2023: Izzi Political Elites Fault INYF Restriction Order, Call For Redress

By Anele Nwinya, Abakaliki Izzi Political elites have condemned in its entirety the recent communique issued by the Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, INYF, credited to its National President, Comrade Ben Nwovu, faulting its declaration for posing threats to life and other restrictions to human rights. The Concerned Izzi Political s, who are also members of INYF in a press release made available to journalists on Friday in Abakaliki, said their "attention has been repeatedly drawn to an anti-societal threat and declaration credited to one Comr. Ben Nwovu, the President of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum and his team under the umbrella of the Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum." The group noted that the INYF declaration was signed by Comr Nwovu and aired by Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC). It further read: "The forum also warned every Izhi son and daughter against accepting deputy governorship position of any political party in Ebonyi State, no matter how juicy the promises were given to him or her may be." It further reads “…as such person would not be accepted in Izzi clan. "For the lovers of good governance, social justice and crusaders of peaceful coexistence, those who have always noted Izzi land as an abode of peacemakers, we make bold to say that we are neither concerned nor bothered by the person of Comr. Ben Nov, his Youth Forum and his political party including its candidates. "But we are heavily concerned about innocent Izzi sons and daughters whose lives may be on the line by this anti-democratic threat for choosing to run for the office of Deputy Governor or support anyone from Izzi who is running for such position. We are not also digging into their unending endorsements. "Though we are still expressing shock on how a group claiming to be the mouthpiece of a whole clan peopled by members of different registered political parties, some of which flag bearers of their respective parties (Engr. Chukwuma Awuregu Nwandugo for instance), will rise under a scorching sun one day without due consultation and consents of all the flag bearers of the different parties, to stamp endorsement on one man just because he is in the Governor’s faction of the ruling party. The communique added, "If Comrade Ben Nwovu and his team are the only people that make one a governor, where then lie the fates of other aspirants not consulted nor heard from before their endorsement hammer falls? Is this still happening in the same Izzi we all belong to and have known for uniqueness for ages? "We wish to remind Comr. Ben and his team that the right to vote and to be voted for is constitutionally recognized in Nigeria. Same with freedom of association as enshrined in the Constitution. Comr. Ben and his cabals should not take the candle burnt by the draftsman while on Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011 as amended) for granted. They should be aware of the fact that the law is the respecter of no one. "Their anti-societal threats and other illegal plans against those who don’t have the same political beliefs as them are already in the public domain. "We have repeatedly gone through the wordings of their statements and listened to the audio countless times and we are still wondering if Comr. Ben Nwovu was the person who gathered supposed responsible youths for the sole purpose of dishing out violence and getting them violently ready to clamp down anyone who politically disagrees with them. "The positions of Comr. Ben and his team are, with the utmost respect, likened to the views held by highly placed irresponsible representatives whose selfishness makes them think they are the final arbiters between the people and the power above. "We are aware of how desperate they have become in making sure that they cause dissatisfaction between the Izzi people and other Ebonyians across the State. For Comr. Ben and his team expressly prohibit peace-loving Izzi sons and daughters from accepting to run for the Deputy Governor position under any political party in this modern political era means they are, with all due respect, set to not only destroy themselves but also cause harm to the historical and ancestral image of Izzi Clan and her age-long socio-political and cultural relationship with her sister clans in the State. We wish to use this opportunity to let Comr. Nova and his men recall that since the creation of Ebonyi State, none has dared others to stop from exercising their inalienable rights to vote and be voted for in any electoral process. For instance, at the return of democracy in 1999, our Distinguished Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu won the governorship ticket of Ebonyi State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and later picked his running mate from Ebonyi South Senatorial District, where he had his major rival, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who was then the gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigerian People's Party, ANPP. "The situation repeated itself in 2003, and nobody from the clan or the zone of Egwu's opponent, jostled against anybody becoming his running mate as the state governor. Also, in 2007 and 2011, Egwu's successor, former Governor Martin Nwanchor Elechi picked his running mate from the Ebonyi South, where he had a notable opponent, Ogbonnaya Onu but nobody threatened the person chosen because of the clannish curiosity or another ulterior motive by individuals or certain groups, like Nwovu and his cohorts. Even, in 2015, one of Izzi's illustrious sons, Arc. Edward Nkwegu, picked an Ezza man as his running mate while contesting against Governor David Umahi and other contenders from different political parties to be the Governor of Ebonyi State, but no restriction order was issued against his running mate by his kinsmen. "We, therefore, call on the general public to note that there has been no official gathering of the entire members of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum anywhere or anytime wherein any candidate was endorsed by the forum. "That whatever might have emanated from Comr. Ben Nwovu and his team to that effect is merely a literary work couched to please their faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in our dear State as even the said APC has no known guber flag bearer in the State. Such declaration is in no way the official position of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum as a body. "Finally, we call on the State Government and law enforcement agencies for questioning and reviews of Comr. Ben Nwovu and his team’s activities under the toga of the once-popular and unique Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum. They are turning this once respected forum into another thing not clearly stated but contrary to its initial goals and objectives. "The lives and properties of innocent Izzi sons and daughters who have refused to be cowed into their political enclaves are at risk and need immediate rescue." They, however, assured the leaders, the teeming members and supporters of their great party, the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, particularly in the three Local Government Areas making up Izzi clan of their unwavering commitment to make them proud with amazing victory at the polls in 2023. They urged their supporters to be calm and focused as they continue to support the PDP, by voting massively for their party's candidates, saying that they're determined to reclaim the State come 2023. The attached contains the signatories to the release: