EBONYI YOUTHS CAUTION LP GUBER CANDIDATE OVER COMMENT ON STATE

Ebonyi South Youths Assembly on Tuesday cautioned the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in next year general election Mr. Splendour Oko-Eze’ over his comment that the people of the state are suffering despite huge mineral deposits saying that such comments

Mr Splendour Oko-Eze had in his Facebook page titled “Is Ebonyi State Really a Poor State?”. He cited that despite the huge mineral resources in the state the people should not be poor saying that the government has failed.

But ESYA in a statement signed by the Group National President Odii Njoku Comrade and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, the Group dismissed the allegations by Mr Splendour Oko-Eze, over the management of the state’s mineral resources, describing his comments as misleading and indicative of what it termed a poor understanding of the constitutional responsibilities of government.

Ordinarily, the Assembly would not have dignified the publication with a response because of its obvious political undertone and habitual attempt to sensationalise issues for cheap political relevance. However, considering the deliberate misinformation contained in the publication and its capacity to mislead unsuspecting members of the public, we consider it a civic responsibility to set the records straight.

According to the Assembly, while every citizen has the constitutional right to criticise government, such criticism should be guided by facts, the law and a proper understanding of governance rather than what it described as emotional rhetoric and political sensationalism.

According to the Assembly, while every citizen has the constitutional right to criticise government, such criticism should be guided by facts, the law and a proper understanding of governance rather than what it described as emotional rhetoric and political sensationalism.

The group argued that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), alongside the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, vests the ownership, control, licensing and regulation of solid minerals exclusively in the Federal Government through the Exclusive Legislative List.

It maintained that no state governor has the constitutional authority to issue mining licences or independently exploit mineral resources, insisting that holding Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru responsible for matters within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government was legally and constitutionally misplaced.

The Assembly stated that Governor Nwifuru had instead adopted what it described as a lawful and practical approach by collaborating with the Federal Government, licensed mining companies and relevant regulatory agencies to ensure that host communities benefit from mining activities.

It further claimed that the administration had prioritised the enforcement of Community Development Agreements (CDAs), environmental compliance and compensation for affected landowners rather than engaging in political rhetoric.

The group also highlighted what it described as achievements recorded by the state government in the mining sector, citing disclosures by the immediate past Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr Chidi Emmanuel Onyia, that more than ₦5 billion had been secured through Community Development Agreements and compensation packages for mining host communities across the state.

According to the statement, the interventions include Community Development Agreements valued at over ₦4 billion, compensation exceeding ₦500 million for landowners in Ndufu-Alike Ikwo and additional compensation for other affected communities before the commencement of mining operations.

It also listed scholarship opportunities for more than 1,000 students from mining host communities, as well as the construction of roads, health centres, classroom blocks, laboratories, electricity projects and potable water schemes funded through Community Development Agreements.

The Assembly further said the Nwifuru administration had strengthened the enforcement of host community rights, protected vulnerable landowners against exploitation and introduced reforms aimed at improving transparency, environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance in the mining sector.

Among the reforms listed were statewide inspections of mining and quarry sites, compulsory reclamation of abandoned mining pits, strict enforcement of Environmental Impact Assessment requirements, measures to curb revenue leakages, improved workers’ welfare and enhanced monitoring of mining operations, including efforts to halt the illegal night movement of mineral resources.

The group argued that the existence of mineral deposits alone does not automatically translate into economic prosperity, stressing that sustainable development requires constitutional compliance, strategic partnerships, infrastructure development, prudent public administration and sound economic planning.

It maintained that these principles were being implemented through Governor Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda.

While acknowledging the importance of opposition in a democratic society, the Assembly urged political actors to engage in constructive, fact-based criticism rather than what it described as misinformation and constitutional inaccuracies.

It called on Oko-Eze to acquaint himself with the provisions of the Constitution and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act before making public pronouncements on issues relating to the mining sector.

The Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to promoting responsible public discourse and supporting initiatives aimed at advancing peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity in Ebonyi State.