…Describes the Verdict as a New Year Gift from the Apex Court to the Good People of Ebonyi State
…Says Nwifuru is the Governor of the Downtrodden
…Commends Ebonyi Worker for Showing Solidarity.
“…Finally, Eze Commended the Governor for his humility and respect to the political leader of Ebonyi State, Dr David Nweze Umahi, erstwhile Governor of Ebonyi State and incumbent Minister of Works, unlike many States where there is turmoil because of sour relationships between present and past Governors arising from an inability to respect relationships.”
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has expressed satisfaction over the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the election of Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru as the duly elected Governor of Ebonyi State, after a protracted legal battle.
In a statement made available to the media, Chief Eze said January 12, 2024, will remain epochal in the annals of Ebonyi State as it was the day the verdict of the people of Ebonyi State who trooped out on March 18 to donate their mandate to Nwifuru through the ballot to steer the state on their behalf, was cemented.
Nwifuru contested and won the March 18, 2023 election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but his victory was contested in court by the People’s Democratic Party and its Governorship Candidate, Chukwuma Odii, who were dissatisfied with the results.
Justice Tijani Abubakar, who read the lead judgment of the apex court on Friday, held that the appeal filed by Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was lacking in merit.
Describing the judgement as a New Year gift to the people of the state, Chief Eze said With the verdict, the Supreme Court has affirmed the minds and position of the people of Ebonyi State who may now continue to enjoy good governance uninterrupted under the administration of Dr. Francis Nwifuru.
Given the manner he has so far implemented policies and programs with direct bearing on the people, especially the increment of Salaries of Civil Servants and offering lifelines to poor families of Ebonyi State through payment of Pension to Pensioners, Eze affirmed Nwifuru as Governor of the downtrodden.
He noted that Ebonyians have never celebrated the type of Christmas and New Year they celebrated during the 2023 Christmas as the Governor ensured that every Civil Servant including Gatemen and Messengers were given 100,000 Naira each on top of their normal salary entitlement and by January many families comfortably sent their children back to school without the usual challenges.
“Indeed God has, through Nwifuru, blessed the people of Ebonyi State with a leader that truly cares for their welfare and wellbeing” Eze further affirmed.
Furthermore, the APC Chief highlighted that apart from the mentioned interventions, Gov. Nwifuru celebrated the octogenarians who were above 80 and extended his good gestures to widows which action added value to the lives of these individuals and also brought immense joy and a sense of belonging to their hearts. He noted that such gestures also serve as inspiration to the younger generation, reminding them of the importance of respecting and cherishing the elderly.
The joy brought into the lives of these octogenarians and widows through the Luncheon with them is unspeakable and will speak in the life and times of the Governor.
Reacting to this historical victory, the workers in their thousands staged a solidarity match in honour of the Governor, especially for the following interventions – payment of N100,000 Christmas bonus to workers, payment of backlog of gratuities since the creation of the State and other sundry incentives.
From the Ecumenical Centre through Spera-in-Deo, Vanco Junction, Ogoja road to International Market, the workers, visibly overwhelmed with joy, chanted solidarity songs and eventually landed at the Governor’s office where Gov. Nwifuru addressed them.
Speaking to the state workers, Governor Francis Nwifuru said he was awed by the magnitude of solidarity shown him and expressed commitment to continually embark on modest projects that will impact positively the state and the people, adding that his administration would ensure that Ebonyi workers are envied by their counterparts in other states of the federation.
“Sincerely I want to tell you that I am challenged by the level of appreciation you have shown me today” ” the visibly elated Governor noted.
Urging the workers to give their best to their jobs and work symbiotically to inject strength into the government’s efforts to deliver democratic dividends to the people, Gov. Nwifuru restated his commitment towards delivering on the terms of his social contract with the good people of Ebonyi State and assured of his administration’s readiness to always give accelerated attention to the welfare of workers in the state.
On their part, the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ebonyi State Chapter, Professor Ogugua Egwu and his Trade Union Counterpart, Comrade Chidi Igboji commended the Governor for “paying gratuities and pensions of workers since the creation of the state, Christmas bonus and other benefits to Ebonyi workers.
Finally, Eze Commended the Governor for his humility and respect to the political leader of Ebonyi State, Dr David Nweze Umahi, erstwhile Governor of Ebonyi State and incumbent Minister of Works, unlike many States where there is turmoil because of sour relationships between present and past Governors arising from inability to respect relationships.
