2023: Izzi Youth Adopts Speaker For Governor, Nwebonyi As Sole Candidates For Senate

---Vows to deal with Kinsmen who accept deputy governorship Position

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki Ahead of the 2023 general election in Ebonyi State, the apex socio-cultural group in Izhi clan, Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, (INYF) has thrown their weight behind the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as their sole candidate for Governorship position under the ruling platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State.

However, the forum also adopted Barr. Onyekachi Peter Nwebonyi as candidate for Ebonyi North Senatorial district come 2023 polls. The forum also vowed to decisively deal with any member of the clan whosoever accepted to become a running mate to gubernatorial candidate in any political party, maintaining it would lead to his or her packing from Izhi land.

They stated this during an enlarged stakeholders meeting of the forum held at their National Secretariat, Abakaliki, the State capital. Speaking during the meeting, the National President of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, Comrade Ben Nwovu who said the purpose of the meeting was to affirm their position in the present political dispensation, and reaffirmed their earlier adoption of the speaker as their preferred candidate come 2023 Governorship election in Ebonyi State as well as Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi as APC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi North Senatorial District on the ground of equity, fairness and justice.

The National President stated unequivocally that on no account should any son or daughter accept the Deputy Governorship position of any political party as such would not not be accepted in Izhi clan. Speaking further, the National President appreciated the executive Governor of the State Engr. David Umahi for approving the allocation of a parcel of land to the forum at former Abakpa main Market now known as City Center Market.

He lauded the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress for peaceful conduct of its primaries which affirmed 'their son' Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as the party Governorship flag bearer. He enjoined their Izzi brothers and sisters who are in the other political parties to join forces with them in APC in ensuring that Hon. Nwifuru emerged victoriously at the poll. He charged members of the clan who are at the voting age to participate massively on the ongoing voter's card registration and revalidation exercise as people without voter's card would not be allowed in their markets and other social gathering soon in the clan. He also called other clans in the State to support them in their pursuit of producing next Governor of the State as Izhi clan has been supporting them at different times of their contest.

Corroborating the president, the chairman of Izzi Local Government Area Hon. Paul Nwogha decried the poor treatment of their brothers and sisters during PDP Governorship primary and advised them to join APC to work with them in order to achieve the Governorship position the clan is yearning for. He warned sternly members of the clan who are in the other political parties contesting to divide votes of the clan to desist from such act for the overall interest and development of the clan. On his part, the Ebonyi North Senatorial Candidate Barrister Onyekachi Nwebonyi thanked Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum and expressed glad that God has remembered Izzi clan, adding the emergence of Izzi man would be a total emancipation of the clan while appreciating Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum for standing by him. He extolled Engr. David Umahi who has in his effort chosen an Izzi man to be next Governor of the State. Barr. Nwebonyi who added that he has distributed over 483 motorcycles to Izzi youths, pledged to build an edifice to Izhi Nnodo Youth Forum, embarked on aggressive employment, empowerment among others to reduce youths restiveness and also make efforts to put to an end boundary dispute ravaging the clan.

The meeting climaxed with the adoption of Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi and Rt. Honorable Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as their preferred candidate in a motion moved by Mr. Darlyton Mbam, seconded by the Coordinator of Ekumenyi Development Center Hon. Ebere Nwogba and unanimously adopted by the people.