REMARKS BY THE GOVERNOR-ELECT, EBONYI STATE – HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. FRANCIS OGBONNA NWIFURU ON THE SIGNIFICANT OCCASION OF RECEIVING HIS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN, TODAY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023.
1. Very distinguished leaders of our dear State, I am very delighted to speak today, as your Governor-Elect, at this auspicious occasion, following the trust and the awesomely awesome Divine job offered to me by God through you, Ndi Ebonyi.
2. I am also sincerely delighted, to welcome you, the great leaders of our Party – the All Progressives Congress (APC), through whose platform, Ndi Ebonyi spoke loudly. It is crystal clear, that this great Party, which symbolizes unity, has categorically spelt out the content of that symbol in our great State, Ebonyi.
3. It is affirmed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is one of the political parties in this State, that believes in the principle of Equity, Justice and Fairness and it shows that the Party leaders are more interested in the unity and peaceful coexistence of Ndi Ebonyi.
4. Today, Ebonyi people go about their businesses in the mood of celebration, because their choice has been declared Governor-Elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I stand here, distinguished leaders of our dear State, the National Commissioner, to thank you immensely for believing and ensuring that the rights and well-spoken votes of the people counted. This very action has made our Divine Mandate platform to triumph in the great contest of Saturday, March 18, 2023. The passionate disposition and actions of neutrality have brought to bare, the desire of the greater number of Ndi Ebonyi.
5. I also thank the great leaders of our dear State. I defer to you, the founding fathers of Ebonyi State, led by His Excellency, Chief Francis Orji and other great stakeholders of our State. As well, I thank the Elders Council of our State, led by High Chief Engr. Ben Okah. Specifically, let me humbly appreciate the doggedness of our dear indefatigable leader, the founder of Divine Mandate Campaign Organization and the father of modern Ebonyi State – His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi (FNSE, FNATE, CON, GGCEHF) – Governor of Ebonyi State, for his forthrightness and thoughtfulness in ensuring that he leaves legacies that will be engraved in the sands of time.
6. May I equally appreciate their Excellencies, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Distinguished Sen. Joseph Obinna Ogba, Chief Lawrence Nwuruku, Sen. Sylvanus Ngiji Ngele, Rt. Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, Rt. Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwoñu, Rt. Hon. Odefa Obasi Odefa – who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but stood for us out of conviction and their sincere belief, that competency, credibility and sincerity of purpose – that is, equity, justice and fairness should be maintained in the polity of our State.
7. I thank all my fellow candidates, who went on this great journey with me – Dr. Chukwuma Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Benard Ifeanyichukwu Odoh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sunday Opoke of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Prophet Chis Adol Awam of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). I call on them to embrace this Divine mandate and eschew all differences, so that we can work together for the peace and development of Ndi Ebonyi, as I strongly believe that the campaign was a race to serve our people. Therefore, I invite all of them, to join me in building a State that we all will be proud of, as my administration will run an all-inclusive Government.
8. Distinguished Ebonyians, the journey to this level was tough, but God Almighty sanctioned the mandate He has given to us for Continuity and Consolidation. For the fact that this lofty height was very terrifying and educative, we anchor our hope on this great mandate given to us by God Almighty alone.
9. I themed my Manifesto, ‘The Peoples Charter of Needs’ and we have said in many fora that this Charter will be based on open Governance and performance management, with the aim to make decisions through citizen’s input while focusing on outputs. And I sincerely believe that our credibility and task ahead of us will avail us more positive ideas that will propagate the development of our dear State, Ebonyi.
10. I want to assure you, Ndi Ebonyi nwemunu, that as your Governor, I will maintain checks and balances in Government – that means that the Principle of Separation of Power will be given priority. The Rule of Law will be given space to thrive and the security of lives and property will take centre stage. Ebonyi will be a point of reference in Education and the destination for quality Health Delivery Services. We will maintain existing infrastructures cost-effectively and extend same to our rural communities. There will be respect for our traditional institutions. Our administration shall ensure obedience to the course of development and implementation of Government policies and programs.
11. Distinguished elders, our dear visitors, in our tenure as Governor, Ndi Ebonyi, practical farming will be given ultimate interest for us to achieve the value-chain needed in our society today. Human capital development as it stands today has a ministry of its own and a lot had been done. We are going to complement that effort by changing the coast movement and introduce vocational trainings at all spheres of life as this will bring new innovations and skills in the system.
12. Basically, we will continue to search and admit more business moguls of repute to invest in our commercial facilities. We shall partner with business people to establish their subsidiaries in Ebonyi State. We will empower Ebonyi people with business talents and ideas within and across the nation to develop themselves and boost our economy. Our Government shall ensure that Ebonyi people who are into importation shall use the State as their point of distribution of their goods. We will commit to actualization of industrialization and upsurge of companies in the State through public-private partnership. We will promote the manufacture of basic consumables of the people in the State with the realities of demand. Our administration shall promote purchase, usage and export of our local content and reactivate Ebonyi State Pipe Production Company.
13. To our dear brothers, sisters, sensible partner of every Government – the Civil Servants, as many of you have read in my manifesto, that there will be regular promotion of workers and payment of salaries, pension, and gratuities. Training and retraining of workers will form part of the policies of our Government as that will improve service delivery.
14. I want to assure our religious leaders that they remain the foundation of the success of our dear State, Ebonyi. As a product of Divine Mandate, our vision, mission and actions will be anchored on the precepts of God to serve the people, through sustaining the relationship between Ebonyi State Government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as well as our hardworking Divine Mandate Pastors led by our dear sister, the senior pastor of Christ Embassy – Pastor Eunice Oyeyemi, ensuring adequate welfare for our real men of God.
15. On this note, distinguished ladies, and gentlemen, I humbly end this unique remark by pleading with every leader of our dear State to toe the part of peace, love and charity to one another. I implore the mercies of God Almighty to give us only those things that can promote unity and prosperity of Ndi Ebonyi.
16. I therefore accept this mandate given to me by God through you in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
17. Thank you very much for listening. To God be the Glory.
Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru
Honourable Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly and Governor-Elect, Ebonyi State.
March 29, 2023.