His growing and glowing acceptance and state-wide political influence have equally made the ruling APC in Ebonyi State uncertain about their prognostications about the forthcoming general election.
History will be made in Ebonyi State as High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii becomes the number one citizen of the State, come 2027 general election.
Ebonyi people are eagerly waiting for his swearing in ceremony, come May 29th 2027, because of his detribalized and humane nature towards the interest of the masses.
Unlike what we see among agents of government, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii is not coming into power to amass wealth but to make sure that the common wealth of Ebonyi State is evenly distributed to Ebonyi people, in form of visible infrastructural development and strategic economic empowerment of the people of the State.
Next year's elections is certainly not going to be business as usual as the PDP Governorship candidate, being a man that is determined and resolute towards in all his dealings, has made it clear that he will win next year's governorship election against all odds.
He has become an obvious political nightmare to the APC as he is set, not only to win at the polls but to establish an era that would put Ebonyi State on the road map for even development, improvement in all the sectors of the economy and overall upliftment of the living standards of every Ebonyi person, irrespective of Local Government of origin, religion, tribe and party affiliation.
His empowerment agenda has always cut across the nooks and crannies of the State and he doesn't believe in the politics of sectionalism, clannicism and winner takes it all philosophy.
His level of competence, height of accomplishments, especially in the private sector and massive supports he has garnered over the years and presently within the political circle of the State, have made him a political warlord that cannot be treated with a simple wave of the hand.
The ruling APC, having come to terms with the reality of his personality, following the growing acceptability from different parts of the State, are even afraid to fall asleep not minding that the period of the governorship election is still some months ahead.
This sleepless nights of theirs, which is gradually causing them dementia and hypertensive state of mind, has brought them emotional confusion as they are now seen to be unleashing their frustration on the supporters of the PDP Governorship candidate, High Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
This development has made them to allegedly threaten the citizens of the State, who have the right to vote and be voted for, in next year's general election.
The affected section of the population that are currently under threat are the youths from Ezza extraction. The question is this, if the youths are already under going a period of threat at this preliminary stage of the election, what does the future hold for them in the present administration?
This trend became overwhelmingly alarming when members of Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly (EEYA) alleged that their members were being threatened, harassed, and intimidated by persons it described as agents of the Ebonyi State Government, following the group's endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Let it be known that every citizen of the State has the constitutional right to vote for any candidate of their choice as regarding the 2027 Governorship election in Ebonyi State.
Disclosing this development to Newsmen in Abakaliki, the President of the Assembly, Comrade Nelson Sunday Orogwu, claimed that the alleged intimidation intensified after the group unanimously endorsed the PDP Governorship candidate.
According to Orogwu, members of the Assembly, including community leaders, parents, and stakeholders, have allegedly been subjected to threats because of their political choice and stand.
Ebonyi remains the most peaceful state in the whole of South East geopolitical zone and should not be made to become a theatre of war and refugee camp for political detainees, simply because a political party is jittery over the growing political acceptability of their opponent.
Continuing, Orogwu said: "Agents of the government have been going from house to house to harass our leaders, parents, stakeholders, and elders. They have threatened to burn our houses and even kill us. They have vowed to chase us away from our communities," he alleged.
The youth leader said the Assembly, established in 2010, had consistently exercised its constitutional right to support candidates it believes would promote good governance, insisting that no individual or group should be victimized for exercising the right to freedom of Association.
"It is our right to support anyone we deem fit to solve the problems of Ebonyi State, and that is why we remain resolute in our support and endorsement of Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party," Orogwu said.
He called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Armed Forces to protect the democratic rights of all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation.
"We assure the public that we are not intimidated and cannot be intimidated. Ebonyi belongs to all of us. Political campaigns should be about presenting programs and achievements to the electorate, not threats and intimidation," he added.
Orogwu further alleged that some members of the Assembly had been individually threatened by political office holders and warned against supporting the PDP governorship candidate.
"They come to some of our members and ask, 'Why did you endorse the PDP candidate? We will deal with you.' Some of our members across different Local Government Areas have been threatened by highly placed politicians in government. Some were told they would lose their businesses simply because they exercised their constitutional right to support a political party of their choice," he alleged.
He said the group chose to make the allegations public because of financial constraints involved in pursuing multiple official complaints, expressing hope that the media would draw the attention of security agencies to the matter.
Orogwu urged members of the Assembly to remain peaceful and law-abiding while standing firm in their convictions.
"We call on all members of the Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly to remain resolute as we shall collectively resist every form of threat, intimidation, and harassment. We remain hopeful and committed to the democratic process," he said.
The Ezzas are not resting on their oasis until the governorship ambition of the PDP Governorship candidate is achieved not minding whose ox is gored.
They believe that they have the right to choose and to vote for any candidate of their choice not minding whose views contradicts theirs.
This is even as a new group christened New Ezza Elites' group has emphasized that only Anyichuks can hand over power to the Ezza nation in 2031.
The newly formed elites group, Royal Front of Ezza Ezekuna, otherwise known as Ezza Frontliners has beckoned on the people of Ezza Ezekuna worldwide to throw their weight behind the candidate of the People's Democratic Party, PDP in the 2027 Governorship election in Ebonyi State, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, insisting that he has all the credible qualities for a transformative governance, that can impact positively on lives, all sectors and every section of the State.
Speaking in Enugu at the inaugural meeting of the group at the weekend, the convener of the group, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu said the people of Ezza Ezekuna worldwide must be wise in its choice by supporting a candidate whose track records of achievements and impacts in the private sector have distinguished him.
"And that candidate is no other than Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the People's Democratic Party because governance is not trial by error. You must have been tested with individual accomplishments before being entrusted with a public office. Across the length and breadth of the Ebonyi State, he has built several houses for widows he does not even know, offered scholarship opportunities to many and empowered thousands of youths to start up businesses among many others", Oluchukwu disclosed.
