Ebonyi Lawmakers Reduced to Praise-Singers for Gov. Nwifuru

The administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru nears its two-year mark on May 29, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly has chosen to mark the occasion, not with a critical stocktaking of his stewardship, but with a sweeping vote of confidence and a barrage of praise that raises more questions than answers.

In a plenary session on Monday at the Assembly Complex in Abakaliki, Speaker Moses Ije Odunwa and his colleagues unanimously commended Governor Nwifuru’s “tremendous achievements,” painting a portrait of an administration that has delivered flawlessly across all sectors — from health and education to infrastructure and water supply.

But for many observers, the session resembled less a democratic institution holding the executive to account and more a political choir rehearsing a well-scripted chorus.

The Danger of Unquestioned Praise

Votes of confidence are not inherently problematic. In fact, they can be symbolic gestures of support when rooted in critical engagement and measurable progress. But when every single lawmaker sings the same tune — without debate, dissent, or a single probing question — it invites scrutiny.

Nowhere in the Assembly’s session was there mention of areas where the Nwifuru administration may have fallen short. Not one legislator raised concerns about persistent issues such as youth unemployment, teacher shortages, poor road maintenance in rural communities, or the growing perception that the administration’s development efforts are overly concentrated in select urban areas.

The Assembly’s choice to focus solely on praise — and even biblical analogies — comes across as performative and tone-deaf, especially in a state still grappling with deep-seated developmental challenges.

Where Is the Oversight?

Perhaps most troubling is how lawmakers framed their role. Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu of Ikwo North cited oversight visits as proof that the Governor’s projects are thriving. Yet, if oversight functions are reduced to photo-ops and site visits without objective assessment or public transparency, then the Assembly is abdicating its constitutional role as a check on executive power.

Speaker Odunwa’s remarks that the Assembly will “continue to partner” with the Executive to “empower more people” only reinforces the perception that the House has become an extension of the Governor’s office, rather than an independent arm of government. Effective partnership with the Executive should not mean blind allegiance.

Tokenism and Symbolism Over Substance

While lawmakers hailed the administration’s “Charter of Needs” agenda, there was little attempt to interrogate its implementation. For example, what are the specific metrics of success in healthcare or education? How many communities now have functional water supply systems, and how do those figures compare to previous administrations?

Hon. Chinyere Nwogbaga’s comment that “even the blind can see” the Governor’s achievements is an ironic overstatement. In many rural parts of Ebonyi, access to potable water remains a struggle. And while the completion of abandoned projects is commendable, it also raises the question: why are so many projects abandoned in the first place?

The Assembly’s celebration of continuity — completing previous administrations’ uncompleted works — is not a revolutionary achievement. It is governance 101.

The Broader Implications

This unanimous vote of confidence sends a worrisome message: that in Ebonyi’s political space, loyalty is prized above accountability. By silencing critique, the Assembly may inadvertently embolden executive complacency. It suggests that lawmakers are more invested in political survival than in the people they were elected to represent.

Even the motion’s timing — just before the Governor’s two-year anniversary — suggests political choreography rather than legislative independence.

If the Governor has indeed performed exceptionally well, as the Assembly claims, then he should welcome scrutiny. Honest feedback is the bedrock of good governance. The absence of it speaks volumes.

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly had an opportunity to offer a balanced, thoughtful review of two years of the Nwifuru administration. Instead, it opted for uncritical celebration, undermining its credibility and further shrinking the space for democratic accountability in the state.

What Ebonyi needs is not a legislative praise team, but a fearless Assembly willing to ask hard questions, speak truth to power, and put the people’s interests first — even when it’s politically inconvenient.

Until that happens, votes of confidence will remain little more than political theatre.