The noise from political jobbers and beneficiaries of the present administration calling on the leading governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Odii (Anyichuks), to step down for Governor Francis Nwifuru may soon be put to rest. The opportunity has finally presented itself for Ebonyians to determine who genuinely deserves to govern them beyond 2027.
Odii has challenged Governor Nwifuru to a public debate. What better opportunity could there be for a sitting governor to defend his record, justify his stewardship and demonstrate why he deserves another four years in office?
For those who have made a career out of asking Odii to abandon his governorship ambition, the challenge presents a golden opportunity. Rather than dissipating energy on political propaganda, intimidation and sponsored commentaries, they should encourage their principal to accept the invitation.
After all, Nwifuru has been governor for more than three years. He has enjoyed access to billions of naira in public resources, exercised enormous executive powers and had sufficient time to demonstrate his capacity to transform Ebonyi State.
On the other hand is Odii, an internationally successful businessman who, without holding public office or controlling government allocations, has reportedly built over 158 houses for the less privileged, provided bursaries and scholarships to students across Ebonyi State and undertaken numerous philanthropic interventions that have touched lives across communities.
If one man could achieve so much with his personal resources, should Ebonyians not be interested in hearing what he intends to accomplish with the enormous resources available to the state?
Nwifuru is a lawyer, even if his academic journey came through adult education. One would ordinarily expect a lawyer, particularly one who has occupied the offices of Speaker and Governor, to possess sufficient confidence, articulation and understanding of public affairs to confront a businessman in an open debate.
On paper, therefore, the contest should favour Nwifuru. He has the advantage of incumbency, access to government records and firsthand knowledge of every decision taken by his administration.
But Odii has thrown down the gauntlet. There is no going back.
The world is waiting. Ebonyians are waiting. The governor’s response is all that is needed before a date can be fixed.
Indeed, there may be no better way of settling the growing argument over who should step down for whom. Let both men appear before an independent panel, present their records, defend their programmes and answer questions without prepared political praise singers.
Whoever demonstrates superior capacity, credibility, vision and understanding of the challenges confronting Ebonyi should earn the confidence of the electorate.
And if Nwifuru performs so convincingly, perhaps Odii’s supporters will have reasons to reconsider their position. But if Odii exposes the weaknesses of the present administration and presents a more credible alternative, those asking him to step down should bury their heads in shame.
For Nwifuru, the debate should ordinarily be an easy one. He already knows where the traps are. He knows the questions that have continued to trouble Ebonyians. He should therefore prepare adequately to navigate them.
Let us help him with a few.
First is the abandoned Vanco Flyover.
The governor must come prepared to explain how much public money has gone into that project, how many buildings and business premises were demolished to accommodate it, what compensation was paid and why the project has remained uncompleted more than three years into his administration.
He should also explain the economic losses suffered by traders, property owners, motorists and other residents whose livelihoods have been disrupted.
His predecessor, Senator David Umahi, constructed numerous flyovers within comparable periods. What, therefore, is so technically challenging about Vanco that the present administration has been unable to deliver it?
Is it inadequate funding, poor planning, contractual incompetence or simply a failure of leadership?
Nwifuru must convince the debate panel and Ebonyians that Vanco is not a monumental advertisement of his administration’s inability to translate promises into results.
Secondly, the governor should come with the documents concerning the three aircraft reportedly purchased for the proposed Ebonyi Air.
Two years after the announcement, where are the aircraft?
Were payments made? To whom? Under what contractual arrangements? What delivery dates were agreed upon, and why have the aircraft yet to arrive?
Or was the money mistakenly paid into a wrong account?
Ebonyians deserve answers, not another round of political explanations packaged as achievements.
Then comes the proposed new cement factory at Nkalagu, perhaps one of the most interesting subjects Odii should bring before the debate panel.
Nwifuru must explain how his administration intends to deliver a multibillion-naira cement factory within its advertised timeframe when serious questions remain about the necessary geological and geophysical investigations, core drilling, laboratory analysis, mining rights and regulatory approvals.
What is the actual status of the mining licence? What is the legal position regarding the existing rights reportedly held by Ibeto until 2048? Has the government established the commercial viability of the limestone deposit it intends to exploit?
A cement factory is not a constituency project that can be announced at a political rally and commissioned with rented equipment.
It requires serious technical preparation, substantial investment, verifiable mineral reserves and a clearly established legal framework.
If these fundamentals have not been addressed, what exactly is the governor promising Ebonyians? A functional cement factory or another attractive campaign slogan designed to secure re-election in 2027?
Odii, as an accomplished businessman, should be particularly interested in interrogating the commercial assumptions behind this project. This is where the difference between understanding business and merely announcing investments may become painfully obvious.
But beyond abandoned infrastructure, missing aircraft and questionable project timelines lies an even more disturbing issue: the deteriorating political atmosphere in Ebonyi State.
Governor Nwifuru must answer questions concerning allegations of intimidation and violence against opposition figures.
His reported warning to handpicked local government chairmen that they risk losing their positions if they fail to deliver their council areas politically deserves serious interrogation.
What exactly does delivering a council area mean in a democracy? Is the responsibility of a local government chairman to provide governance to the people or to secure electoral victory for the governor?
Since the emergence of these political threats, disturbing incidents of violence involving opposition figures have been reported in Ohaukwu, Ezza South, Onicha and Ivo council areas, with some resulting in deaths.
Although responsibility for these attacks must be established through credible investigations, the governor cannot escape questions about the political atmosphere under his watch.
Why has political competition become so frightening? Why should citizens feel threatened because they support another political party? Why should opposition activities become matters requiring the permission or approval of those holding government offices?
And, most importantly, why does an incumbent governor who claims to have performed creditably appear so uncomfortable with the growing political influence of his principal challenger?
If Nwifuru has delivered the dividends of democracy, why should he be worried about Odii?
If the people are satisfied with his administration, why the apparent desperation to secure political loyalty from local government officials?
A performing governor should be campaigning with completed projects, not relying on political foot soldiers to demand that his opponent withdraw from the contest.
The debate must also examine the broader question of governance. What has become of the hopes and expectations of Ebonyians who welcomed Nwifuru into office in 2023? Has the state made sufficient progress in employment generation, industrialisation, infrastructure, healthcare, education and economic empowerment?
What is the measurable difference between Ebonyi before his inauguration and Ebonyi today?
These are questions that cannot be answered through commissioned newspaper articles, television appearances by political appointees or the familiar chorus of praise singers whose livelihoods depend on remaining close to the corridors of power.
They require facts, figures, evidence and courage.
Odii, too, will come prepared to explain his development agenda, economic blueprint and strategy for delivering sustainable prosperity to Ebonyians.
He will be there to demonstrate how would translate his private-sector experience into effective public administration.
Let both men stand before the people without the protective walls of political office or the manufactured applause of hired supporters.
Let Nwifuru defend his three years of stewardship, and let Anyichuks explain why he believes he can do better.
For once, let Ebonyi politics move away from threats, propaganda, intimidation and the arrogance of incumbency to a genuine contest of ideas, competence and character.
The people are entitled to know who has the capacity to manage their collective resources and who merely considers political office an entitlement.
The challenge has been issued. The stage is waiting.
Governor Nwifuru should accept it, name his preferred date and face Odii.
After the debate, perhaps the political jobbers who have been shouting that Anyichuks should step down will finally discover that they have been directing their advice to the wrong candidate.
Between Odii and Nwifuru, who should actually step down?
Let the debate hold. Let Ebonyians judge.
