Immediate past speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has been sworn in as the fourth governor of the state at the Pa Ngele Orunta Township Stadium in Abakaliki.
The oath of office was administered on him at exactly 1.20pm by the state’s chief judge, Justice Elvis Ngene.
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Similarly, Princess Patricia Obila, who is the first female deputy governor of the state, was also sworn in by the chief judge at exactly 12:37pm.
In his address, Nwifuru urged the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to withdraw their petition at the tribunal and join hands with him to build a greater Ebonyi State.
He said the administration will remain focused and committed towards the wellbeing of Ebonyi people, adding that he would strive to ensure that peace is restored at the different boundaries of the state.
The governor said he would run the state through what he tagged Ebonyi People’s Charter of Needs, stressing that education, health, agriculture and human capital development will form the administration’s major focus.
Shortly after the swearing in, Nwifuru’s predecessor, Dave Umahi decorated him and Obila with the State Honours Award as the Great Grand Commander, Ebonyi Hall of Fame (GGCEHF) and Grand Fellow, Ebonyi Hall of Fame (GFEHF).
In his farewell speech, Umahi dissolved the State Executive Council (SEC). He however retained his special adviser on religious and welfare matters, Rev Fr. Abraham Nwali, to assist the new administration for a smooth take off.
Governor Umahi said that his administration’s achievements in the last eight years could be best described as Ebonyi Miracle and urged the new governor to take the peace and unity of the people of the state to heart.
The former chairman, South East Governors Forum expressed the joy that despite strict opposition, he was able to entrench equity, justice and fairness adding that power rotation between the three geo political zones in the state has come to stay.
The inauguration was attended by the Conference of Speakers of State House of Assembly, former governor Martin Elechi, National Assembly (NASS) members and APC chieftains.