Warmest regards and best wishes to builder of humans, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State from Hon. Prince Victor Nwenyi
Your Excellency,
On behalf of all of us at Neighbourhood Watch and Internal Security, I extend my heartfelt felicitation at this season of Christmas for your exemplary leadership and dedication to rapid progress in the transformation of the state.
Your unwavering commitment to transforming the state through visionary policies, infrastructural development, and empowerment initiatives continues to inspire hope and prosperity among the people. Under your stewardship, Ebonyi State is steadily becoming a beacon of growth and opportunity, setting an admirable standard for governance.
Your security architecture is top-notch and unbeatable anywhere in the world. You have provided us with patrol vehicles and all the needed security apparatus; you did the same for other security agencies, thereby making the job easier for all of us. Your efforts in security networks have made the state safe, peaceful, and habitable.
As you strive to serve the people with diligence and integrity, I pray for wisdom, strength, and divine guidance in all your endeavors. May your efforts in providing the best administration bring lasting progress, unity, and peace to Ebonyi State.
With warm regards and best wishes,
Hon. Prince Victor Nwenyi, Commander, Neighbourhood Watch and Internal Security, Ebonyi State.
Since assuming leadership of Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has exemplified a rare quality of leadership by matching his words with actions. His tenure so far has been marked by tireless efforts to demonstrate his commitment to the growth and development of the state. Governor Nwifuru’s actions reveal a leader who is not only passionate about progress but also deeply dedicated to steering Ebonyi State toward rapid growth and modern development.
One remarkable aspect of Governor Nwifuru’s administration is his pursuit of excellence as an innovative builder. Under his leadership, Ebonyi State is undergoing a transformation that leaves no sector untouched. His balanced and comprehensive approach to development ensures that every sector receives the attention it deserves, resulting in impactful and high-quality projects that speak volumes about his vision.
Governor Nwifuru’s focus on youth empowerment is another defining feature of his administration. His initiatives have distinguished him among his peers, earning him the title of “Youth Ambassador of the Nation.” By prioritising the empowerment of young people, he has brought to fruition the long-awaited promise that “youths are the leaders of tomorrow”—a promise that has remained unfulfilled until now. As the first youthful and actively working governor of Ebonyi State, Governor Nwifuru is a beacon of hope for the younger generation.
His leadership not only inspires confidence but also reflects his unwavering dedication to building a prosperous future for Ebonyi State. Governor Nwifuru’s tenure serves as a testament to what visionary leadership can achieve, making him a true saviour of the state.
It’s not surprising, therefore, that the Ebonyi youths decorate their governor with an award of “leadership excellence” in the just-concluded youth summit entitled “Purposeful Leadership amongst the Youths for Nation Building.” Describing the governor as a youthful workaholic as they declare, “No vacancy in governor’s office come 2027.
Ebonyi Correctional Centre: Again, Fifteen Prisoners Are Set Free
Briefly, the newsmen at Abakaliki Correctional Centre, the state Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Odoh, expressed reason for decongesting the prisons for minor offenders, but capital offenders, he said, they don’t have the right to interfere in their cases.
His words: “What we carried out today is an official ritual of the chief justice of the federation and judge of state. The power they exercise is derived from section 1 of the criminal justice release from custody special provisions act of 2004, which provides that the chief justice of the federation and chief judge of a state shall have power to visit prison and look at the records of prisons and observe those on holding charges and see if (1) the persons that are under detention, whether such detentions are manifestly unlawful and (2) whether such detentions has exceeded the maximum period of imprisonment, if so, the chief justice or the chief judge who is empowered by law to grant bail, discharge and acquit offenders, that’s the power the chief judge of Ebonyi state, Justice Elvis Ngene exercised today, 20th December 2024.”
“In this special exercise, 23 matters were treated, but 15 persons were granted bail, while 8 were further remanded. Those granted bail, if their bail conditions are met, are free to go. I advise them to go and sin no more. Those who were released have been rehabilitated, as some of them testify to the changes that have occurred in their lives while in the prison.”
“The reason for this exercise is to help and decongest the prisons that are already overcongested. The prison facility was designed for 387 inmates capacity, but it is currently housing over 1265 inmates. You can imagine the extent of the congestion. I condemn the act of recidivism; the unrepentant criminals, such as these, may not get help because they are the ills of society”.
