By CHARLES IWUOHA

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State chapter, has officially kicked-off its State wide local government areas campaign rallies.

The kicked-off was held on Wednesday, in Iboko, headquarters of Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

Addressing a mammoth crowd of party supporters at the event, the APC governorship candidate for the state, Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, pledged to govern the state with the core values of honesty, integrity and dedication.

Nwifuru, Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, further pledged to bring innovations in the State civil service, education, health, Agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors, in line with the strong foundation already laid by his predecessor.

Nwifuru emphasised that his administration would encourage entrepreneurial education through the introduction of local dialects in schools curriculum for the teaching and learning of science and technology.

Describing himself as a child of destiny, he attributed his achievement so far to God's grace, and his externalized principles of dedication and diligence to duty, promising to bring the attributes to bear in his governance if elected.

His words: "I am a destiny child who rose from grass to grace

"I will govern with my core value of honesty and integrity, touching on education, health, agriculture and entrepreneurial sector.

"I will introduce our dear dialect in the curriculum of our school in teaching of science and technology."

Governor David Umahi, while soliciting support for the party's Presidential Candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the governorship candidate, Francis Nwifuru, and others, noted that Ebonyi State would be better off with an APC government at all levels.

He cautioned Ebonyi people against supporting any governorship candidate from Ebonyi South Senatorial district, insisting that equity demands that Ebonyi North, precisely Izzi clan, should produce the next State Governor.

Umahi maintained that Nwifuru has been tested and trusted over a period of 16 years to diligently continue and consolidate on the achievements made so far in the State.

He assured that Ebonyi State would see better days with Nwifuru, adding: "Starting from now to end of my tenure, it will be empowerment every month."

Others who spoke, including the State Chairman of APC, Stanley Okoro Emegha and the Director General of the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization, Austin Umahi, expressed pride over the achievements of the Umahi-led APC government.

Emegha said the party was delighted with the its choice of governorship candidate as endorsed by the Governor.

"As a party we are very proud to be part of the transformation going on in the State, and we are happy as a party on the person given to us to succeed the Governor.

"We are very pleased with your choice, and we will continue to work together for the overall good of Ebonyi State,” Austin Umahi said.

He added: "You came and you have made an impact.

"You came on equity and you remain a strong advocate of equity.

"Ebonyi State is not for sale; we stand on equity; we stand on fairness; we stand on justice."