A group, Ebonyi Indigenes on the platform of the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has challenged Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to take full charge of his government or resign from office.
In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja by its President, Pascal Oluchchukwu, claimed that one week after Nwifuru took the oath of office as Ebonyi State Governor, the Ebonyi electorates are yet to see any visible signs of governance, not even the appointment of his kitchen cabinet.
The group said: “About one week after he took the oath of office at the Abakaliki Township stadium, we are astonished that the Ebonyi electorates are yet to see any visible signs of governance, not even the appointment of his kitchen cabinet members. Rather, this group has been reading reports that his predecessor, Umahi has still been inspecting works at the sites of some yet-to-be-completed projects in the State.”
“AEISCID was reliably informed that a day after he had handed over the affairs of governance in Ebonyi, Umahi was sighted with many of his ‘dissolved’ Exco members inspecting works at the new Olympic stadium at the Centenary City. Those who have seen him move around since after the handover, claim he retained and still moves with the same retinue of security aides and convoy while in office.
The statement reads in parts: “We are aware that though the March 18th 2023 Governorship election is being challenged by both oppositions Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and their Governorship candidates at the Election Petition Tribunal now sitting in Abuja, INEC as an electoral umpire had declared Nwifuru, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Nwifuru the ‘winner’ and he was consequently sworn-in to office.”
While expressing concern over the situation in the state, the group warned that democracy may be derailed in Ebonyi if Nwifuru continues to walk in the shadow of his predecessor.
It said: “We challenge Nwifuru to either take charge of the helm of affairs and hit the ground effectively running like his Enugu and Abia counterparts in the region or resign for a competent hand that understands governance to take over.”