By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
A member of the House of Representatives, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, has accused those attacking Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, of undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in 2027.
Ogah, who represents Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, said this on Friday in Abakaliki while reacting to recent criticisms of Nwifuru, particularly comments attributed to businessman and social media personality, Paschal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest.
The lawmaker warned that attempts to discredit Nwifuru, whom he described as a key APC stakeholder in the South-East, could erode the party’s grassroots support and ultimately damage Tinubu’s electoral prospects in the region.
“Those people are making Mr President not to win the election in 2027 because they won’t stand to work with the President,” Ogah said.
He questioned the rationale behind attacks on an APC governor, arguing that Nwifuru’s political influence and grassroots structure made him an important asset to the President’s re-election campaign.
Ogah also faulted the reported exclusion of Nwifuru from Tinubu’s campaign council, describing it as an error that should be corrected.
“How can a governor that has done much in APC not be included in the campaign council? How can a governor that is elected under the APC not be included?” he queried.
The federal lawmaker challenged Cubana Chief Priest to retract his alleged comments against Nwifuru and apologise to the people of Ebonyi State.
“Who is Cubana Chief Priest? What is his address that gives him the impetus to speak against our governor, the most performing governor in Nigeria?” Ogah asked.
He added: “He should withdraw that statement and apologise to Ebonyans. He is insulting Ebonyans. He is insulting us as National Assembly members and other well-meaning stakeholders of this state.”
Ogah urged relevant agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to investigate allegations he raised concerning the activities of individuals he accused of working against the state government.
He also accused one Mr Charles Otu, an alleged human rights activist of allegedly mobilising persons from outside Ebonyi State to participate in a protest in Abuja against the state government.
“He went and mobilised fake people, claiming they are Ebonyians, to demonstrate in Abuja. I would have asked the police: why can’t you investigate and audit those people that he mobilised?” Ogah alleged.
He claimed that some of the protesters were from outside the state and called on security agencies to establish their identities and investigate the circumstances surrounding the mobilisation.
Ogah further disclosed that his lawyers had petitioned the Department of State Services over allegations concerning Otu.
“My lawyers have written a petition against Charles Otu before now to the DSS, and they have not investigated that matter,” he said.
The lawmaker also defended the state’s security architecture, rejecting calls for the removal of the Commissioner of Police and urging security agencies to investigate the sponsors of what he described as an orchestrated campaign against the state.
“All of us can attest to the peace and security we enjoy in Ebonyi State. The Army, the police, the Civil Defence and the DSS are doing marvellously well in Ebonyi State,” he said.
Ogah said the Nwifuru administration had recorded significant interventions in education, roads, scholarships and human-capital development, arguing that the governor’s performance should not be overshadowed by political attacks.
He maintained that Nwifuru had also demonstrated tolerance by allowing opposition parties and candidates to conduct political activities in the state.
“The governor welcomes all the political opposition,” Ogah said.
The lawmaker urged APC stakeholders in the South-East to close ranks ahead of 2027, warning that internal attacks and campaigns against party leaders could weaken the party’s presidential campaign.
“Ebonyi people will choose who is their leader. They should stop using the media to castigate the governor,” he said.
Ogah, the State Coordinator of Tinubu Support Group, who spoke in the presence of officials of the Tinubu Support Group in Ebonyi including the state secretary, Oliver Nwachukwu said he would continue to defend the governor and the interests of the people through lawful and democratic channels.
