By David Akpu, Abakaliki

A sociocultural Organization, Unwuekumenyi United Youths Forum, on Saturday, held one million-man March in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, ahead of the 2023 general elections, and backed back return to Ebonyi north zone.

The forum also announced its resolve to back the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, as its preferred governorship candidate.

A statement titled, “The position of Unwuekumenyi Youths on the rotation of governorship seat in Ebonyi State”, which was signed by its National President, Uche Ali-Ega, and made available to Journalists after the solidarity march, the forum said the march was in support of equity in the State, the forum said its decision to endorse Mr Nwifuru of the APC was reached after critical assessments of all the governorship candidates of all the political parties in the race.

It noted that , having appraised the political developments in Ebonyi State from 1999 till date, it “commends the Founding Fathers of the State, for their forthrightness and the unwavering belief in equity, justice and fairness, especially as regards the rotation of the seat of Governorship among the three (3) Senatorial Zones in the State.”

It appreciated governor David Umahi for his massive infrastructural strides in Unwuekumenyi land and for his boldness, honesty and political will in maintaining the power rotation among the three (3) Senatorial Zones in the State, with the Governorship position having rotated from the North, Central, South and now, back to the North Zone.

This is even as it commended political parties in the State, who in respect to the charter of equity, zoned their Governorship positions to Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, particularly to Izzi clan.

Part of the statement reads: “Having made critical assessment of all the candidates of various political parties in the State, hereby unanimously endorses the candidature of Rt. Hon. Progressives Congress Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, of the All (APC), as our consensus choice for the 2023 Governorship election in Ebonyi State and enjoin other critical stakeholders in Ebonyi project to do same.

“We Call on other clans and zones in the State to kindly respect the zoning arrangement and rally round Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna. Nwifuru, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness, in order not to truncate the dreams of our Founding Fathers and maintain peaceful transitions in subsequent power rotations to other zones of the State, as being preached by your Excellency our leader.

“We Reiterates that, being the most populous clans in the state; consisting over seventy percent (70%) of both landmass and citizenry of the state, insists that this equitable, fair and just decision of returning power to Unwuekumenyi MUST be upheld, knowing that in the event of breakdown of law and order resulting in injustice, we will be the worst hit.

“We further state that Unwuekumenyi are peace-loving, accommodating and generous. And that we will continue with the already existing inclusiveness in our dealings with our brothers and sisters from other zones, clans and residents in Ebonyi State, before, during and after the 2023 general elections.”

Our Correspondent reports that Unwuekumenyi United Youth Forum is a socio-cultural organization comprising six (6) clans Ezza, Ikwo, Izzi, Ngbolizhia, Ezilo and Ohafia/Agba, spread across nine (9) Local Government Areas in Ebonyi State, namely, Abakaliki, Ezza South, Ikwo, Izzi, Ishielu, Ohaukwu, Ezza North, Ebonyi and also in Onicha Local Government Areas.

Addressing the forum at the front of the old government house, Abakaliki, the Chairman of APC in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, said he was overwhelmed by the solidarity of Umuekumenyi youths for the APC.

Emegha noted that appreciation was key to human existence, saying that the youths have demonstrated their appreciation to governor Umahi through the solidarity rally.

He acknowledged that the mobilization by the youths was total and was a demonstration that the people were in love with the APC.

Emegha further expressed optimism that the APC Guber candidate, Mr Ogbonna Nwifuru would be sworn-in on May 2023.

He added that the ruling APC in the State would continue to accommodate opposition parties, despite their divisiveness activities.