By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Chief Press Secretary to the Ebonyi State Governor, Monday Uzor, has commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for restoring peace in Effium and creating an atmosphere conducive for development in the area.
Uzor stated this while speaking at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ohaukwu local government Ebonyi state, where he described the return of political activities to Effium as a clear indication that peace had been substantially restored in the troubled community.
According to him, the governor inherited the crisis in Effium upon assumption of office but immediately took steps to address the situation and restore lasting peace.
“One of the major achievements of His Excellency here is the restoration of peace,” Uzor said, noting that the ongoing demarcation exercise was among measures taken by the administration to consolidate the peace process.
He said the ability of the APC to hold political rallies in Effium, which he described as impossible in previous years, demonstrated the level of progress achieved in restoring normalcy.
“Even last week, we went there for a rally, which would have been impossible in the last four years. Our rallies took place in Effium, which is an indication that peace has returned fully,” he said.
Uzor, who said he hails from the area, appealed to the people of Effium to embrace and sustain the peace, stressing that meaningful development could not take place in an atmosphere of conflict.
He also expressed satisfaction with the turnout and conduct of APC members at the rally, saying the event was part of efforts to take the governor’s message and achievements to the grassroots.
He said Governor Nwifuru had created an environment where people could freely participate in politics and align with the APC based on their assessment of his administration’s achievements.
The CPS expressed confidence that the APC would record victory in the forthcoming local government election and replicate the support in the 2027 general elections.
He dismissed suggestions that opposition politicians were being prevented from contesting elections in the state, saying anybody with political ambition was free to contest.
“Ambition is never a crime anywhere. If anybody wants to try, let that person try,” he said, adding that the electorate would ultimately determine who was popular enough to win.
Uzor maintained that the growing support for the APC in Ebonyi was not achieved through coercion but through the administration’s performance and its engagement with the people.
He urged APC supporters to remain committed to the party and called on the electorate to come out en masse to vote for the party’s candidates in the local government election scheduled for Saturday.