By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for the Ebonyi North West State Constituency, Barrister Obinna Iteshi in the just concluded general elections has felicitated with the Ebonyi Governor-elect, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru over his landslide victory in the exercise.
Barrister Iteshi who had ahead of the March 18 polls dumped his ambition and adopted Nwifuru, described the victory of the APC gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi as the true justification of the charter of equity which has continued to prevail in the apex seat of the state since 1999 till date.
Recall that Barrister Iteshi dumped his ambition and his party, PDP to join the APC at his Ekebeligwe Ishieke country home in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State before the march 18 polls.
The decision according to him, was part of his contributions towards promoting the already existing charter of equity in the gubernatorial seat and other elective positions in the state.
He said: “The March 18 governorship election demands that as an Izhi man, I have to be very conscious because if you look at the administrative arrangement of the state since 1999 till date, it’s only the wicked person who will be vying against Ebonyi North’s turn to produce the next governor of this state.”
He explained that Ebonyi North had taken their slot in the person of Senator Sam Egwu as the first Civilian Governor of Ebonyi State from 1999 to 2007, followed by ex-Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi Central between 2007 to 2015 and the incumbent Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi Central from 2015 till date following the existing principle of power rotation, equity, fairness and social justice in the gubernatorial seat.
Iteshi, however, maintained that by promoting the culture of equity, fairness and justice in Ebonyi’s governorship position, he decided to forgo his ambition to ensure a landslide victory of Nwifuru in his constituency and other parts of the state.
He said Nwifuru is eminently qualified to be the governor of Ebonyi State in considering his political career, experience, track records in office, and above all, the intimidating support coming across political lines for his favour, to ensure the existing charter of equity in the state governorship seat does not suffer a setback.
Notwithstanding, Barrister Iteshi, the present Treasurer of the State PDP, who had served as the State Youth Leader of the party, noted that Nwifuru would perform marvellously well in office in considering his antecedents and urged Ebonyi people to continue to support him in every possible way to ensure his administration records indelibly development, especially in human capacity building and development of critical infrastructures with much emphasis on water, mechanized agriculture, education, health and security.