Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has refuted claims that he rejected the gubernatorial candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Bernard Odoh, along with their supporters in his government.
In a statement released by the State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, on Saturday, the governor’s stance was clarified, emphasizing that there was no intention to withhold forgiveness, accommodation, or cooperation from his election challengers in court.
Okpor explained, “For the purpose of setting the records straight, the governor, in his usual forthrightness and sincerity of heart, simply narrated the arduous and unpleasant experiences he had during the avoidable litigations from the tribunal through the Appeal to the Supreme Court, where it was finally ruled in his favor.
“The Governor merely expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that one of them reneged on his words by serving him a lawsuit notice a day after their meeting, an action the Governor considers contradictory to his internalized values of integrity and reliability. He regretted the unwarranted prolonged litigations brought to the government and people of the state, and wished it had never happened.”
Okpor highlighted the governor’s commitment to accommodating and working with all stakeholders, irrespective of political affiliation, for the development and unity of the state. He emphasized that Governor Nwifuru, as a practicing democrat, reached out to his opponents immediately after winning the polls, offering an olive branch that was unfortunately rebuffed.
“The governor, not relenting, for the good and unity of the state, still approached them individually to sheath their swords, but they were still recalcitrant. 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 all the divergent interests, paving the way for a possible corporate action by all and sundry towards the development and continued oneness of the state,” he stressed.
Okpor called on Odii, Odoh, and other well-meaning citizens of the state to disregard any allegations or reports suggesting that the governor rejected accommodating them or their supporters in his government.
“We hereby call on all and sundry whose sensibilities may have been insulted by the uninformed report to discountenance the content as it does not well represent the expressions of the Governor at the meeting,” he added.