Nwifuru: Ebonyi Has Completed Over 500km Of Roads Across 13 LGAs
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has said his administration has completed more than 500 kilometres of roads across the state since assuming office.
Nwifuru disclosed this at the weekend during the grand finale of the Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival held at Amagu, the ancestral home of Izhi Nnodo.
The governor said the road projects formed part of his administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure and strengthen connectivity across Ebonyi State.
According to him, the projects cut across all 13 local government areas of the state, with some roads linking Ebonyi to neighbouring states and including the construction of bridge structures.
“We have completed more than 500 kilometres of roads across the 13 LGAs. We have done roads connecting other states with span bridges,” he said.
Beyond infrastructure development, Nwifuru used the cultural gathering to caution the people of Izhi Nnodo against the erosion of indigenous values and traditions.
He particularly expressed concern over the indiscriminate sale of ancestral lands, family compounds and burial grounds, warning that such practices could deprive future generations of their ancestral heritage.
The governor described ancestral lands as more than mere commodities, saying they represented the history, identity and collective memory of the people.
He urged families to preserve inherited properties for generations yet unborn, noting that the sacrifices made by past generations in securing such lands should not be disregarded.
Nwifuru also appealed to elders, traditional rulers, youths and religious leaders to work together to protect the cultural heritage of the Izhi people.
He cautioned against confusing religion with culture, arguing that traditional values that promote unity, respect for elders, dignity of labour, communal responsibility and peaceful coexistence should not be abandoned simply because of religious beliefs.
“Many have confused religion for tradition and have failed to locate the difference between the two. There is a sharp demarcation between the two and they do not conflict and clash in their operations,” he said.
The governor further urged the people to avoid allowing political differences to undermine the unity of the clan ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said individuals seeking elective offices on opposition platforms had the right to pursue their political ambitions, but urged them to do so peacefully and in the interest of the people.
Nwifuru also warned against using social media to inflame political tensions or attack leaders, saying grievances should be channelled through appropriate avenues.
“People should not leverage social media to castigate our leaders and deny our sincere performances all in the name of politics,” he said.
While urging the people of Ebonyi to support the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections, the governor expressed confidence that the party would retain its dominance in the state.
He said his administration’s political objective was to consolidate its development programmes and secure victories for APC candidates at the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly levels.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ojiji Izhi cultural event, Edward Nkwegu, said the annual festival remained an important platform for passing the values of good morals, sincerity, industry, justice, equity and fairness from one generation to another.
Nkwegu, however, expressed concern over the gradual erosion of traditional values among youths, attributing the trend partly to modernity and increasing Western influence.
