RE: PRESS BRIEFING BY THE PDP EBONYI STATE CAUCUS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON THE DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION IN EBONYI STATE, TODAY THE 18TH DAY OF MAY 2021.
The attention of the All Prigressives Congress APC, Ebonyi State Chapter has been drawn to another puerile press release by the National Assembly Caucus of Ebonyi State People's Democratic Party, PDP where they showed again that the exit of His Excellency, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi from PDP to APC.has irredeemably daunted their further political aspirations, and diminished in extent their fame as federal lawmakers from Ebonyi State, which has evidently exasperated their boldness and exposed their flaws as Chief Umahi's dependent politicians.
We are also aware of the fact that they have been jittery, and the dilemma of remaining in the shattered umbrella party known as PDP or joining the progressive family has left them in more confused manner, the reason they have resorted to attacking the Chairman, Southeast Governors's Forum and Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Apostle, Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi whose pragmatic leadership has been adjudged and declared incomparable among his contemporaries, thinking that they will score some cheap popularity or attract undeserved sympathy from Ebonyians, using the security challenges in some parts of the state.
It is disheartening that the leader of the so called Ebonyi PDP National Assembly Caucus, Sen. Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu who was the Pioneer Chief Security Officer of the state as the First Executive Governor, Former Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria and a-two term Senator would condescend so low with others to politicise the security situations which is not peculiar to Ebonyi State because of personal interest against 2023 general elections. Sen. Egwu as a former governor should have known better how they system works and advised others accordingly, but it is unfortunate that he has allowed partisan politics, self aggrandizement and aimless quest to remain in power as a senator beyond 2023 to becloud his sense of proper reasoning.
May I remind Sen. Egwu and his abettors that the security issue in Ebonyi State is not clear-cut to the state but a national challenge that requires individual commitment towards solving it. As federal lawmakers and irresponsible citizens they are contrary to their claim, they should not have thought of playing politics with the security of their constituents. They were elected by Ebonyian as such, should have been contributing in no mean measure to protect their lives and property as people they enjoy their mandates, but it is pathetic that Ebonyi people sent them Abuja to unleash mayhems on them instead of showing their respective constituency projects.
It is said that, "He who comes to equity must come with a clean hand." It is worthy to note that no state in Nigeria has suffered the level of pogroms that Ebonyi citizens witnessed under Dr Sam Egwu as the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State because of political interest. It is still very fresh in our memory how Egwu's second term ambition among other things led to the massacre of Ebonyi people between 2002 and 20003 by his political thugs, wanton destructions of their property, businesses were grounded, movements were stagnated and general political upheavals and civil unrest took the centre stage for nearly a year. May Ebonyi State never again experience such a nocuous situation in its existence.
The constant verbal and media attack on the people's governor, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi is a clear demonstration that PDP's wit is terminated by the governor's defection to APC. Ebonyi PDP should rather provide credible opposition than playing to the gallery. Ebonyians are aware that the party is dead in Ebonyi State and no miracle will resurrect it.
In response to the baseless lamentations as contained in the press release:, the APC Ebonyi State states as follows:
1. That Nigeria as nation is facing security challenges, (Ebonyi State is not in exemption)which both federal and state governments have interfaced to tackle the challenges with hope that the situation will be brought under control in non distant time.
2. That the security challenges have regional peculiarities: the security issues in the Northeast is different from the type in the Southwest and others. Consequent upon that, Southeast as a zone had agreed to manage the situation in the zone according to its peculiarity arising from the decision of the apex sociocultural organization of the zone, Ohaneze Ndigbo and political leaders from the zone, hence the formation of Ebube Agu security outfit across the zone, with its general contact office situated in Enugu State. The Presidency, Inspector General of Police, heads of other security agencies and other relevant stakeholders in security matters were properly consulted before the formation of the Ebube Agu Security outfit.
