THE Ebonyi State Government has dismissed reports suggesting a political rift between Governor Francis Nwifuru and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued today, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, accused factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of deliberately misrepresenting remarks made by Governor Nwifuru during a grand endorsement rally for President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The rally was held on June 15 at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki.
According to Omebeh, the governor never threatened Wike as alleged in some reports. Instead, he said Nwifuru was addressing opposition figures who were spreading misinformation and attempting to stir political tension in Ebonyi State by invoking the FCT minister’s name.
He explained that the governor’s use of the word “consume” during his speech was purely metaphorical, intended to convey that individuals who continue to violate the law would face the full weight of legal consequences if they failed to change their actions.
The commissioner maintained that Governor Nwifuru and Minister Wike enjoy a cordial relationship built on mutual respect, insisting that attempts by opposition figures to portray a conflict between them would not succeed.
Omebeh also criticized the PDP, urging the party to focus on resolving its prolonged internal crises instead of attacking the state government.
He argued that a party struggling with internal divisions lacked the moral authority to criticize the administration’s performance.
He further stated that the PDP factions in Ebonyi State had become politically insignificant and posed no serious challenge to the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reaffirming the government’s position, Omebeh warned that individuals seeking political relevance through fake news and propaganda should be prepared to face legal consequences, adding that efforts to fabricate a misunderstanding between Nwifuru and Wike would ultimately fail.
The clarification followed widespread reactions to Governor Nwifuru’s remarks at the endorsement rally, where he alleged that some individuals claiming allegiance to Wike had been telling residents that President Bola Tinubu had handed Ebonyi State over to the FCT minister and his faction of the PDP.
Responding to the claims, the governor dismissed the suggestion, saying, “Some people are going around and saying that they discussed with President Tinubu and that the president has given Ebonyi to PDP. They said Nyesom Wike is their leader and that Wike said the president has given Ebonyi to him. And we say to them, ‘Eeyaah!'”
The expression “Eeyaah,” commonly used to express pity, underscored his dismissal of the claims.
Nwifuru insisted that Ebonyi State was “not for sale” and vowed to defend the state’s political interests.
He declared that his administration would not be intimidated, emphasizing that his government enjoyed the support of the people.
“We are not afraid. We only hold ourselves because our people are with us. Nobody should push us because we have all it takes to consume whoever is trying us; we have all it takes to destroy whoever is trying us,” the governor said.
He concluded by reaffirming Ebonyi’s commitment to the APC, stating that the people of the state remained firmly aligned with the ruling party and warning that anyone seeking to test their resolve would face the consequences.
