By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has called on political leaders, traditional rulers and religious institutions in Ebonyi State to take an active interest in political affairs and decisions affecting the state's future.
Umahi made the appeal at a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
The meeting attracted prominent political figures, serving and former lawmakers, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leaders and other stakeholders.
At the end of the meeting, participants unanimously passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, endorsing both leaders for re-election in 2027.
Speaking at the event, Umahi said traditional and religious leaders should not distance themselves from politics, explaining that their responsibilities to their communities extended to issues of democracy, governance and development.
He urged traditional rulers in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, on Wednesday, to guide their subjects towards making informed political choices, while calling on religious leaders to participate in conversations that influence leadership and public administration.
The Minister lamented what he described as the prolonged silence of Ebonyi people on matters affecting their collective interests, insisting that active participation was necessary to secure the state's future.
He said the people must take ownership of their political destiny rather than allow sentiments to determine their choices.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southeast), Hon. Chioma Nweze, called for political unity among people of the Southeast.
Nweze maintained that voting as a bloc would strengthen the region's influence in national affairs and improve its capacity to negotiate for appointments and development opportunities.
She urged the Southeast to position itself within the political decision-making process rather than remain outside the centre of power.
The endorsement motion was moved by Senator Julius Ali Ucha, who attributed some of the opportunities available to Ebonyi State to the responsibilities entrusted to Umahi as Minister of Works.
Ucha consequently called on the state's electorate and political leaders to support the APC and its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Seconding the motion, Senator Anthony Agbo praised Umahi's contributions to the state and his political career, describing him as a prominent figure whose achievements had brought recognition to Ebonyi.
Following the adoption of the motion, Umahi urged stakeholders to extend the endorsement campaign to communities and households across the state.
He declared support for Tinubu's re-election, citing the need to complete ongoing federal projects in Ebonyi, attract new infrastructure projects and secure additional appointments for the state.
He also backed Nwifuru's re-election, insisting that the governor should complete his constitutionally permitted eight-year tenure.
Umahi further expressed his position that the next governor should come from the North Senatorial Zone and be Nwifuru.
He said the stakeholders would take the resolution beyond the town hall meeting through a door-to-door mobilisation campaign to secure support for the APC and its candidates in 2027.
The motion received overwhelming support from participants, who affirmed the resolutions with applause and ovation.