3. That the formation, training and handling of security gadgets of the Ebube Agu were all handled and controlled by Nigerian Security Agents who certified their competence at the end of the training, and they also operate under the inspection and supervision of Nigerian Police. To that effect, APC led government in Ebonyi State deny the said distribution of arms and ammunition to thugs or cultists as alleged by the wailers.
3. That His Excellency, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi has been an advocate of multi party system. He allows opposition to thrive. At no time should he think of attacking or harassing members of the opposition knowing full well that it is one's right as enshrined in 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended to belong to any organization of one's choice including a political party. It is also on records that Chief David Nweze Umahi has in public places called for credible opposition, demanding to be held accountable, an indication that he sees opposition as a propeller of good governance. It is therefore, annoying to hear from the so called Ebonyi PDP Caucus of the National Assembly who have heard the governor in different fora calling for credible opposition and constructive criticism still accuse the same governor for arming unknown individuals against members of the opposition party (ies) because they did not defect to APC with him. The allegation is fallacious and unfounded.
4. That the APC led government had forthwith condemned the alleged abduction of one Barr. Amos Ogbonnaya as the news of his abduction broke on 13th May, 2021. We charged the Police and other security agents to ensure that they fish out the abductors, unravel the circumstances behind his abduction and prosecute the culprits. We are not aware of the said Chinonso Obasi as Mr Ogbonnaya's abductor or a suspect in the abduction as we have not been informed about that by the security agents. How did Dr. Egwu and others become the police that arrested the culprit and the court that tried and convicted the said Chinonso Obasi in the abduction saga?
5. That we deny in its entirety the allegations that Gov Umahi distributed weapons to Development Centre Coordinators and other agents of Ebonyi State government and the alleged where Chief Deacon Austin Umahi was addressing a group of people on how to use the weapons against members of the opposition. We therefore, call on them to provide the pictorial evidence of the said Officers clutching the guns and the audio evidence of Chief Austin Umahi's discussion as alleged, otherwise they will be charged for perjury.
6. Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi is much committed to developing Ebonyi State in line with his campaign promises to Ebonyi people. He has no time to pursue shadow, let alone paying attention to politicians who have conspicuously failed their people. They should be very sincere to themselves if they are still very conscientious that they are afraid of their constituents whom they have disappointed. Governor Umahi still remains the Chief Security Officer of the state and he is committed to securing the lives and property of the residents in the state. To that effect, they should come clean with what they mean by holding the governor responsible should anything happen to any of them.
7. That to the best of our knowledge, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, Mr Garba Aliyu with his men and officers of Nigerian Police without fear or favour are efficiently discharging their duties in combatting criminal elements in the state with every sense of professional attachment, we therefore, pass vote of confidence on Nigerian Police and other security agents in Ebonyi State.
8. That it is very mischievous and treacherous that Dr Egwu and his cohorts have not taken any tangible or practical steps to mitigate the security challenges in the state, knowing full well that the lives of their constituents are involved, instead, they are hell-bent to distract a man who has invested huge resources, organized state wide prayer and fasting and a lot more to control the situation. It is barbaric and unpatriotic on the side of the lawmakers. Ebonyians are not happy with them.
We wish to call Ebonyi people, the public and the teaming members and supporters of APC led governments at all levels to go about their normal businesses. They should remain peaceful and law abiding. We advise them to discountenance the unfounded allegations of the Abuja politicians who have lost their relevance at the grassroots. They should see allegations as the cries of the defeated fellows who are seriously in need of sympathizers. We will show them in 2023 at the pulls that they are urban gorrilas.
Finally, Ebonyi State government under the security conscious governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi is highly committed to the security of lives and property of Ebonyi resident.
Signed
Ogbuatu Simbad Chidi
APC Publicity Secretary
Ebonyi State
Publisher: Don Martyn L.O Nwosu
Ikeduru APC Media Hub
08032950897
Ikeduruapcmediahub@gmail.com
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