The Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum has risen in strong defence of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, rejecting a recent publication that accused his administration of ethnic bias and exclusion in the governance of Ebonyi State.
The group, in a press statement signed by its National President, Comrade Chibueze Elom, described the publication by one Cajetan Njoku titled “Ethnic Capture in Ebonyi: A Crisis of Justice under Governor Nwifuru’s Watch” as a baseless campaign of calumny, aimed at misleading the public and sowing political discord.
The statement, released on Thursday, 24th July 2025, described Njoku as a “nearly non-existent element” attempting to discredit a governor widely regarded as a symbol of inclusive governance and peace.
“Governor Nwifuru’s administration has remained peaceful, progressive, and inclusive from inception,” the group said. “Appointments and development projects have been fairly distributed across all clans and zones, guided by merit and political processes—not kindred sentiments.”
The youth group also refuted Njoku’s attempt to tie traditional leadership issues in Izzi land to kindred politics, stating that traditional rulers in the area have historically emerged through community-backed, transparent processes, not lineage.
While defending the administration’s record in youth empowerment, civil service recruitment, healthcare, and infrastructure revival, the Forum accused Njoku of acting out a political script to revive his waning relevance.
“This outburst is coming from a man whose failed tenure as Coordinator of Ominyi Development Centre was marked by mismanagement. His write-up is a product of personal frustration, not objective critique,” the statement read.
The Forum further condemned the “incendiary rhetoric” used against respected political figures, including former Governors Chief Martin Elechi, Senator David Umahi, and elder statesman Chief Mathias Adum, urging security agencies to investigate the seditious undertones in the publication.
Reiterating its support for the administration, the Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum affirmed its loyalty to the “People’s Charter of Needs” agenda of Governor Nwifuru, calling on critics to focus on merit and governance rather than ethnic propaganda.
“Ebonyi State is united. No amount of sponsored narratives will derail our support for the Governor,” the statement concluded.
The Forum also encouraged those who feel aggrieved to seek constructive engagement, rather than resorting to inflammatory publications that undermine the state’s hard-earned unity and peace.