Clan Politics in Ebonyi: Crisis of Power Balance Under Governor Nwifuru’s Watch
A concerned native of Izzi clan and citizen of Ebonyi State who preferred anonymity has decried what he described as clan politics within the Izzi cultural clan of Ebonyi State spearheaded by the governor of Ebonyi State, Rt Hon. Francis Nwifuru who happens to come from the Izzi cultural clan of the state. The native expressed serious concern about the rising show of power imbalance and deep bias and division the current administration is creating, warning that should it not be checked, there would be crack in the clan which might outlive the current administration. He urged the governor to detour from such sentiment and ensure that he allows inclusiveness in the way he shares dividends of democracy and position allocation among the sons and daughters of the Izzi clan to avoid creating a bad legacy that might outlive his administration. In his well-detailed statement forwarded to our correspondent, the concerned native noted that there was no need dividing the clan alongside primordial sentiments and power inequity by a man who ordinarily should call it off. He also drew the attention of the former Governor of Ebonyi State and the minister of works, Engr David Umahi to the matter, informing him to call his boy (Nwifuru) to order as the unity of the state was more important than anyone’s political interest.
The statement reads:
“Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru appears to be championing a deliberate campaign of kindred domination, using his office to promote the Igbojima dynasty and the broader Umuekumaenyi political agenda, to the exclusion and marginalisation of other cultural blocs, particularly the people of Ebonyi South and the Umuera kindred in the Izzi clan.
Recent political and traditional appointments clearly indicate that the governor has turned governance into a family business.
Traditional institutions are being handed exclusively to Igbojima sons in Izzi as Development Centre Coordinator positions which should represent the entire people, are now pawns in the Igbojima power dominance and control chessboard.
Village heads and community union leaders are being selectively installed to push a specific kindred agenda. Surprisingly, Governor Nwifuru has positioned himself as President of Agbaja Development Union, consolidating his grip of political, cultural, and administrative powers like never seen before in our history.
This is not governance—it is sectional expansionism and political imperialism, carefully veiled in the garment of public service.
If Governor Nwifuru can be this aggressive in his first term while still trying to “play along” with allies, what will happen in his second term when he no longer needs their validation?
The time-tested rotational arrangement may be abolished.
This is no longer speculation—it is a visible pattern, especially in Izzi, Ebonyi, and Abakaliki LGAs, where all arms of grassroot leadership have become instruments of a kindred agenda.
I’m making it as a passionate apoeal to the broader collective of leaders of thought in Ebonyi State to look into this case of inequity in distribution of dividends of democracy by the Government of Nwifuru among the cultural components of the Izzi clan. There seems to be a well-calculated effort to starve the Umuera kindred of what’s due to its people.
This is the first time in the history of Ebonyi State that such a carefully calculated and openly implemented ethnic empire-building has been witnessed.
A man blessed by God with the privilege of governing an entire state should use that power to unify, to build, to heal—not to divide, intimidate, and suppress.
Instead, this administration has become the darkest experience Umwuera and many Izzi people have ever witnessed. However, one may urge that their are some Umwuera in the present administration, yes, it’s those who has choose to work to earn a living as none of them can be bold to tell an Igbojima person that he is guilty of any matter between him and Umwuera person even when it is clear as doing so may cost them their positions, it was carefully done to divert the attention of people and shade it away from the public.
A United Call to Action
We are calling on all well-meaning stakeholders:
Religious leaders
Traditional rulers
Civil society organisations
The Federal Government
This is beyond appointments. This is about the soul of Ebonyi State.
Peace is not the absence of war—it is the presence of justice.
Let justice return.
Let fairness reign.
Let every kindred, every zone, and person have a place at the table again.
History is watching. The future is listening. The time to act is now.
