‘I’ll Consume, Destroy You’ – Ebonyi Governor, Wike’s Ally Clash

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu handed over political control of the state to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Nwifuru, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke during a stakeholders’ rally in Abakaliki, the state capital, organised to endorse his re-election and President Tinubu’s second-term bid.

The governor said some unnamed allies of Wike had been claiming that the President had handed Ebonyi State to the FCT minister and his faction of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Some people are going around and saying that they discussed with President Tinubu and that the president has given Ebonyi to PDP,” Nwifuru said.

“They said Nyesom Wike is their leader and that Wike said the president has given Ebonyi to him. And we say to them, ‘eeyaah!’”

Nwifuru rejected the alleged claim and insisted that Ebonyi remained firmly under the control of the APC.

He warned those behind the alleged plot not to test the resolve of his administration and supporters.

“Now, I want to sound this way as your governor: We are not afraid. We only hold ourselves because our people are with us,” he said.

“Nobody should push us because we have all it takes to consume whoever is trying us; we have all it takes to destroy whoever is trying us.”

The governor added, “We’re sending a message to them directly or indirectly that we’re members of the All Progressives Congress and that’s where Ebonyi people belong.

“And whoever is trying our resolve, the outcome will be very funny for him.”

Nwifuru was joined at the rally by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo.

Although Wike has yet to respond to the governor’s comments, the PDP faction associated with him criticised Nwifuru’s remarks, describing them as reckless, inflammatory and a sign of desperation ahead of the 2027 election.

The faction’s spokesperson, Jungudo Mohammed, said, during a press conference last Thursday at the party’s national secretariat, that the Ebonyi governorship election would be determined by performance and not intimidation.

“These unfortunate statements clearly expose a governor who is increasingly troubled by the prospect of his rejection by the people of Ebonyi State in 2027,” Mohammed said.

He challenged Nwifuru to prepare to face the faction’s governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Odii, at the poll.

Mohammed also urged security agencies and civil society organisations to take note of what he described as the governor’s “disturbing” remarks.

“If the governor truly wishes to ‘consume’ the people of Ebonyi State, let him do so through visible developmental projects, effective governance and tangible improvements in their living conditions,” he said.

However, another faction of the PDP, led by Kabiru Turaki, backed Nwifuru’s comments.

In a statement, the faction’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, said the governor merely condemned what he described as Wike’s alleged anti-party activities and political interference.

Ememobong accused the FCT minister of meddling in political affairs outside his official and geographical jurisdiction while allegedly using Tinubu’s name.

He also claimed that Wike had previously played a role in pushing former Ebonyi governor, Dave Umahi, out of the PDP.

The faction maintained that Alexander Eze remains its governorship candidate in Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 election.