In this same vein, the chief judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Elvis Ngene, while stating reasons for releasing prisoners at Abakaliki Correctional Centre on Friday, said that “this is a normal exercise we do twice annually; the first one we did was in July, and the second one is what we have done today, 20th December 2024. Fifteen people were released on bail while we further remanded eight; we did not discharge any because they did not merit such discharge; we give them the opportunity to temporarily regain their freedom while facing their trial. For those released on bail, we advise them not to do anything that will bring them back”. He concluded.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie Guidepost News International
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Ebonyi youths have demonstrated their unalloyed solidarity for the working Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru whom they describes as youthful and is working.
The group national chairman, Comrade Chinedu Emerike said that “the dream and slogan of Nigeria’s founding fathers which says that youths are leaders of tomorrowisfulfilled in Ebonyi under the youthful and purposeful leadership of Gov. Nwifuru who has made significant impact in the life of Ebonyians especially the youths to become millionaires through his numerous people oriented policies and programmes”.
The group adopted him as their sole gubernatorial candidate to complete his second tenure in office and declared that the state has no vacancy in its government house.
The youths under the umbrella ofFrancis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FON Movement through their National President, Comrade Chinedu Emerike Orji, endorsed the governor on Thursday during the 2024 FON Youths Summit at Abakaliki, the state capital.
Orji said it is obvious that various political parties would hold their congresses in 2025 to elect their preferred candidates for the 2027 general elections; however, he maintained that Ebonyi State Government House has no vacancy till Governor Nwifuru completes his 8 years in office.
“We are all aware that 2025 is the year of congresses, and we Ebonyi youths are gathered here, and have said there’s no vacancy in the Ebonyi State Government House in 2027.
“If anybody is seeking vacancy in our government house, we are saying no, because the only rightful candidate for the 2027 governorship election of Ebonyi State is Onwa, the builder of human beings.
“Today being 19th December 2024, we, the good youths of Ebonyi State, are gathered here to say 4 plus 4 is 8, and that’s the two tenures for His Excellency Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
“We are in charge, and there’s no vacancy in the government house because Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru must complete his two terms in office.
“We, the youths of Ebonyi State, have adopted our governor for two terms, the governor is the builder of youths, King of the youths, and the most youth-friendly leader in Nigeria today.”
The President recalled that in Ebonyi State, “over 90 percent of the local government chairmen and coordinators of Development Centres are youths, 80 percent of Executive Council members are youths, and 5 and 0 percent of members of boards and commissions are youths.”
Orji also recalled the events of the 2023 elections when he said it was almost impossible to mention the acronym FON, but in his words, “God later crowned the effort of the ever-determined Ebonyi youths who stood on their ground and overwhelmingly took the message of FON to the nooks and crannies of the state.”
He noted that the FON Movement, founded in 2021 during the build-up to the 2023 elections, where the journey to a new Ebonyi State began, has, through Governor Nwifuru, made thousands of Ebonyi young people millionaires via his administration agenda anchored on the People’s Charter of Needs.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie Guidepost News International
Ebonyi State Executive Council has approved N5bn for construction of 126 housing units for civil servants in the state.
Each of the housing units costs N40million.
The state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing on the outcome of the state executive council meeting this week.
He noted that the project would be executed through direct labour.
Okpor said every category of civil servants would benefit from the housing units.
The Commissioner disclosed that the executive council approved a memorandum of understanding between the state government and a contractor which was guaranteed by Transmission Company of Nigeria for the provision of recoverable loan to facilitate the immediate completion of Mile 50-Amasiri 132kv double circuit line in the state for power supply.
“The council approved that the drafted memo be committed to signing. Recall that Exco had earlier approved the release of a recoverable TCN guarantee loan of USD781, 235.67+N130,258,048.24 to ensure the completion of the double circuit 132KV line from Mile 50 to the Amasiri substation”, Okpor stated.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie Guidepost News International
Workers in Ebonyi State Civil service Jubilate over one hundred and fifty thousand Naira each as 2024 Christmas Bonus from the State Government
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru announced this at a State banquet organized in honor of the visiting British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, , Gill Lever at the Government House Abakaliki
The Governor said the gesture is in appreciation of workers commitment to duty and their understanding during the strike action.