Here is the current appointment/ other leadership structure in the Izzi clan TRADITIONAL RULERS
Izzi LGA
1. HRH Emmanuel Nwojiji – Enyanwuigwe Agbaja Autonomous Community (Unwera)
2. HRH Michael Ofoke Nwoka – Ndiegu Agbaja Autonomous Community(Unwuera)
3. HRH Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwankpu (Chibugo I) – Oferekpe Agbaja Autonomous Community(Igbojima)
4. HRH Jonathan Ophim – Enyim Agbaja Autonomous Community( Igbojima)
5. HRH Ibina Stephen – Ndiechi Agbaja Autonomous Community( Unwuera)
6. HRH Paul Nwofe – Abofia Ngbo Autonomous Community(Unwuera)
7. HRH Hyacinth Ogbalikpa – Ngbo Agbaja Autonomous Community(Igbojima)
8. HRH Linus Nwizi – Ezzainyimagu Community(Igbojima)
9. HRH Michael Ogbonnaya Ukwa – Igbeagu Community(Igbojima)
10. HRH Mbam Augustine – Ndiebor Ezzainyimagu(Igbojima)
11. HRH Hyacinth Ogbonna Nwokpor – Ndieze Ndieboishiagu(Igbojima)
12. HRH Stephen Akpaghara – Mgbalukwu(Igbojima)
13. HRH Boniface Ezagu – Ndiechi Ezzainyimagu(Igbojima)
14. HRH Ogbonnaya Eze – Mdiezeechi Community (Igbojima)
15. HRH Jonas Nwoba – Ndiechi Community( Unwuera)
16. HRH John Nwenyi – Ndubia Community(Igbojima)
17. HRH Simeon Nweze–Nchoko Community(Igbojima)
18. HRH Clement Eze – Iphu Igwe Community( Unwuera)
Ebonyi LGA
1. HRH Pius Akam Alo – Nkaleke Echarra( Igbojima)
2. HRH Iboza Nwiboko – Shieke Community( Unwuera)
3. HRH Nwafa Ochieka – Ndiegu Ishieke( Igbojima)
4. HRH Francis Ajiogu – Nkaleke Echarra Community( Igbojima)
5. HRH Sunday Oketa – Nkaleke Echarra Unuphu( Igbojima)
6. HRH Moses Nwodom – Oguzoronwiya Community( Unwuera)
7. HRH Ethelbeth Chukwudi Okeye – Nkaleke Echarra Ndiegu( Igbojima)
8. HRH Linus Ukpamazi – Mbeke Ishieke( Unwuera)
Abakaliki LGA
1. HRH Fidelis Nwonumara – Amagu Community( Igbojima)
2. HRH Stephen Ukpa – Okpuitumo Community( Igbojima)
3. HRH Michael Nwobashi – Enyigba Community( Igbojima)
4. HRH Pius Nwangele – Ndiegu Okpuitumo( Igbojima)
5. HRH Godwin Nwankwegu – Ohatekwe Eda( Igbojima)
6. HRH Nwoba Nwangbu – Izzi Unuphu( Igbojima)
7. HRH Eze Boniface Aloh Amachi Community ( Igbojima)
Local Government Chairman’s
1. Barrister Steve Nwakpa Chairman Izzi LGA ( Unwuera)
2. Barrister Chinedu Uburu Chairman Ebonyi LGA ( Igbojima)
3. Hon. Ebere Nwogba Chairman Abakaliki LGA ( Igbojima)
House of Assembly Members
Izzi LGA
1. Hon Obinna Nwochie( Igbojima)
2. Hon Godwin Abiri( Unwuera)
Ebonyi LGA
Hon. Chinyere Nwogbaga ( Unwuera)
Hon. Nwodo Aloysius Nwodo… Ebonyi north west( Igbojima)
Abakaliki LGA
Hon Zuma (Igbojima )
Hon Chidi Nwoke (Igbojima)
—House of Representatives
Hon Emmanuel Uguru (Igbojima)
Senate
Hon Onyekachi Peter Nwebonyi ( Unwuera)
🏛️ DEVELOPMENT CENTRE COORDINATORS
Izzi LGA
Hon. Chidi Ogbonna –Ominyi DC Igbojima( Igbojima)
Hon. Obiya Paschal Chukwudi – Izzi DC ( Unwuera)
Mrs. Ogbonna Eziya – DC Nnodo (Igbojima)
Hon. Stephen – DC Ebyia (Igbojima)
Hon. Obinna Nwaedu – DC Igbeagu (Unwera)
Ebonyi LGA
Hon. Oketa Friday – Echi-Aba DC (Igbojima)
Hon. Frank Nwangwu – Mbeke DC (Unwera)
Hon. Destiny Nwodom – Ebonyi DC (Igbojima)
Hon Susan Nwogbaga Ozibo DC ( Unwera)
Abakaliki LGA
*(1) Amachi DC….. Mrs,, Veronica Mbam Okata ( igbojima)
2 Ekumanyi .DC.Hon. Chika Nwibo (Igbojima)
(3) Abakaliki DC.
Hon, John Nwofoke.(Igbojima)
(4) Enyiedda DC.
