Godswill Michael
Communities in Ebonyi South have declared support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was announced during the 2025 Iri Ji Festival of the OHANIVO General Assembly, held on September 27, 2025, in Ebonyi State.
The people of Ohaozara, Onicha, and Ivo Local Government Areas, under the OHANIVO General Assembly, commended Tinubu for “breaking the jinx of Igbo marginalization in the trajectory of development and nation-building in Nigeria since the civil war.” They said his inclusive leadership had restored hope for unity and fairness in the country.
In the same vein, the communities pledged total commitment to Nwifuru’s re-election bid. According to them, his “People’s Charter of Needs” agenda has deepened inclusive development across Ebonyi State.
In his welcome address, President-General of OHANIVO, Darlington Okereke, said the endorsements reflected the collective minds of the people of Ohaozara, Onicha, and Ivo communities.
Minister of Works and grand patron of the Assembly, Senator David Umahi, thanked the people for recognizing the inclusive policies of Tinubu and the developmental strides of Nwifuru. He urged Ndigbo and residents of the South East to give both leaders maximum support in 2027.
Umahi declared: “Let me use the opportunity to appreciate deeply our dear President, and I am addressing the South East people. I am addressing some of those who are darkening counsel without knowledge. I am addressing those who do not understand what is going on in South East. I am addressing those who have occupied social media.”
He continued: “I have told them that in Ebony State, we are not obidient people. We have been so marginalised that we are no longer obidient. But our obedience is in the man that has given us a sense of belonging, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There is no obidient person in Ebonyi State.”
The Minister added: “What we have is to return the good things President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done for South East and for Ebonyi State when the time comes. We will not be deceived again because the last election was a mistake, but we have come to be wiser.”
He stressed further: “We want to be a part of a united Nigeria. We want to be treated fairly. We want to be counted, and the President is doing that. So we have no reason not to support him. We have no reason not to support Governor Francis Nwifuru.”
On Nwifuru’s second term, Umahi insisted: “Let me tell you something, if you want to struggle against Governor Nwifuru, you have to do it on social media because you will not come here to reap where you did not sow and nothing will stop his second term because God has already endorsed it.”
Acting Governor of Ebonyi, Princess Patricia Obila, who was Special Guest of Honour, praised the solidarity of OHANIVO communities. She assured them of the state government’s determination to expand development across all localities.
Obila also commended Umahi for “making the country proud through the compassionate delivery of transformative road infrastructure projects desired to grow the economy.”
Chairman of the occasion and CEO of Rock Results Group Nigeria Ltd, Chief (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okorie, called for a standing ovation in honour of Tinubu. He urged OHANIVO communities to sustain support for the President’s economic policies and political agenda.
Okorie added that “more dividends of democracy for South East were underway as we continue to support him.” He also thanked Umahi for making the people proud through his leadership efforts.
Prominent stakeholders at the festival included Senator Prof. Anthony Okorie Ani of Ebonyi South, Hon. Nkemkama Kama representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, and Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Grace Umezurike. Others were political leaders, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders.
