Governor Francis Nwifuru has defended Ohaozara Local Government Area Chairman, Chinonso Ajah, dismissing accusations of incompetence in addressing recent incidents of violence in the region.
The governor attributed the killings to discontent among individuals who were displeased that both the council chairman and the governor are youths.
During the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally for the upcoming Feb. 3 Ebonyi South senatorial district by-election on Thursday, Governor Nwifuru spoke out, expressing that the unfortunate deaths of some youths in the area were orchestrated to undermine the chairman’s capabilities and erode public confidence in him.
“They want me to say that the chairman does not have the capacity to maintain peace in the council. They don’t want him to secure a second term in office but with your affirmations and consultation with stakeholders, he has my support,” the governor asserted.
He emphasized that the motive behind the killings was to discredit his government, particularly as he approaches the end of his term as governor.
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“When I leave office and another youth is expected to take over, people will oppose such an opportunity given to the youths. They want people to say that when Nwifuru, a youth, was in power, there were killings.
“We should support the council chairman to deal with these people as they are not happy that the council chairman and governor are youths,” he said.
Governor Nwifuru pledged to exert all efforts within his capacity to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the tragic incidents.
Addressing the political aspect of the situation, he stressed, “You can’t, because of politics and access to guns, say that someone will not attend a burial in his community. We would abide by the law in this matter, but all those involved in it will not survive it.”
Encouraging support for the APC candidate in the senatorial election, Governor Nwifuru highlighted the candidate’s qualifications and urged the electorate to vote based on his outstanding track record.
“The southern senatorial district had always selected its best for the Senate and this is the first time we would be sending a professor there. All the Senate principal officers from Ebonyi in the past, have always come from the south and this makes me jealous as someone from the northern district,” he said.
Acknowledging the governor’s visit, Chaka Nweze, the pioneer secretary of the APC in Ebonyi, expressed gratitude and assured that the people would wholeheartedly support the APC candidate.
Nweze emphasized the commitment of the community to safeguarding their votes, echoing the sentiments of other stakeholders who took turns assuring the governor of the party’s victory at the polls.