Governor Nwifuru’s 109 Siblings Affecting Governance In Ebonyi, Says CSO 

The Ebonyi Civil Society Coalition Group has alleged that the large size of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s family is having a significant impact on governance and administration in the state.

The group’s spokesperson, Charles Otu, who made the allegation on ARISE News Morning Show on Thursday, claimed that Nwifuru was the only governor in Nigeria with as many as 109 direct siblings, arguing that the size and influence of the governor’s family had become a major concern in the state.

Otu also criticised the state government’s performance in critical sectors, particularly health and education, while accusing the administration of excessive taxation and political interference in public institutions.

According to him, available statistics showed that Ebonyi ranked among the states with the lowest per-capita health spending in the country.

“In health, there are statistics listed for 36 states and the FCT and their spending on health. Ebonyi was the number one state that has spent less than N400 per head,” Otu said.

He also questioned the government’s priorities in the education sector, citing the construction of the University of Information and Communication Technology at Oferekpe.

Otu said the commissioning of staff quarters ahead of the academic facilities raised questions about the government’s priorities in developing the institution.

“We have a governor who is building a university of ICT in Oferekpe. Guess what was commissioned first? What was commissioned was the staff quarters of that institution, not the institution itself,” he said.

The CSO spokesperson further alleged that the state-owned university had deteriorated under the current administration, describing the institution as being in a state of “total comatose.”

He said the university was failing in its core responsibilities of teaching, research and community service, alleging that political considerations had increasingly influenced its administration.

“You talk about the issue of research. It is not happening in that institution. You talk about community service. It is not happening in that institution,” he said.

Otu also raised concerns over the condition of public primary and secondary schools in the state, claiming that teachers were facing difficult working conditions.

He recalled a recent controversy involving a school in Izzi Local Government Area, where a headteacher was reportedly suspended after allowing a content creator to visit the school and highlight its condition.

According to him, the incident demonstrated what he described as the government’s sensitivity to criticism of the education sector.

However, Otu acknowledged what he described as a positive aspect of the administration’s education policy, particularly its scholarship programme.

He said the governor deserved credit for awarding scholarships to students, including those studying overseas, but alleged that a review by civil society organisations raised questions about the selection of beneficiaries.

“To be fair, in overseas scholarship students, that is the only area the governor has caught the eye. And that is not also to say that it is not without issues,” Otu said.

He alleged that several beneficiaries were children or relatives of politicians, elder statesmen, traditional rulers and other prominent individuals, rather than students selected strictly on merit.

The CSO spokesperson also expressed concern over what he described as the non-utilisation of opportunities available through the World Bank’s HOPE Governance programme, arguing that the funding could have helped improve the state’s education sector.

Beyond education and health, Otu accused the state government of imposing multiple taxes and revenue demands on businesses.

He alleged that businesses were being confronted with several demand notices from different groups and individuals, some of whom he claimed were linked directly or indirectly to the governor’s family.

“Businesses are shutting down because of all manner of demand notices in terms of taxes and revenues from different groups and individuals, all belonging to or controlled directly or indirectly by the governor’s brothers,” he alleged.

Otu argued that the situation had contributed to growing tension among residents and businesses in the state.

He also called on Governor Nwifuru to engage with his critics and opposition figures rather than treating political competition as a threat.

According to him, the governor should make his administration’s priorities clear to the people and engage stakeholders in a debate on the direction of the state.

“We at the Civil Society Coalition have looked at all of this, and we have just called for a simple debate. If the governor can say, this is even the direction I want to face, instead of facing the people with threat, facing opposition with threat, the people will be more ready and willing to listen,” he said.

Otu further claimed that the administration had become increasingly anxious about potential political challengers ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

He cited the reported reception accorded one of Nwifuru’s potential challengers, Ifeanyi Chukwuma, during a burial ceremony in the state as an example of what he described as growing political tension.

Otu alleged that the large crowd that trooped to greet the politician heightened concerns within the ruling All Progressives Congress administration despite the party’s strong political control in the state.

The Ebonyi State Government had yet to publicly respond to the specific allegations contained in Otu’s remarks at the time of filing this report.