The Anyi Ga Emeya Movement, the umbrella body of the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has debunked the claim attributed to the Ebonyi State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha who was quoted to have said that he approached Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii to work with the current governor of the state, Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
Mr. Emegha according media reports made the claim at an event organised by a former deputy chairman of the PDP who recently defected to the APC.
Sponsored Ad
Debunking the claim in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the spokesman of the movement, Moses Idika, the Anyi Ga Emeya Movement stated that Mr. Emegha’s claim was a figment of his imagination as there was never a time he had any meeting with Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
The movement reaffirmed the patriotism and focus of Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii on issues that will advance the economic and political development of Ebonyi State.
Part of the statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a news report by the LEADERSHIP newspaper of Wednesday February 12, 2025 where the Ebonyi State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha was quoted to have said that “he has approached the governorship candidate of the opposition PDP in the 2023 general election, Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwma Odii to join hands with Governor Francis Nwifuru to move the state forward.”
“The first and only time Chief Emegha ever had audience with Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii was when he (Emegha) accompanied Governor Nwifuru on a visit to Chief Ifeanyi Odii at his Lagos home. At the meeting, Governor Nwifuru had a heart-to- heart talk with Chief Ifeanyi Odii. At that meeting, certain thorny issues were discussed and propositions made, however, Chief Odii, despite keeping his words never heard from Governor Nwifuru or his team ever again.”
Mazi Moses Eze Idika
According to the movement, Chief Odii’s commitment to the growth and development of Ebonyi State is “beyond partisan politics” and therefore, do not need the prompting of anyone before he works for the state.
The full statement reads:
Our attention has been drawn to a news report by the LEADERSHIP newspaper of Wednesday February 12, 2025 where the Ebonyi State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha was quoted to have said that “he has approached the governorship candidate of the opposition PDP in the 2023 general election, Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwma Odii to join hands with Governor Francis Nwifuru to move the state forward.”
Ordinarily we would ignore the statement, but for the purpose of setting the records straight, we hereby state that at no time did Mr. Okoro Emegha made such approach to Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Odii is a patriotic Ebonyian whose priority is to engender good governance, industrialisation, prosperity and general progress in Ebonyi State.
It will be recalled that after the Supreme Court judgement of January 12, 2024 which upheld Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as the governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii in a widely circulated media statement congratulated Governor Nwifuru for his victory and assured him of his willingness to always work for the collective progress of Ebonyi State.
Part of Chief Odii’s statement read, “Let me use this opportunity to congratulate my brother and fellow compatriot, His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on his victory at the Supreme Court. I urge him to now focus in changing the narrative in our dear state through good governance rooted in the rule of law. … As an individual as well as a team, Ebonyi State remains our primary constituency and its growth remains paramount in our mind.”
The first and only time Chief Emegha ever had audience with Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii was when he (Emegha) accompanied Governor Nwifuru on a visit to Chief Ifeanyi Odii at his Lagos home. At the meeting, Governor Nwifuru had a heart-to- heart talk with Chief Ifeanyi Odii. At that meeting, certain thorny issues were discussed and propositions made, however, Chief Odii, despite keeping his words never heard from Governor Nwifuru or his team ever again.
We, therefore, urge Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, as a public official to always restrict his public conversations and utterances to actual verifiable facts for the sake of people who look up to him as a leader.
Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii remains a proud Ebonyian who strongly believes in the infinite possibilities of greatness for the people of Ebonyi State. Chief Odii’s commitment to the progress of Ebonyi State is beyond partisan politics. Chief Odii remains committed to an Ebonyi State where the economy is driven by strong industrial base which explores the rich mineral, agricultural and most importantly the unmatched human resources abundant in the state for the benefit and wellbeing of the people.
Moses Eze Idika
Spokesman, AnyiGaemeya Movement