“No Matter the Work He Does, Nwifuru Will Not Survive” — Ebonyi Pension Board Secretary

A leaked Facebook conversation allegedly involving the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Local Government Staff Pension Board has raised concerns about loyalty and internal cracks within the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.

In the chat, which surfaced on Tuesday, the official was quoted as casting doubt on the governor’s political survival. “No matter the work he (Governor Nwifuru) does, he will not survive,”the message read.

Another line stated: “I have told Nwifuru that he needs to do a lot of work. His survival is 50-50.”

The remarks, now circulating widely across social media platforms, have ignited fresh debates on the level of cohesion within Mr Nwifuru’s team. For many political observers, such statements from a serving senior government appointee suggest a worrying pattern of dissent inside the ruling structure.

Governor Nwifuru, who came into office in May 2023 on the promise of pursuing his “People’s Charter of Needs” agenda, has projected himself as a leader keen on industrialisation and governance reforms. But the leaked comments appear to undercut his standing, coming from within his own ranks.

Neither the Ebonyi State Government nor the official at the centre of the controversy has issued a formal reaction at the time of filing this report.

However, insiders in Abakaliki political circles say the episode may further strain relationships in the administration and provide ammunition for the governor’s rivals.

Analysts note that internal dissent, especially when it spills into the public domain, can weaken the political grip of any sitting government.