” Our Workers have shown a lot of commitments and respect to us as a government. During the strike action they heeded our appeal because they understood the situation of things and we were most grateful and ready to always dialogue on how to improve their welfare.”
The Governor directed that every Worker should receive the bonus before close of work on Tuesday next week
The Governor had earlier received the British Deputy High Commissioner in his office at Ochoudo Centenary City, Abakaliki where he solicited the assistance of the British Government in the areas of Water, Health, power and education as well as Agriculture .
“We are committed to industrialize the state, with progress in Ebonyi Pipe Production Company, Ebonyi State Fertilizers and Chemicals Company, Industrial Clusters, and Ebonyi State Hatchery, Nkaliki. We cultivate rice in large quantities and seek your collaboration to enhance production for exportation.”
“Water and sanitation is another area we have made significant progress in our quest to increase provision and access to quality water supply in the rural and urban areas. We have revived the Oferekpe water scheme with the capacity to produce 100 million cubic litres of water on a daily basis”
Governor Nwifuru commended the UK Foreign Office and other development partners for their active support and commitment to Nigeria’s State development.
The Deputy High Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the development going on in the state and pledged to assist considering the long standing ties between the UK and Nigeria.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie – Guidepost News International
Briefing the newsmen in his office at old government house, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Thursday, Prince Victor Nwenyi, State Commander, Neighbourhood Security Watch, Ebonyi State Internal Security, attributes all the successes recorded in the security sector to His Excellency Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the governor and chief security officer of the state.
“Recall that prior to the resumption of office as executive governor of the state, we were confronted with a lot of security challenges, which included kidnapping, armed robbery, killings, cult clashes, and all manner of insecurities. When I came on board, I first studied the security system and observed that we cannot achieve much without information gathering. We immediately swung into action by engaging the services of whistleblowers who are afraid to relate with the police but are eager and willing to work with us, so we planted the services of whistleblowers in every nook and cranny of the state since our men cannot be everywhere at the same time”.
” The services of the whistleblower are like automated security cameras, meaning that there is no place crime will be committed without information reaching us before or after the crime. If we get the information ahead of time, we try to prevent it by arresting the suspect, thereby preventing the crime. If the crime is committed already, we also investigate, arrest, and hand over to police for prosecution. For instance, when we neutralised bandits at Okpoto and recovered about 15 motorcycles, we handed them over to police”.
“Unlike the conventional security agencies, we devise various means that are working for us. We work in dual capacities; we mediate between the conventional security agencies. We have a good working synergy with all the conventional security agencies; if we have a case that relates to any of these agencies, the police, civil defence, the military, or the drug law enforcement agency, we call them respectively for a handover. By so doing, we aid them in doing their work effectively and efficiently”.
“The governor also made our jobs easier by providing us with patrol vehicles, which enabled us to patrol 24 hours a day; he also provided us with security apparatus and everything we needed. The streetlights that the governor scattered everywhere in the state are helping us to curb crime and criminality in the state because these criminal elements like to hide in the shadows of darkness where they will not be seen at night while perpetrating their evil intentions”.
“The governor’s numerous empowerment packages are another reason why we have relative peace in Ebonyi. The youths are taking advantage of these empowerment opportunities; some of them had received three million Naira, and some one million Naira. With these opportunities, which they are benefiting from, it does not give them room for criminality”.
“Currently, Ebonyi State is safe and peaceful. Let me use this medium to warn anybody coming to the state with criminal intentions that Ebonyi State cannot accommodate an influx of criminal elements, especially at this season of Christmas and New Year that is always characterised with crime”.
His Excellency, Rt Hon. Ogbonna Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State
By Prince-Solomon Okorie – Guidepost Rapid Digital Communication
Addressing newsmen recently in his office at the new Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, Nwifuru said the state government is not owing any worker.
He stated that the state government has approved N75,000 as the new minimum wage and has already started paying. And asked if the government is owing civil servants, hence the answer is no, then the civil servants are not supposed to owe the government even for an hour of service, talk more of one week, as indicated by their warning strike notice from the Nigeria Labour Congress Ebonyi State chapter.