Hon, Ruben Ede .(Igbojima)
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📋 STATE EXECUTIVE POLITICAL APPOINTEES
Commissioners
Chief Adum Igbojima – Principal Secretary( Igbojima)
Engr. Lebechi Mbam Igbojima – Commissioner for Works( Igbojima)
Dr. Mathew Nwobashi Commissioner for Land and Surveyor ( Igbojima)
Mrs. Ann Aligwe Igbojima – Commissioner for Human Capital Development( Igbojima)
Prof. Leonard Uguru Igbojima – Commissioner for Finance( Igbojima)
Mrs. Felicia Nwankpuma Igbojima – Commissioner for Women Affairs( Igbojima)
Hon. Uchenna Igwe Igbojima – Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters( Igbojima)
Prof. Paul Nwobashi Unwera – Commissioner for Education Primary( Unwuera)
Hon. Richard Idike – Commissioner for Youth and Sports( Unwuera)
Dr. Moses Ekuma – Commissioner for Health( Unwuera)
Dr Emmanuel Echiegu, Chief of Staff. ( Unwuera)
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SSA/SA TO THE GOVERNOR
SSAs (Special Senior Assistants)
Hon. Paul James Nwogha Igbojima – SSA on Local Government & Chieftaincy( Igbojima)
Mr. Ogbonnia Sunday (Bakasi) Igbojima – SSA on Security Abakaliki LG( Igbojima)
Mr. Pius Nwofe – SSA on Security Izzi LG( Igbojima)
Hon. Mbam Obinna (Prapra) Igbojima – SSA on Security Ebonyi LG( Igbojima)
Mr. Okemini Felix (Jango) – SSA on Security Ebonyi North( Igbojima)
Mr. Frank Uche Nwankpuma Igbojima – SSA on the Governor’s Office(Igbojima)
Dr. Boniface Nwankwo Igbojima – SSA on Documentation( Igbojima)
Mr. Okechukwu Nwokoro Igbojima – SSA on Environment( Igbojima)
Mr. Chinedu Emenike (Entersparkling) Igbojima – SSA on Youth Mobilisation, Ebonyi State( Igbojima)
Hon. Daustan Nwogbaga Igbojima – SSA on Ecumenical Centre( Igbojima)
Mrs. Rosemary Charles Ofoke Igbojima – SSA( Igbojima)
Hon. Ofoke PSD Igbojima – SSA on ICT University( Igbojima)
Hon. Anthony Onyibe Nwegede Unwera – SSA on Agriculture( Unwuera)
Hon. Okite Nwamgbo Unwera – SSA on ICT Oferekpe( Unwuera)
SAs (Special Assistants)
Hon. Okey Nwodom Igbojima – SA to the Governor( Igbojima)
Hon. Mrs. Chidiebere Paul Nwogha Igbojima( Igbojima)
Hon. Godwin Egbata (Unwera)
Hon. Emeka Nwofoke – SA on IGR( Igbojima)
Hon. Okwuegbu Martins Unwera – SA on IGR (Unwuera)
Hon. Emmanuel Obinna Ibaki (Igbojima)
Hon. Obinna Nwiboko – SA on Project Monitoring( Igbojima)
Hon. Leo Oketa Igbojima( Igbojima)
Hon. Sylvester Nwamini (Igbojima)
Dr. Sabinus Nwibo (Unwera)
Hon. Henry Bamida (Unwera)
Mrs. Oyo Charity (Unwera)
Hon. Pius Nwofe (Aska) (Igbojima)
Hon. Nnoso Nwigum (Unwera)
Hon. Sunday Ogenyi (Unwuera)
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IGR CONTRACTORS & OPERATORS (Ebonyi State)
Fidelis Nwifuru – In charge of Mining, through Emeka Douglas Ogbonna & Emma Mbam (all Igbojima)
Simeon Nwifuru – Member, Ebonyi State Land Allocation; in charge of:
Tricycle daily tickets in Abakaliki, the capital city Motorcycle tickets (Lot 1 & 2)( Igbojima)
Paulinus Nwifuru – Chairman, IGR Taskforce( Igbojima)
Emmanuel Nwifuru (Omekagu) – IGR: Air pollution Equitimise Company – In charge of Property Rate( Igbojima)
Chibueze Nwifuru – IGR: Building Materials( Igbojima)
Kwadocity Nwifuru – IGR: Waste Management & Fire Service Abakaliki capital city( Igbojima)
Nwoga Nwifuru – IGR: Hospitality Industry (Hotels) – In care of Udore( Igbojima)
Innocent Nwifuru (Angel of Wonder) – IGR: Livestock Collection( Igbojima)
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EBONYI STATE INTERNATIONAL MARKET – LOT LEADERS
Mr. Ikporo Igbojima – Lot 1 Chairman( Igbojima)
Mrs. Nwali Patience Igbojima – Lot 2 Chairperson(Igbojima)
Fidelis Igbojima – Lot 3 Chairman( Igbojima)
Ochishi Israel– Timber Shade Chairman( Igbojima).
In all of this, the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi whom everyone knows as the godfather of Gov. Nwifuru should sit him down and tell him the truth which is the fact that the unity of all the integral parts of Ebonyi State is more important than the politics of sectionalism being played by the Government of the day in the state. We cannot afford to institutionalize what the current administration is doing. There’s need to detour, and this is in the interest of the state and its people.
