…Alleges Gov. Imports, Distributes Weapons To Thugs
…Says Umahi should be held responsible if anything happens to them
By Ignatius Okorocha
Ebonyi caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the National Assembly, have alleged that the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has been fuelling the crises ravaging the state.
The federal lawmakers added that he armed thugs and cultists to intimidate stakeholders, who refused to decamp with him to the All Progreasives Congress (APC).
The Caucus accused the Governor of distributing pump-actions, AK-47 rifles and ammunitions to youths in the 13 local government areas of the state under the guise of vigilante and Ebubeagu.
The action of the governor, the lawmakers alleged, has awashed the state with undocumented weapons in the hands of persons not trained in weapon handling, for use against political opponents.
According to them, the governor’s latest crime is the attempted murder of one Barrister Amos Ogbonnaya, a former coordinator of a Development centre in Ebonyi State.
The statement alleged that “Barrister Amos on the 4th of May 2021 had appeared on an AIT live programme (JIGSAW) and spoke on the corruption and poor governance activities of the Ebonyi State Government.
“On the 13th of May, 2021, Barrister Amos was kidnapped in his village, Okposi, by a gang led by the Personal Assistant to the Governor named Chinonso Obasi aka “CONSIDER” in broad day light, and operating in a State Government owned white Hilux vehicle. By sheer act of providence, Barr. Amos was not buried in a shallow grave which had already been dug, but remains incapacitated and at risk of losing both of his legs in a private hospital at Enugu.”
The lawmakers added that “only last week, Governor Umahi organised what he termed Town Hall Security meetings at the State capital Abakaliki.
“However, in those meetings, the Governor merely used the platform to issue threats and incite violence and public hatred against PDP members of the National Assembly and other perceived political opponents.”
The PDP lawmakers also raised alarm, insisting that the state commissioner of police, Garba Aliyu, is a toy in the hands of the Governor.
It said the CP is “pliable in the hand of the Governor and thereby leaving law abiding citizens at the mercy of gun totting vigilantes/Ebube Agu.”
Accordingly, the lawmakers called for concerted effort by the relevant Security agencies to recover and mop up distributed arms and ammunition, so as to keep track record of those in possession of férearms in Ebonyi State.
They further alerted the Inspector General of Police of threats against National Assembly members from the state adding, “that Governor Umahi should be held directly responsible should any harm befall any member of the National Assembly.
While lambasting the governor for misusing the Ebube Agu Security outfit to proliferate arms in the state, they asserted that the situation is the “reason that Ebonyi State has become the first and only state in the South East to inaugurate and arm the so-called Ebube-Agu.”
The petition was signed by Senators Sam Egwu, Obinna Ogba and Michael Nnachi. Others are Reps Sylvester Ogbaga, Igariwey Enwo, Chukwuma Nwazunku, Anayo Nwonu and Livinus Makwe
Reacting to the claims by the lawmakers,Commissioner for Information and and State Orientation in Ebonyi State, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji said,”The press briefing as it, is a continuation of the series of media plans by by the People’s Democratic Party elements in the state to continue to spread false hood and incite public hatred on a government that has performed extra-ordinarily in Ebonyi state, whose clear tract record of integrity and people oriented governance are been celebrated across the country.
“PDP in Ebonyi state has got no base without the people of Ebonyi, they rather group themselves to incite the public against a performing governor.
And so all the alligations are totally fallacious,unfounded and mendacious.”