Also speaking, an elderstatesman and Chieftain of the PDP, Chief Christopher Ngwuta urged the people of Ezza Ezekuna never to be deceived by the promises of certain individuals that they will be given power in 2031.
"They cannot make that promise public because they don't want our people to hold them to account. They know that they are deceiving our people but we have to be wise and support Anyichuks because only him has the capacity to give an Ezza man power", he insisted.
He said the people of Ezza nation can no longer support blindly as it has made the opportunity to govern Ebonyi elude them since the creation of the State, despite having the largest population in the State.
Another PDP stakeholder and a former member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikechukwu Nwobo alleged that the level of decay and misgovernance in Ebonyi has gotten so high that people should no longer be concerned about zoning that had never existed in the first place but channel its efforts in rescuing the State from bad governance from the current occupants of power in the State.
"Ebonyi people cannot survive another wasted 4 years if things continue the way they currently are in the State", he cautioned.
The leaders promised to recruit more members who would drum support and canvass for votes across the length and breadth of wherever Ezza-Ezekuna people dwell to ensure the victory of Odii in the 2027 Gubernatorial election.
The Ezzas, typically known for their unquenchable resolve when a matter have been decided by them, have already thrown their weight behind the candidacy of high Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, because they are aware that interest will remain protected come 2027
Not minding the threats and intimidation from different quarters of government, another group known as Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has accused Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, of allegedly misleading the Ezza clan with promises of a power shift in 2031 as part of efforts to consolidate support for his reported second-term ambition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The group made the allegation while reacting to the endorsement rally organised by the Ezza Elders Council at Onueke and the counter press conference held by the Umuekumenyi Leaders Council in Abakaliki.
AEISCID said the political developments in the state had become a major source of concern as activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify.
According to the group, Governor Nwifuru’s absence at the endorsement rally organised in his honour by the Ezza nation raised serious questions about the sincerity of his alleged promise to hand over power to the Ezza people after a possible second term.
The group noted that although the Governor was the principal beneficiary of the endorsement, he chose to send his deputy, Princess Patricia Obila, to represent him at the event.
“For us, nothing would have inspired greater confidence among the Ezza Ezekuna people than the Governor personally attending the rally and making a direct public commitment to support the emergence of an Ezza son as Governor in 2031,” the statement said.
AEISCID argued that the Governor’s absence from the rally cast doubt on the credibility of the alleged succession arrangement being promoted among the Ezza people.
The group also aligned itself with the position of the Umuekumenyi Leaders Council, which reportedly endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
It commended the Council for what it described as its “courage, political foresight and commitment” to rescuing Ebonyi State from “poor governance and developmental stagnation.”
According to AEISCID, the state has witnessed a significant decline under the current administration, alleging that no major government project has been completed in the last three years.
“It is increasingly difficult to point to any landmark achievement that reflects impactful governance under the present administration. Ebonyi State has, in many respects, experienced political and developmental setbacks,” the group alleged.
The diaspora body also criticised the state government over the prolonged delay in completing the Vanco flyover and tunnel project, which it described as the administration’s flagship project.
According to the group, the condition of the project symbolises what it termed a lack of strategic direction and governance focus.
“The abandonment and slow pace of work on the Vanco flyover project have become emblematic of a government many now perceive as lacking vision, coordination and clear developmental priorities,” the statement added.
AEISCID further warned the Ezza people against placing undue faith in political promises relating to future power rotation arrangements.
“Political power is not handed over based on sentiment or verbal assurances. Across history and democratic systems, power is earned through strategic participation, political organisation and the collective will of the people,” the group stated.
The organisation maintained that the 2027 governorship election should be determined by competence, leadership capacity and vision rather than what it described as “politics of entitlement and zoning manipulation.”
The group also condemned alleged threats against opposition figures in the state, accusing Governor Nwifuru of making comments capable of intimidating political opponents during a recent rally in Abakaliki.
AEISCID called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant democratic institutions to ensure that political freedoms and constitutional rights are protected in Ebonyi State.
“Democracy guarantees every Nigerian the right to contest elections, express political opinions and freely associate without intimidation or threats. These democratic principles must be protected at all times,” the statement said.
Many groups in Ebonyi State and in diaspora are already drumming support for the PDP guber candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii as the only candidate that can bring about rapid development and advancement of Ebonyi State.
So far, the over 130 support groups that worked for the PDP guber candidate during the 2023 general election are gradually undergoing a process of activation ahead of next year's general election.
While the APC is still having sleepless nights over the candidature of the PDP Governorship candidate, high Chief Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the PDP is on a daily basis gathering political momentum to prosecute its vision and mission of taking over the seat of power come 2027 general election.
Its a known fact that the APC is gradually becoming destabilised as the Senator representing Ebonyi North zone, Sen. Onyekachi Peter Nwebonyi in a viral video accused the leadership of the APC in Ebonyi State of engaging in anti-party activities.
It is clear that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Contrary to the ordeal now facing the APC, the PDP family in Ebonyi State is unted, focused and perspicacious towards winning next year's general election.
The leader of the Party and PDP flag bearer, High Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii is on course and will eventually win Ebonyi gubernatorial election without breaking a sweat.
It is obvious that when Anyichuks sneezes, Ebonyi APC catches cold. Meanwhile, the cold they caught since Anyichuks became the governorship candidate of PDP can only be cured as soon as Anyichuks is declared the winner of the 2027 governorship election in Ebonyi State.
The mandate of High Chief Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii is sure, come 2027 general election.
Peter Okutu
A Public Affairs Analyst
Writes from Abakaliki.
Post a Comment