Ebonyi Governor Absent as Southeast Governors Welcome President to Anambra

The absence of Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru at Thursday’s presidential visit to Anambra State has drawn public criticism, especially as his counterparts from the Southeast zone were all in attendance.

While the event saw the convergence of top government officials and governors from the region, Ebonyi’s chief executive was notably missing—a development that has raised eyebrows, given that Governor Nwifuru is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reacting to the governor’s absence, a former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, expressed disappointment, noting that the governor's continued detachment from zonal activities is detrimental to the state’s visibility and development.

“Our governor's continued absence at zonal events is part of why he's lacking the motivation to perform, including a horde of the appointees he has—most of whom are nothing to write home about in the delivery of modern-day dividends of democracy,” Nwoba stated.

He argued that Governor Nwifuru’s participation in such presidential visits could expose him to fresh ideas, collaborative opportunities, and renewed commitment to governance.

“His presence at these events could bequeath in him a deep sense of socialization which contributes to efficiency in performance. His expected, but failed presence at the Enugu and Anambra presidential tours could give him some project inspiration,” Nwoba added.

The former government aide lamented what he described as Ebonyi's dwindling presence on the national stage since the current administration took office, calling on the governor to be more proactive.

“This is not a veritable moment to advance vainglorious praise-singing,” Nwoba warned. “We should be worried that our governor, who's always hale and hearty, is consistently absent from events where he could learn new things about governance and leadership.”

He concluded by saying, “Since there are no projects to commission in Ebonyi since 2023, Governor Nwifuru should at least join his colleague governors to witness the commissioning of mega projects elsewhere. Who knows—he might be inspired to do something visible for Ebonyi. There's no way 4+4 can be a project. It’s not, has never been, and shouldn’t be.”