Chief Francis Nwifuru, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor in Ebonyi, has refuted online rumors that he was ill or might even be dead on Saturday in Abakaliki.
The opposition, who felt intimidated by his rising popularity with the populace, used the rumor as a distraction, according to Nwifuru, Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly.
“You are already seeing me; I am alive, healthy and not sick. I never visited any hospital due to sickness.
“The last time I underwent a medical check-up was in February 2022 and I am supposed to undergo another one in 2023.
“I will do so hopefully after my inauguration because I am confident of being sworn in as the state governor,’’ he said.
Nwifuru urged the populace to ignore rumors about his poor health and said he had nothing to hide.
''When people start their campaign of calumny, one need not be worried once there is no skeleton in the cupboard.
My destiny is a threat to many people and I am not angry with that.
Once you are human and people are not afraid of you then you are not living.
When someone has something to offer, expect unfounded stories about such people from opponents. Ebonyi people have seen that the opposition cannot offer anything to them except lies and deceit,’’ he further stated.
Additionally, Nwifuru denied any enmity he may have had with Bishop Peter Chukwu, the Catholic priest of the Abakaliki diocese.
He stressed that “The bishop is my father in the lord and always guides me spiritually. He has not complained that I wronged him and I will never do so.
The opposition should realise that the people have accepted me and no amount of fabricated tales can change that''.
