Ebonyi State Government at the weekend debunked media report that Governor Francis Nwifuru has promised not to accommodate his major challengers in the 2023 general election in his government for suing him.
Some media reports had quoted the governor as saying that the duo of Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Prof. Bernard Odoh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were not needed in his administration.
The reports had heated up the polity, following reactions, with one group issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to the governor to withdraw the statement.
But the state government said the governor was misquoted, describing it as ill-intended, false and myopic.
Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, said in Abakaliki, the capital: “Ebonyi State Government has noted with utter dismay, reactions in some quarters emanating from some distorted reports from some sections of the media over Governor Nwifuru’s statement while addressing stakeholders on January 14, concerning his electoral victory at the Supreme Court.
“It is unfortunate that the well-intended and articulate address of the governor was mischievously lifted in part and quoted out of context by such media representatives in the state for some clandestine reasons, best known to them.
“The report published in some media outlets, which had it that the governor avowed his determination not to forgive, accommodate or work with his election challengers in court: Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the PDP and Bernard Ifeanyichukwu Odoh of APGA, and their supporters, is to say the least, false, myopic and ill-intended.
“For the purpose of straightening the records, the governor on that day, in his usual forthrightness and plainness of heart, narrated the tortuous and unpleasant experience he had in the course of following the avoidable litigations from the tribunal, through the Appeal to the Supreme Court, where it was finally nailed in his favour.”
He noted that the governor, being a man of integrity, whose words were reliable, expected his opponents to respect their words as well by ceasing further litigations as promised after meetings with them.
According to him, the governor at the meeting expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that one of them reneged on his words by serving him a suit notice a day after their meeting.
He said the governor considered the action contradictory to his eternalised values of integrity and reliability.
The commissioner said the governor regretted the unwarranted prolonged litigations brought to the government and people of the state, and wished it never happened so.
“Governor Nwifuru in his statement did not in any way condemn his opponents for seeking redress according to their conscience in courts of competent jurisdiction.
“Recall that the governor, being a professing and practical democrat, after winning at the polls, reached out to his opponents with the olive branch, which was unfortunately rebuffed.
“The governor, not relenting, for the good and unity of the state, still approached them individually to sheathe their swords, but they were adamant.
“Their going to court, though a huge miscalculation on their part, was considered by the governor as the best approach, which has eventually brought to rest the divergent interests, paving the way for a possible corporate action by all and sundry towards the development and continued oneness of the state.
“Governor Nwifuru, in his statement during the meeting, merely expressed ordinary human sentiment that going by the level of deceit and seemingly irreconcilable stance of the PDP and the APGA candidates prior to the Supreme Court ruling, it would ordinarily have become very difficult to freely work with them.
“However, since the interest of the state is paramount to any individual’s interest, such a feeling could not be allowed to fertilise.
“The governor’s camaraderie spirit and positive disposition in embracing all ‘Ebonyians’, including his opponents in the election, were summarily emphasised by his last statement at the meeting.
“So, sincerely, I tender an apology on their behalf, for us as a state to forgive them. We should forgive them for they knew not what they were doing, and I am sure we are going to forgive them in Jesus’ name,” Okpor said.
