By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The National President of the Izhi Tehu Foundation (ITF) and Senior Manager at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Adm. Igwe Christopher Agbo, has urged the people of Izhi Clan to base their choices of political leaders in the 2027 general elections on competence, character, antecedents and demonstrable performance rather than kindred affiliation.
Agbo, who spoke with journalists in Ebonyi State, faulted what he described as the practice of allocating elective and appointive positions along ethnic, religious or kindred lines, arguing that such considerations should not override the constitutional role of voters in choosing their representatives.
He was reacting to remarks attributed to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on the balancing of political positions between the two major kindreds in Izhi Clan ahead of the 2027 elections.
Nwifuru had recently spoken about balancing political power between the two Izhi kindreds in the context of to equity and social justice. The governor said the arrangement was intended to promote political accommodation and stability within the clan.
But Agbo described the approach as a “political flub”, insisting that political representation should ultimately be determined by the electorate.
“One of the major problems in Nigeria that has continued to contribute toY underdevelopment and bad governance is the practice of appointing people into public positions based on ethnicity and religion instead of good character, competence and outstanding performance,” he said.
According to him, while equity and communal harmony could legitimately feature in political discussions, they should not become a substitute for democratic choice.
“In a democracy like ours, elections are the primary means of choosing political leaders who contest for elective positions. It is the people, the electorate, that make that choice,” he said.
The ITF president urged voters to scrutinise the records, capacity, character and achievements of aspirants before deciding whom to support, rather than relying principally on their kindred affiliations.
He said the principle should apply to all contestants within Izhi Clan, including Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi and other aspirants seeking elective offices in 2027.
“Any decision to support a particular candidate should be based on brilliant performance and not kindred,” Agbo said.
He also called for a comprehensive restructuring of the Ebonyi State Government’s cabinet and administrative architecture, particularly as the administration prepares for its next phase.
Agbo advised the governor to give greater consideration to professionals, accomplished business leaders and persons with relevant technical expertise, exposure to innovation and a demonstrated commitment to public service.
He argued that such restructuring should be accompanied by measures to reduce the cost of governance and eliminate overlapping responsibilities among ministries, departments and agencies.
The CBN senior manager specifically questioned the rationale for maintaining separate portfolios covering works, infrastructure concession, project monitoring and rural development, suggesting that some responsibilities could be consolidated to improve coordination and efficiency.
“What is the need for having the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Infrastructure for Concession, Ministry of Projects Monitoring and another Commissioner for Rural Development?” he queried.
Agbo proposed that the Ministry of Works should have primary responsibility for infrastructure delivery, while local government administration could incorporate chieftaincy affairs and rural development.
He further suggested that project evaluation and monitoring should operate as a specialised unit within the Ministry of Works, concentrating on projects being executed by the ministry.
The foundation president also proposed the establishment of a Strategy, Innovation, Policy Coordination and Implementation Office (SIPCIO) within the Governor’s Office.
According to him, the proposed office, headed by a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, would serve as a central mechanism for translating government policies and political priorities into measurable programmes and projects.
He said modern technology could be deployed to track projects in real time, generate implementation reports for the governor and provide citizens with a public-facing dashboard showing the status of government projects.
On the recent removal of the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, Agbo said the development should be used as an opportunity to strengthen the state’s infrastructure delivery system.
Governor Nwifuru ordered Mbam’s immediate removal on September 19 and directed him to hand over government property, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government and transfer his responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works. The official announcement did not state the reason for his removal.
Agbo, however, attributed the removal to concerns he said by he had observed regarding the quality and pace of some projects, urging the administration to strengthen supervision and quality-control mechanisms.
He said effective project monitoring was critical to ensuring that public funds translated into durable infrastructure and measurable improvements in citizens’ welfare.
Looking beyond infrastructure, Agbo urged the state government to sustain attention to education, healthcare and rural development.
“Our primary and secondary schools need attention. Renovation of schools, qualified teachers and instructional materials are very crucial,” he said.
He also called for stronger health education and public sensitisation, improved primary healthcare services and greater investment in rural infrastructure.
According to him, rural electrification, access roads and potable water should form part of an integrated development strategy aimed at reducing the gap between urban and rural communities.
Agbo maintained that a leaner administrative structure, merit-based appointments, stronger project supervision and transparent implementation mechanisms would improve the capacity of government to translate policies into tangible outcomes.
He further urged political leaders and community stakeholders to preserve peace within Izhi Clan during the approach to the 2027 elections, stressing that political competition should not be allowed to undermine communal cohesion.
His position comes amid increasing political debate in Ebonyi over representation, zoning and the criteria for selecting candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, with other groups also publicly challenging or supporting positions attributed to the governor.
