2027: Nwifuru’s Governance Is No Political Mathematics; Aliuna Fires Back at Critics

By Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

As the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections gradually intensifies, the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has increasingly become a subject of political debate, with opposition politicians, particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), mounting criticisms against his governance and development policies.

However, beyond the growing political propaganda, selective calculations and what supporters describe as deliberate attempts to discredit the administration, the fundamental question remains whether Governor Nwifuru’s performance should be assessed through isolated figures and partisan arguments or through a comprehensive examination of his interventions across critical sectors of the state’s economy.

Former House of Representatives candidate for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Aliuna Godwin, has strongly condemned what he described as the growing desperation by opposition elements to undermine the Nwifuru administration through unsubstantiated allegations, selective interpretation of public information and politically motivated attacks.

According to Aliuna, governance is not a mathematics competition in which an individual selects 45 roads within Abakaliki metropolis, calculates their estimated distances and subsequently declares the entire infrastructure programme of a state government unsuccessful. He argued that such an approach represents a gross misrepresentation of the realities of public administration and an attempt to substitute political propaganda for objective assessment.

He maintained that Ebonyi State comprises 13 local government areas, numerous rural communities, agricultural settlements, commercial centres and emerging development corridors, insisting that an assessment of infrastructure delivery must extend beyond the geographical boundaries of Abakaliki metropolis.

“Ebonyi State is not Abakaliki alone. Governance is not about selecting a few streets, performing private calculations and using the outcome to pass a sweeping verdict on an administration that has development interventions across the state,” Aliuna argued.

THE 1,000-KILOMETRE ROAD DEVELOPMENT DEBATE

One of the major issues raised by critics concerns Governor Nwifuru’s reported declaration that his administration has completed over 1,000 kilometres of roads across Ebonyi State. While the former Commissioner for Works, Stanley Mbam, reportedly disclosed in September 2026 that over 627 kilometres had been completed, the governor subsequently cited a cumulative figure exceeding 1,000 kilometres during his anniversary address.

Aliuna argued that the difference in the reported figures should be subjected to proper technical reconciliation, including the reporting periods, project classifications and cumulative measurements, rather than being weaponised as automatic evidence of incompetence or financial recklessness.

He further challenged critics to understand that road construction is not determined by a uniform financial formula. Terrain, drainage, bridges, culverts, pavement specifications, soil conditions, road width and other engineering requirements significantly influence construction costs.

Consequently, multiplying an assumed construction cost of ₦300 million by 1,000 kilometres to arrive at ₦300 billion and presenting the outcome as an established government expenditure is, in his view, an oversimplification that cannot replace actual contract documents, procurement records, engineering estimates and payment certificates.

Nevertheless, Aliuna maintained that the government should make available a comprehensive register of completed and ongoing road projects, including their locations, lengths, contractors, contract sums and completion status, to strengthen public confidence and provide independent verification.

ROADS: OPENING UP RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Beyond the controversy surrounding road statistics, the Nwifuru administration has made road infrastructure one of its major development priorities. Its road interventions, particularly in rural communities, are intended to improve accessibility, facilitate agricultural transportation, connect commercial centres and reduce the difficulties previously experienced by residents in underserved areas.

For a predominantly agrarian state like Ebonyi, road infrastructure is not merely about constructing asphalt surfaces or displaying kilometres in government reports. It is directly connected to farmers’ ability to transport their produce, traders’ capacity to access markets and rural communities’ ability to participate meaningfully in economic activities.

The administration’s community road initiative also represents an important dimension of rural development, provided the projects are delivered to the required engineering standards and sustained through effective maintenance.

EDUCATION: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF EBONYI CHILDREN

In the education sector, the administration has highlighted its overseas postgraduate scholarship programme, through which more than 1,000 Ebonyi indigenes have reportedly benefited from opportunities to pursue master’s and doctoral qualifications.

This represents an important human-capital development intervention that deserves serious consideration in any comprehensive assessment of the administration’s performance.

The government has also reported the construction of 39 model classroom blocks across the state’s 13 local government areas, alongside interventions in tertiary institutions and improvements in educational facilities.

