….Says don’t Inherit My Enemies Was Call for Peace

By Our Correspondent, Abakaliki

The Member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has clarified the controversial remarks made by Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, to newly sworn-in local government chairmen in the state.

Ogah, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, said the Governor’s message during the September 1, 2026 swearing-in ceremony at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, was about responsible leadership, accountability, reconciliation, grassroots development and service to the people.

Speaking on the political program, Issues in the Polity, the federal lawmaker said portions of the Governor’s remarks had been taken out of context and sensationalized by some media platforms, thereby creating narratives that did not reflect the substance of the address.

Ogah recalled that Governor Nwifuru had charged the newly inaugurated chairmen to execute projects at the grassroots, work with the people and avoid inheriting political enemies, saying:

“Make sure you do projects at the grassroots and don’t inherit my enemies. Make peace with my enemies and work with the people.”

According to Ogah, the Governor’s statement should be understood as a directive for the chairmen to build bridges across political divides and ensure that their administrations remain focused on the needs and welfare of their constituents.

He said the Governor also warned that council chairmen who failed to work with the people could lose the confidence of their constituents, stressing that the message underscored the importance of accountability, accessibility and people-oriented leadership at the grassroots.

The lawmaker further recalled that Nwifuru directed the council chairmen to reside in their respective local government headquarters, describing the policy as part of efforts to bring governance closer to the people. 

He noted that the administration had previously directed former chairmen to construct official residential quarters at the headquarters.

Ogah said the Governor’s message was that electoral victories must translate into tangible development, stressing that the newly elected chairmen should regard their positions as a responsibility to serve rather than political rewards.

He urged the chairmen to hit the ground running, identify the genuine needs of their communities and prioritize projects that would have visible and sustainable impact on the lives of the people, in line with the administration’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda.

The federal lawmaker also appealed to journalists, political commentators and members of the public to exercise caution in reporting and interpreting statements by public officials.

He urged them to consider the full context of remarks before drawing conclusions from headlines and social media interpretations.

He reaffirmed his support for Governor Nwifuru’s leadership and development agenda, and called on political stakeholders, elected representatives and citizens of Ebonyi to remain united and focused on the collective development of the state.

Ogah charged the new council chairmen to transform their political mandates into development mandates by converting campaign promises into tangible projects,

Building bridges across political divides and ensuring that the confidence reposed in them by the electorate translates into measurable achievements.