The people of Ezza Ezekuna both at home and in diaspora on the 11th of June 2026 converged in their thousands at Onueke Township Stadium to formally endorse the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for a second term in office.
The gathering tagged, "Onueke Declaration", also saw the clan endorse other APC candidates contesting various political positions in 2027.
The traditional rulers, Elders, political leaders, clergy, youths and women of Ezza Ezekuna all turned out in their numbers to be part of the grand endorsement.
For the people of the Clan, the endorsement of Governor Nwifuru was more than politics. It was gratitude, and a reward for his love and magnanimity toward the clan.
The Ezza Ezekuna clan was endangered on all fronts before 2023. The clan battled internal disunity, marginalization in appointments and resources, and protracted communal wars created by enemies in the areas Ezza people are living in their deliberate efforts to destabilize the clan and neutralize its perceived towering influence in the State. Political merchants profiled the Clan for wrong reasons, all because of quest for power and domination.
But this ugly story changed the day Nwifuru was sworn in as Ebonyi’s 4th Executive Governor at Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium.
Within minutes after his swearing-in, he named Dr. Monday Uzor, an Ezza man from crisis-torn Effium, as Chief Press Secretary. The move stunned many.
It stunned because an Ezza son, Prof. Bernard Odo, had contested the governorship against Nwifuru in defiance of the charter of equity that favoured Ebonyi North zone particularly Izzi Clan, coupled with the fact that he lost in all Ezza dominated areas, like Ezza North and Ezza South LGAs.
Ordinarily, going by Nigeria's ‘winner takes all’ politics, Ezza people should have been the last to consider in Governor Nwifuru's choice of appointment and other dividends of his administration. Yet, he chose a path of accommodation, reconciliation and unity.
The Governor's goodwill for Ezza clan
went beyond the first appointment. He appointed seven Commissioners from Ezza, the highest number in the state’s history, to key ministries. He named Prof. Michael Ugota Awoke, an Ezza man, Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, among other key political positions he appointed many Ezza Sons and daughters into, in his administration.He resisted pressure to remove HRH Charles Nkpuma, an Ezza man, as Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, and retained him to date.
Only a man who came to heal the land and unite the people will act like Governor Nwifuru.
Beyond political appointments, the Governor has restored peace in Ezza Clan. He brought peace to Effium where the Ezza people live and created two autonomous communities for them, after about three years of killings and destruction of property in the area over communal crisis. Today, normalcy has returned in Effium; an achievement many thought was impossible.
The Governor also restored peace between Abaomege and Ishinkwo communities after many decades of communal crisis that have claimed many lives and properties. This particular crisis has outlived many administrations but Governor Nwifuru's unwavering commitment to bringing peace in all parts of the state has been obviously demonstrated in putting an end to it.
The Governor further consolidated the peace efforts of the past administration in resolving Ezza /Ezillo communal crisis by initiating a housing scheme to resettle the displaced natives of Ezza and Ezillo.
Through the efforts of Governor Nwifuru, Ezza Clan constituted Elders' Council, after decades of failed attempts due to division and lack of unity of purpose amongst Ezza leaders. The Elders' Council is currently headed by Chief Innocent Ugo Chima, a former member of the House of Representatives.
Today, the Ezza Elders' Council now functions as a "Supreme Council” where binding clan decisions are taken. It has, no doubt, become a rallying point for the clan.
This is courtesy of Governor Nwifuru who believes that Ezza clan would be stronger and better when united. If not for love, why would a Governor not from the clan invest in Ezza unity? After all, we’ve had Governors who fuelled division in the clan for political gain.
In terms of infrastructure development and empowerment, the Governor has adequately accommodated the Ezza Clan. Many community roads and bridges are ongoing in Ezza land, courtesy of the Governor. A lot of Ezza youths are beneficiaries of his empowerment, and scholarship scheme.
The Governor is building duplexes for our traditional rulers, Schools, and hospitals in Ezza clan just like in other parts of the State are receiving the Midas touch of his administration. The University of Aeronautics Engineering Onueke established by Governor Nwifuru's administration also comes to mind. The University is about to take off academic activities following the recent approval of courses by National Universities Commission.
These and many others are the reasons the people of Ezza clan are rooting for Governor Nwifuru's re-election come 2027. The clan has met and resolved that no son or daughter of the clan should contest against Governor Nwifuru in 2027 or accept to be a running mate to any other Governorship candidate. And warned that anyone who goes contrary to this decision, would have them to contend with. This decision, according to the clan, is a token of appreciation to the Governor who has shown an uncommon love to them.
This decision was reaffirmed with the Onueke Declaration which ended with a resolution the clan described as “final, binding, and non-negotiable.”
Part of the resolution reads: "This endorsement constitutes the final, binding, and non-negotiable political position of Ezza Ezekuna, arrived at through extensive consultation, broad consensus, and the exercise of collective will.
"No son or daughter of Ezza Ezekuna shall accept nomination to contest the office of Governor or running mate to another governorship candidate in the 2027 election. Any individual who acts contrary to this collective decision shall be deemed to have acted in wilful defiance of the will of the people.
"All political office holders, appointees, party leaders, and stakeholders of Ezza Ezekuna extraction are hereby directed to strictly comply with and actively promote this resolution, without exception or deviation. We call on all well-meaning citizens, political actors, and stakeholders across to align with this historic decision, in the collective interest of continuity, stability, and accelerated development across all sectors of our State."
The Great Elites of Ezza Ezekuna have also paid a solidarity visit to Governor Nwifuru and donated the sum of one hundred million naira for the purchase of the Governor’s re-election form. Echoing the Onueke Declaration, they affirmed the readiness of the Ezza clan to deliver overwhelming votes for the Governor’s re-election in 2027.
For the Ezza clan, 2027 is not just a payback time for Governor Nwifuru, but a time to correct the mistake of 2023 the general elections.
COMRADE NWAFOR SAMSON writes from Inyima Amuzu, Ezza South LGA, Ebonyi State.
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