Furthermore, Governor Nwifuru announced an increase in the monthly subvention to Ebonyi State University from ₦150 million to ₦280 million, a development intended to strengthen the institution’s financial capacity and support its academic responsibilities.

Aliuna argued that it is intellectually dishonest for political critics to dismiss educational investments simply because they are not road construction projects. According to him, roads develop physical connectivity, while education builds the intellectual capacity required to sustain economic growth and institutional development.

AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMIC REVITALISATION

Agriculture remains one of Ebonyi State’s most important economic foundations, considering the contributions of rice, yam, cassava, vegetables and other agricultural commodities to household incomes and commercial activities.

The Nwifuru administration’s agricultural development agenda must therefore be assessed through its interventions in agricultural productivity, farmers’ support, mechanisation, rural accessibility, food security and opportunities for agro-processing.

A government that seeks to transform an agrarian economy must pay attention not only to food production but also to the entire agricultural value chain, including storage, processing, transportation and market access.

Similarly, economic development cannot be measured exclusively through government expenditure or the number of commissioned projects. It must also reflect improvements in employment opportunities, private-sector participation, business confidence, household welfare and the purchasing power of ordinary citizens.

Aliuna maintained that these sectors should form part of the broader conversation about Nwifuru’s administration rather than allowing political opponents to reduce the state’s development debate to a single infrastructure calculation.

ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT A LICENCE FOR POLITICAL FALSEHOOD

While acknowledging that accountability is indispensable in a democratic society, Aliuna strongly rejected what he described as the growing tendency among opposition politicians to present allegations as established facts without providing sufficient documentary evidence.

He particularly condemned attempts to portray the governor as incompetent, financially irresponsible or incapable of delivering democratic dividends without a comprehensive examination of the administration’s policies, projects and expenditure records.

He insisted that the PDP and other opposition elements must understand that democracy does not confer on politicians the licence to manufacture narratives, distort public information or deliberately mislead citizens for electoral advantage.

Opposition parties have every constitutional right to scrutinise government activities, demand explanations and challenge policies. However, such responsibilities must be exercised with intellectual honesty, factual consistency and respect for the truth.

Aliuna challenged the PDP to move beyond what he described as repetitive political accusations and present credible alternatives to the development policies of the incumbent administration.

He further argued that if opposition politicians genuinely desire the progress of Ebonyi State, their criticisms should be accompanied by constructive proposals on how to improve infrastructure, strengthen education, transform agriculture, create employment and expand economic opportunities.

2027: THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PERFORMANCE

As the 2027 governorship election approaches, the political contest in Ebonyi State will inevitably involve competing arguments about leadership, development priorities, public accountability and the future direction of the state.

For supporters of Governor Nwifuru, the administration’s reported interventions across infrastructure, education, agriculture, healthcare, workers’ welfare and rural development provide important grounds for defending its record and seeking continuity.

Aliuna maintained that political opposition should not be confused with a rejection of every development initiative undertaken by the government, warning that the deliberate politicisation of achievements could undermine the collective interests of the state.

He argued that Ebonyi deserves a political environment in which competing parties can disagree without resorting to personal attacks, misinformation or the indiscriminate condemnation of government programmes.

Ultimately, the Nwifuru administration must remain open to constructive criticism, independent project verification and transparent public accounting. Equally, those who challenge its record must be prepared to substantiate their allegations with credible evidence rather than speculative calculations and politically convenient conclusions.

Aliuna therefore called on Ebonyi residents to assess the administration through its complete development record, the quality of projects delivered, the sustainability of its policies and their practical impact on citizens, rather than allowing partisan rhetoric to determine their political judgement.

He expressed confidence that the 2027 electoral contest would provide an opportunity for the governor’s supporters to present their case for continuity, insisting that political ambition must never take precedence over the collective development and stability of Ebonyi State.

For the former federal constituency candidate, the message to the opposition is straightforward: criticism is legitimate, accountability is non-negotiable, but falsehood, distortion and selective mathematics cannot constitute a credible alternative to governance.