Governor Nwifuru Restoring Ebonyi People’s Confidence In Democracy As A Form Of Government 

The above citation is in tandem with the signature of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State. Since he assumed duties on 29th May, 2023 his leadership bears reverberations of the words of Lincoln. No wonder political pundits and analysis describe him as a leader who belongs to Lincoln’s School of Thought and Philosophy. For avoidance of doubt, Governor Nwifuru has a record of many democratic feats that earn him admiration even from the opposition. He largely demonstrates that in a democracy, the people must be treated as its most crucial index.

His Excellency paid backlog of gratuities of public and civil servants from 1996 when Ebonyi State was created, up to 2022. This is a rarity. He also upgraded the old minimum wage from N30,000 to N40,000 by his addition of N10,000. He didn’t stop there; the Governor graciously gave Ebonyi workers Christmas bonus of N100, 000 each. This is happening for the first time in the history of our dear State. He equally gave workers N10,000 each for breakfast and lunch when the workers embarked on a solidarity match in support of his administration.

What more? The Governor whose Charter of People’s Needs places Health and Education as top priorities, donated brand new cars to medical doctors in Ebonyi State and brand new ambulances to the health facilities in the State, particularly in rural areas. He has also begun to revamp the state hospitals and our public schools with corresponding mouthwatering welfare packages for health workers and teachers as well as the entire Ebonyi State workforce. Every sector and spectrum in the State is relishing the Governor’s promotion of the greatest happiness, so much so that bliss radiates on every face. Jeremy Bentham, the English radical philosopher who espoused utilitarianism and the calculation of happiness as measurements of successes of every government, must be nodding triumphantly in his grave as Governor Nwifuru gives his maxim a touch of democratic excellence in Ebonyi State. Governor Nwifuru is also changing the narrative in the nation’s leadership at its industrial scale. In our country where democracy means little or nothing to holders of public trust due to unfulfilled promises and broken vows, confidence in governance is totally lost by the masses, but Ebonyi State is blessed.

Under the watch of Governor Nwifuru, the virtue of democracy is not lacerated by bad leadership. Ebonyi State is in our present century and millennium witnessing extraordinary leadership to the point that opposition elements are defecting to the ruling APC in droves. For the first time in our democratic annals, the opposition doesn’t perceive the ruling party and its leader as an “enemy”. This is because Governor Nwifuru’s leadership doesn’t negate democratic ethos. The Governor sees every Ebonyian from the prism of the people, not as members of party this or party that.

Governor Nwifuru is a leader who has been living with the people for the past 40years. He is a leader who has watched Ebonyians pass every stage of penury and he understands the pains and pangs of his people. Our dear Governor shows genuine commitment to democracy and the political will to restore people’s confidence in democracy by matching it up with actions. No wonder he makes and implements human friendly policies and programs anchored on The People’s Charter of Need”. This has largely created the most peaceful atmosphere in Ebonyi State and promoted maximum security and safety of lives and property across the state. Governor Nwifuru has practically returned governance to the hands of the people who are ultimately the owners of popular sovereignty. It is for this reason that we of the State Working Committee of the APC, Ebonyi State share in the jubilation of his restoration of the people’s confidence in our hard earned democracy. It is also for this reason that we join other Ebonyians to applaud him and pray for his sustenance and consolidation of the good works he has started for the uplift of Ebonyi State and indeed her entire citizenry.

–Written by Ogbuatu Chidi Simbad,