.
“He went and mobilised fake people claiming they are Ebonyians to demonstrate in Abuja. I would have asked the police: why can't you investigate and audit those people that he mobilised?” he asked.
“You find out some of them are from Benue, some of them are from Nyanya, some of them are from Kaduna, some of them are from Kano. They are not Ebonyians. For that, he has no local standing to speak for Ebonyi people,” Ogah alleged.
He further disclosed that his lawyers had previously petitioned the DSS over allegations involving Otu, urging the security agency to investigate the matter.
“My lawyers have written a petition against Charles Otu before now to the DSS, and they have not investigated that matter,” Ogah said.
The lawmaker also referred to an appearance by Otu on Arise Television, challenging him to substantiate what Ogah described as allegations made against him.
“When Charles Otu went to Arise to cast aspersions on me, I only requested him to come and prove his case. Come and prove your case to know whether what you are saying is true or not,” he said.
Ogah, however, urged the security agencies to establish the facts surrounding the allegations, insisting that anyone found to have breached the law should face due process.
“My own is that whosoever defaults the law, we take it legally. I cannot mention who I have not known. But when we get there, it is for the security agencies to investigate,” he said.
On the administration of Governor Nwifuru, Ogah cited the state government's scholarship programmes, school construction, road projects and other development initiatives as evidence of its performance.
He claimed that hundreds of Ebonyi indigenes had benefited from postgraduate scholarships in Nigeria and overseas, while schools and roads were being constructed across the state's 13 local government areas.
Ogah maintained that the governor had also demonstrated political tolerance by allowing opposition politicians to conduct political activities in the state.
“The governor welcomes all the political opposition,” he said, citing the activities of opposition candidates and parties in the state as evidence.
He argued that political contests should be determined by voters rather than through media attacks, protests or alleged mobilisation of outsiders.
“Ebonyi people will choose who is their leader. They should stop using the media to castigate the governor,” Ogah said.
The lawmaker also questioned the omission of Governor Nwifuru from President Tinubu's campaign council, describing it as an error that should be corrected.
“How can a governor that has done much in APC not be included in the campaign council? How can a governor that is elected under the APC not be included?” Ogah queried.
He maintained that Nwifuru's political influence and the APC's electoral performance in Ebonyi made the governor an important stakeholder in the President's 2027 re-election project.
Ogah warned political actors against what he described as attempts to exploit the media to destabilise the state, insisting that disagreements should be addressed through established legal and democratic mechanisms.
“We are ready. We are ever ready for them,” he said.
The briefing was attended by the Secretary-General of the Tinubu Support Group, Ebonyi State chapter, Chief Oliver Nwachukwu, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of the group and other supporters of the Tinubu administration.
Ogah, the TSG State Coordinator said he would continue to use lawful channels to defend the interests of his constituents and the state, while urging security agencies to investigate the allegations raised and take appropriate action where necessary.
