By CHARLES IWUOHA

A coalition of political parties and stakeholders in Ebonyi State has called for urgent rescue of the state from poverty, misgovernance, decaying of infrastructure and collapse of its unity.

The call forms part of the communique issued at the Peoples’ Political/Economic Summit held in Abakaliki on Monday at the DafoDil Resort with the participation of leading opposition political parties and political figures in the state.

The participants included; Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, represented by his running mate, Barrister Patrick Ngbebu, the Governorship Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the State Chairman, National Democratic Party (NDP), the Labour Party (LP) leadership.

Others were community leaders, scholars, civil society organisations (CSOs), professionals, farmers, artisanal miners, youth and women groups, traders, the Diaspora and members of the public.

The communique noted that the creation of Ebonyi State followed a 39-year struggle marked by sacrifice, tears and shared commitment by sons and daughters of the state who joined from old Abia and Enugu states that made collective sacrifices in the interest of aspiration for a prosperous state.

The communique was read and signed by Moses Idika, a member of the drafting sub-committee.

The communique unanimously acknowledged that Ebonyi State is a democratic society like other federating unit of Nigeria which is governed under the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), therefore, agreed that all political actors and political parties must conduct themselves lawfully and within the laws of the land.

According to the communique, the summit acknowledged that since the creation of Ebonyi State on October 1, 1996, the state has always been guided by the law.

Noting that, since Nigeria returned to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, the contest for the Ebonyi State governorship seat, cuts across the three senatorial zones of the state.

The summit stated that the second term in any political contest wasn't an automatic prize bequeathed to the people, but rather a reward for good works done in the first term.

It argued that the Constitution in Sections 179 and 180 fixes a four-year term, permits a second term only on re-election, and holds an incumbent to the same electoral threshold like other candidates.

The Summit therefore resolved that the 2027 governorship election must be decided on record, capacity, integrity and a credible plan, measured against what has been delivered, and not on incumbency, state machinery, sentiment, clannish sentiment or inducement.

The Summit rejected the politics of fear, condemned any threat, intimidation or harassment of opposition figures, critics, civil society and the press, and demand equal protection for all parties and candidates.

It called on the people of Ebonyi to demand accountability from those who have held office and to subject every candidate, including those who present themselves as alternatives, to the same test of record, character, competence and transparency.

Participants resolved that, on the evidence presented to the Summit, the present administration under the watch of Governor Francis Nwifuru has not made the case for renewal and that Ebonyi needs a change of leadership.

It, therefore, considered and backed the candidacy of PDP’s Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii “based on his track records as the credible alternative to rescue Ebonyi State at this critical time.”

The Summit adopted six pathways as the minimum agenda for any politician or political party that seeks the mandate of Ebonyi people.

The communique reads in part: "Fiscal transparency and accountability, Publish the budget, citizens' budget and quarterly implementation reports on time; adopt an Open Treasury Portal; set a minimum 70 percent capital budget performance; digitise IGR and end touting.

"Economic diversification. Adopt the Ebonyi Productive Economy Model: agriculture to agro-industry, mining to mineral processing, informal to formal enterprise.

"Agriculture to agro-industry. Establish three agro-processing zones (Abakaliki for rice, Afikpo for cassava and yam, Uburu for salt and aquaculture); revamp the Ebonyi Fertilizer Plant; set up a State Aggregation Company to buy, store and guarantee prices; run a farm mechanisation cooperative scheme.

“d: Mining reform.

"Register artisanal miners into cooperatives within six months; end export of unprocessed lead, zinc, salt and limestone; create an Ebonyi Solid Minerals Development Company as a vehicle for public-private partnership; target one cement factory, one salt refinery and one lead/zinc processing plant in four years.

"Human capital and ease of doing business. Enact an Ebonyi Business Enabling Law with a one-stop shop and land title in 14 days; abolish multiple taxation for SMEs; train 20,000 youths yearly in processing, fabrication and ICT; invest in primary health and basic education.

"Infrastructure as enabler. Build 200km of critical farm-to-market roads; provide dedicated power for industrial clusters; expand broadband for e-governance and e-commerce.

"We urge all political parties, politicians and interest groups to put Ebonyi First as we cannot afford to mortgage the future of our dear state, that of our children and generations unborn.”