The Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council, the apex socio-cultural body representing the Abakaliki geographical territory of Ebonyi State, has formally endorsed Engr. Ifeanyichukwu Odii as its preferred candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election, reports ITREALMS.
The declaration, which followed a high-level stakeholders' meeting in Abakaliki, was framed by the Council as an urgent “political rescue operation” intended to reverse what it termed the state’s current developmental stagnation.
In a strongly worded communique signed by its spokesperson, Hon. Emmanuel Nwobo, the Council emphasized that Ebonyi’s future is too critical to be subjected to “trial-and-error programming.” The leaders insisted that future leadership must be determined by capacity, competence, vision, and accountability rather than traditional political factors such as rotation, geographical sentiment, or the “allotment” of power.
The group expressed deep concern over the perceived degradation of governance, contrasting the current state of affairs with Ebonyi’s former reputation as the fastest-developing state in the Southeast.
The Council warned that “any further experimentation with the present leadership beyond 2027 will be developmentally disastrous,” characterizing the state’s current economic climate as one of “comatose depression, squalor, and administrative brigandage.”
While the Council welcomed the democratic interest of aspirants from the state’s North, Central, and Southern zones, it asserted that all candidates must face rigorous scrutiny. Following extensive deliberations, the group identified Engr. Ifeanyichukwu Odii as the most credible alternative to reclaim the state’s lost prestige.
The Council highlighted Odii’s extensive private sector experience as the essential asset required to reintegrate Ebonyi into the international economic map and stimulate rapid recovery. Encouraging Odii to embrace this “new change process,” the group emphasized that development must take precedence over political power allocation.
While the Council welcomed the democratic interest of aspirants from the state’s North, Central, and Southern zones, it asserted that all candidates must face rigorous scrutiny. Following extensive deliberations, the group identified Engr. Ifeanyichukwu Odii as the most credible alternative to reclaim the state’s lost prestige.
The Council highlighted Odii’s extensive private sector experience as the essential asset required to reintegrate Ebonyi into the international economic map and stimulate rapid recovery. Encouraging Odii to embrace this “new change process,” the group emphasized that development must take precedence over political power allocation.
The communique painted a sobering picture of life in Ebonyi, citing an alarming rise in economic hardship, youth unemployment, and environmental degradation.
The Council further raised concerns regarding:
The Business Environment: Persistent roadblocks and systemic challenges facing local entrepreneurs, hindering the ease of doing business.
Public Accountability: Allegations of financial impropriety and an “epidemic” of poorly executed or abandoned projects, which the group argues have eroded public trust.
Government Disconnect: An urgent need to restore responsive, transparent, and people-oriented governance to mend the growing divide between the state government and the governed.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the “Ebonyi First” mantra, declaring its refusal to prioritize tribal or parochial interests over the collective welfare of the people. Following the endorsement, the Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council formally established itself as the apex socio-cultural platform for the territory, pledging to serve as a hub for advocacy, peacebuilding, and leadership engagement.
The Council concluded by urging all Ebonyians, at home and in the diaspora; to unite behind a vision of justice and economic advancement. It called on traditional, religious, and civil society leaders to eschew narrow interests, warning that the state cannot continue on its current trajectory without incurring irreparable political and economic collateral damage.
Branding: ITREALMS Online | Audit is Trustworthy | Leadership SENSE Strategic Focus: Political Governance, Economic Development, Regional Advocacy Bureau: @ITREALMS, Abakaliki/Lagos Linkage
The Business Environment: Persistent roadblocks and systemic challenges facing local entrepreneurs, hindering the ease of doing business.
Public Accountability: Allegations of financial impropriety and an “epidemic” of poorly executed or abandoned projects, which the group argues have eroded public trust.
Government Disconnect: An urgent need to restore responsive, transparent, and people-oriented governance to mend the growing divide between the state government and the governed.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the “Ebonyi First” mantra, declaring its refusal to prioritize tribal or parochial interests over the collective welfare of the people. Following the endorsement, the Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council formally established itself as the apex socio-cultural platform for the territory, pledging to serve as a hub for advocacy, peacebuilding, and leadership engagement.
The Council concluded by urging all Ebonyians, at home and in the diaspora; to unite behind a vision of justice and economic advancement. It called on traditional, religious, and civil society leaders to eschew narrow interests, warning that the state cannot continue on its current trajectory without incurring irreparable political and economic collateral damage.
Branding: ITREALMS Online | Audit is Trustworthy | Leadership SENSE Strategic Focus: Political Governance, Economic Development, Regional Advocacy Bureau: @ITREALMS, Abakaliki/Lagos Linkage
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