List of ten senior politicians from Ebonyi State who are known to maintain a distance from the Government House in Abakaliki:
1. Julius Ucha: An Ezza man who has been a habitual gubernatorial candidate. He’s the first Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly at a young age in 1999. He rose to become a Senator for eight years. He became a member representing South East at the National Assembly Service Commission. He’s a lawyer. He’s not a Government House guest. He plays his politics and keeps distance.
2. Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu: A lawyer from Ezza North. Sen. Dr Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu was the best local government chairman in Nigeria, an event which brought the serving president Olusegun Obasanjo into Ezza North to have a handshake with him. He was also a Councillor. He was a House of Representatives member and Senator. He’s in his sixties and faces his business as a practising lawyer.
3. Sen. Dr Sam Egwu: Well, his wife lurks around Government House, but himself doesn’t. Governor rather visits him in his Umuebe village home. He’s 70 years old. Former governor and senator. He’s from Ezzamgbo.
4. Onyebuchi Chukwu: A professor of Medicine, he was Minister of Health in Nigeria. He’s from Afikpo and lectures at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo. Whatever they are doing at Government House doesn’t concern him.
5. Emmanuel Azu-Agboti: This septuagenarian is from Afikpo. He was a Senator. He’s not a a notice-me Government House squirrel.
6. Paul Okorie: Engr Dr Paul Okorie is doing his things and does not care what’s happening at Government House. Former commissioner and governorship ticket hopeful when Umahi was contesting in 2015. He’s loved. He’s a church person.
7. Fidelis Nwankwo: former LGA chairman and Minister, Chief Engr Fidelis Nwankwo from Izzi doesn’t care what’s happening at Government House. One of the very few nice politicians in Ebonyi. He’s the second most loved politician after Sam Egwu.
8. Linus Okorie: This Onicha man was House of Representatives member for eight years. He’s one of the most popular politicians in Ebonyi. He’s not a Government House squirrel.
9. Adol Awam: One-time chairman of Ebonyi LGA. He’s very popular due to the fight he put up against Gov. Sam Egwu in 2002 regarding local government autonomy. Nobody has attempted his kind of gut in Ebonyi till date. He has been in government since 2003, but he’s not bothered. He’s now a pastor of a church founded by him.
10. I don’t even know who can make the list 10. You know we have a shortage of this kind of men in Ebonyi. There may be others, but I can’t remember now. Nothing stands a man out like self respect. The governor could be servicing them, but they don’t force themselves on him or Government House. You can hardly see them close at all. They’re doing their things at their own ends. This doesn’t mean that they don’t love the state, or that they are pompous, no, they’re just managing austerity honourably.
See also : List of Ph.D. Holders in Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi State.