The stakeholders of Oferekpe Agbaja community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State have commended the achievements of Governor Francis Nwifuru in less than two years in office, saying that he has turned every part of Ebonyi State into a construction site.
The stakeholders commended Nwifuru for having embarked on urban-rural development in the state, especially the construction of roads, bridges, and other social amenities built in Ebonyi communities.
Interacting with journalists yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Transport, Chief Frederick Nwogbaga said Governor Francis Nwifuru has done marvelously well both in infrastructure and human capital development.
"His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has done marvelously well; in less than two years in office, he turned every part of Ebonyi State into a construction site, building infrastructures and human beings.
"I used to take time to think about where the resources were coming from because many governors have governed the state for eight years but we are seeing today, more quality leadership, including massive empowerment, payment of pensions and gratuities, there are many infrastructure projects ongoing now, they are numerous to be mentioned," Nwogbaga said.
Another stakeholder, Chief Anthony Nwazufu Egbe (Agbarike Oferekpe Agbaja) described Nwifuru as a peace builder, noting that his administration ended both internal and border clashes experienced by Ebonyi communities, given instance of Ezza/ Effium war, Abaomege-Isinkwo aged long crisis, Ebonyi-Cross River border clashes, Ngbo-Agila war, among others.
He noted that the peaceful disposition and exemplary leadership style of Governor Francis made Ebonyi residents especially the youths boycott the ongoing nationwide hunger protest in some parts of the country.
Egbe commended the governor for his special passion for reforming the traditional rulership system, saying his administration's decision to build houses for all the traditional rulers in the state would earn him an endless blessing.
He noted that "Nwifuru's government does not only dwell on building infrastructures but continues to care for the welfare of the state citizens through massive empowerment, employment of civil servants, salary increment, awards of scholarship to students, reduced students' tuition fees, ensuring citizens access quality health services and practices all-inclusive governance, with regards to the fundamental human rights of the elders and younger ones.
Further, the President General of Oferekpe Agbaja Stakeholders Forum, Mr Elias Nwibo said he is always overwhelmed that Governor Nwifuru hails from his village, saying the governor has made Oferekpe Agbaja people proud in considering his positive impacts on Ebonyians in less than two years in office.
"The governor is youthful and useful, spreading dividends of democracy across the state, that's why we entire members of the community are strongly behind him.
"Our village has become a construction site. Everywhere is on construction, there are ongoing projects including roads, ICT University, bridges, electricity, and street lights, and there's a plan for building a modern market in the area. Similar projects are ongoing in every community in the state, and that's why Ebonyi people are strongly behind him."
The President General, however, assured the contractors and workers in the project sites within the area of adequate security and friendly accommodation.
"We are assuring all the contractors in this village that they should not fear because we have enough security that secure all their equipment.
"We are friendly people and your working tools are secured. The workers should feel free to stay in our community because we are very accommodating and you should not fear," Nwibo assured.
The Vice Chairman of Oferekpe Agbaja Stakeholders Forum, Prince Innocent Omerumba Nwifuru said the governor has set a standard in terms of quality leadership, noting that his wisdom to uniting the Ebonyi stakeholders regardless of their party affiliations was the first of its kind since the state's creation.
He thanked Ebonyi people for having continued to throw their weight behind Governor Nwifuru, noting that his humane character, generosity, and commitment to fulfill his administration agenda anchored on the People's Charter of Needs would signpost the state in a global map of development.
The Oferekpe Overall Village Head, Chief Anthony Nwigwe Nwori described Governor Nwifuru as a generous leader, whose election into the seat of power and leadership wisdom have given hope to the hopeless.
He extolled Nwifuru's government for empowering hawkers from the state with 2 million Naira each, giving scholarships to students, offering free health services to pregnant women, and vulnerable people, and embarking on other empowerment programs to Ebonyi people including the recent distribution of farm inputs, among others.
The Oferekpe Youth Leader - John Nwego, the Ojiegbe Oferekpe Village Head - Ferdinand Mbam, and Peter Nwangbu, among others, described the leadership of Governor Francis Nwifuru as a true reflection of his sobriquet - The Moon of Oferekpe (Onwa Oferekpe), while pouring encomiums on him.
