The Special Adviser to Ebonyi State Governor on Inter-Party Affairs, Mr. Sunday Nwanbam, has stated the Governor Francis Nwifuru-led administration is maintaining a cordial relationship with all the political parties in the state.
He added that no political party has been left out of the activities and programmes of the government.
Nwanbam stated this while reacting to an alleged attack on some members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, at the People’s Club, Abakaliki, reportedly by agents of the state government.
Describing the reports as inaccurate, Nwambam stressed that the state government is not witch-hunting opposition politicians in the state.
Nwambam said no member of the ADC, was attacked or arrested by any agent of the government or security operatives in the state.
He noted that there was no crisis between political parties in the state to warrant any form of attack, and that the government can’t come so low to embark on such inglourious act.
“We have 17 registered political parties in Ebonyi State. That’s the figure INEC gave to me last year. I know it might have increased. All the political parties in Ebonyi State are very friendly and very supportive.
“And the government has been protecting their interests. Elections have come and gone, we only have one Governor. Now, it’s only that one Governor that is taking good care of all the people of Ebonyi State.
“We don’t discriminate whether you are APC, whether you are PDP, whether you are a Labour Party or ADC. So, all of us are working together. And that is why you can attest to it that since the 2023 general election party, we have not had any crisis politically, because of the good administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
“He doesn’t want any problem and that is why he wants peace. He wants people to go on with their normal businesses.
“Whether you are a politician or whatever, his goal is to be peaceful. And that is why whatever is due to political parties, we will normally give to them. They have an umbrella body called IPAC. And this is my responsibility to take care of them as the eye of government.Whatever they ask, we do provide for them.
“We know that they are an opposition political party.They also have a role to play in a democratic process. And that is why we pay greater attention to respond to their problem.
“All the political parties in Ebonyi State, government is supporting them but when you are going, contrary to, let me say, you are causing trouble, Ebonyi you don’t want trouble. If you are doing your party, do it peacefully. And if you want to have a meeting, just go straight.Invite the people that are responsible because you cannot call for a meeting without notifying the people that are very important; that are very key to whatever you are doing.
“Invite security to take good care of your people in the meeting. No, we have not seen, nobody has reported to us that they were attacked. Ebonyi State doesn’t know whether you are having a meeting or not. It is not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to take care of Ebonyi people who voted massively for Governor Francis Nwifuru and other leaders in Ebonyi State. We don’t know when they have a meeting.
“Nobody notified me as they said to the Governor. And I don’t think they notified the IPAC chairman, who is also the Chairman of other political parties in Ebonyi State. So, nobody notified me that they were attacked or they were having a meeting. And I’m not aware of the attack. Government is not aware of any attack.
“And it has nothing to do with whatever political parties are doing. And that is why before now, I advise political parties to please have their own office. So that if somebody needs your assistance, they can gently go to your office and solve their problems,” the special adviser said.
