By Binta Arabi
A pro-democracy advocacy group, Ebonyi Citizens for Change, has condemned Governor Francis Nwifuru’s recent verbal volleys against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, describing the attacks as unwarranted and a deliberate attempt to drag an outsider into the state’s internal political fray.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Chukwuemeka Ukadike, the group branded the Governor’s comments as disrespectful, immature, and tantamount to an incendiary call against the Minister. The rebuke follows Mr Nwifuru’s assertion at a rally that Mr Wike—purportedly with President Bola Tinubu’s consent—was plotting to hand Ebonyi State over to the opposition PDP.
Ukadike dismissed the allegation as both illogical and inconceivable, questioning why the President, as head of the ruling party, would sanction such a move. He argued that the Governor’s accusatory rhetoric is fuelled not by credible intelligence, but by sheer panic over an impending electoral reckoning in 2027.
“Nwifuru is panicking. He knows that if elections were held today, he would lose,” Ukadike stated. “Rather than own up to his failings, he is scapegoating Wike and roping in President Tinubu to mask his ineptitude. How can Tinubu dash his own party’s stronghold to the opposition? It is preposterous.”
The group further challenged the Governor to account for the over N500 billion received since he assumed office, noting a conspicuous absence of tangible development across the state. “Is the lack of physical infrastructure Wike’s fault? Nwifuru was not elected to blame others; he was elected to deliver. By every metric, he has fallen short,” Ukadike added.
Reaffirming that Mr Wike does not reside in Ebonyi nor cast a ballot there, the group warned that the electorate is already gravitating towards the PDP out of sheer disillusionment. They urged the Governor to cease his campaign of deflection and focus on governance, lest he face a resounding verdict at the polls.