In a swift response to the strike action, Nwifuru said, “If you don’t go to work, not only will I not pay you salary, but I will replace you within 72 hours in your office.
“If I don’t see you in your office, consider yourself sacked. So far I am not guilty because the government is not owing you, hence I do not see any reason why you should not do the jobs you are paid for; that is tantamount to insubordination, inefficiency, and negligence of duty, which is enough reason for me to sack defaulters.”.
“They should be aware that I have called the state chairman of the Civil Service Commission. I have equally directed all my appointees—the commissioners—to go to their offices; all the parastatals and all the sectors of government must be in their offices and record the people that come to work. And those are the people I will pay through table payment; the rest are considered sacked.”
Using the media against a performing government such as Nwifuru’s-led government of Ebonyi state by the state labor union is like waging war against the progress of the state that is rated highest in terms of providing worker’s welfare.
Some civil servants, whose names are withheld, testified, saying, “Since 25 years of my civil service, it’s only under Nwifuru that I have counted above one hundred thousand naira in bulk as well as assisted people with money; that never happened before due to my meager salary.”.
Another civil servant stated, “I don’t know why we are fighting the government through the labor union. Governor Nwifuru is worker-friendly; my husband and I are of the same level 14. It is true the economy is biting, but to be candid with you, this is the only time in our service journey that we are able to save and start building a duplex. We shall retire in 5 years. If God should continue to guide Nwifuru, the house will be completed in a year’s time”.
It is also on record that pensioners are not left out of the present administration’s benevolence, as Nwifuru, upon resuming as governor, deems it necessary to clear the 25 years of pension arrears accumulated since 1999. If the other governors before him had done what the incumbent is doing, there wouldn’t be such huge inherited debts, over 25 years of unpaid arrears, that were massive and a milestone.
Freedom of the press does not equate to a carte blanche to publish falsehoods, defame government or individuals, or incite violence. Ethical journalism requires adherence to principles of accuracy, fairness, and respect for the truth. The abuse of press freedom—whether through sensationalism, biased reportage, or the deliberate spreading of misinformation—undermines its legitimacy and hinders its essential role in society. The author or spreader of such information must bear the consequences if it’s litigated.
Press freedom is a privilege that demands accountability and ethical integrity, not a media war. While journalists must have the liberty to investigate and report without fear, they must also exercise their power responsibly. Upholding this balance ensures that the press remains a force for good, a voice for the voiceless, and a guardian of truth in society. Abuse of this right is not only punishable but also diminishes the press’s credibility and threatens the very freedoms it seeks to protect.
In conclusion, civil servants should refrain from biting the finger that feeds them. And media practitioners may face unforgivable punishment if they go against the ethics of the profession just because someone or a group of persons paid them to render such an unethical service.
When anyone accepts the condition of poverty, this state of mind becomes a habit and poor he is and so he remains until a better option is chosen. As a man thinks, so he is. A man accepts poverty by neglecting to create plan to acquire riches. His thoughts may be, as it usually is, entirely negative, consisting of nothing but the lack of a definite purpose. He may not be conscious of his acceptance, but the result is the same. The sub-conscious mind act on one’s dominating mental attitude known as mind-set, the end result is poverty.
The place to begin changing poverty is the mind, and the way to begin is by inspiring the individual to use his mind, to become creative, and to render useful service in return for that which he desire. No gift of material things including money can change anyone whose mind is poverty oriented or negatively inclined. People become what you encourage them to be. Everyone needs a faith lift, the only thing that stands between a man and his dream is the will-power and faith to believe it’s achievable.
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Prince Solomon in a friendly handshake the Hon. Minister
The burial of Mrs. Ijeoma John Okorie (mama solo) as she is fondly called attracted dignitaries, among whom includes: the Hon. minister of works, Sen. Engr. David Nweze Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, Barr. Mrs. Chioma Nweze, SA to Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria and Ebonyi State Government functionaries among others. The dignitaries handed over some cash gift to their media aid, Prince Solomon Okorie, the publisher of Guidepost News International and the first born of the family and consoled the family over the loss of their dear one.
Prince Solomon appreciated them for their presence and kind support towards the success of his mother’s burial and bid them farewell as they journey back to their various destinations and prayed that God should bless and replenish their kind gesture.
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