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Tag: Gov Umahi

  • Ebube Agu Not After IPOB/ESN – Gov Umahi

    Ebube Agu Not After IPOB/ESN – Gov Umahi

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has said that the newly created security outfit in the southeast, Ebube Agu, is not against the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

    The governor stated this on Friday during the handing over of some vehicles to security agencies to aid their work of bringing safety to lives and property of the residents of the state in Abakaliki.

    Governors from the South-East had on April 11 have established a security network as part of plans to checkmate the rising unrest in the region, stemming from an increase in criminal activities.

    According to a communique put out by governors of the Southeast, the agency is to oversee and monitor the activities of vigilante groups in the region.

    But Umahi, who is also the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum said the regional leaders did not float the security outfit because they were at loggerheads with the outlawed IPOB.

    “Ebube Agu is not after the Eastern Security Network (ESN) or after IPOB, no. Ebube Agu is meant to protect the people of Ebonyi State and her visitors,” he said.

    “I have asked every citizen of Ebonyi State to protect themselves against any killing, no Ebonyi person should be killed again by anybody for any reason.

    “We will not take the killing of any Ebonyi person lightly any longer. We have not deployed our Ebube Agu. The social media is saying we have deployed, we merely said this is the uniform we are preparing.”

    Umahi said Nigerian youths were aggrieved, adding that leaders must find a way of engaging them in order to bring the current partial breakdown of law and order under control.

  • Insecurity: Gov Umahi seeks reconciliation, negotiations with bandits in Ebonyi

    Insecurity: Gov Umahi seeks reconciliation, negotiations with bandits in Ebonyi

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has declared his intention to negotiate with bandits to ascertain their grievances and the way forward.

    Umahi made the declaration on Friday in Abakaliki at the presentation of 40 Toyota Sienna vehicles and 20 Hilux vans to security agencies for enhanced operations in the state.

    The governor directed local government chairmen and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to identify the bandits and present them for debriefing.

    “I want to talk to the bandits and empower them as we cannot continue to kill ourselves and destroy public infrastructure.

    “The bandits are our children and I am pained when they or the security agencies are killed.

    “I want to ascertain their grievances against the Ebonyi or federal government, collate the facts for discussions to commence,” he said.

    He expressed disappointment over the announcement of guidelines for the 2023 elections, noting that the nation was at a crossroads for such engagement.

    “Let us forget about the 2023 elections with the leaders taking responsibility for the situation and discussing a way forward.

    “No one takes money to the grave and when we hear a gunshot, we will run and abandon the money we amassed.

    “This is not a period to discuss political parties but ensure that the resources of this nation are judiciously utilised,” he said.

    Umahi debunked the insinuation that members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) or Eastern Security Network (ESN) were after him, insisting that he has discharged his duties to the people.

    Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Secretary to the State Government said that the presentation was the first batch of the 100 sienna vehicles and 40 utility vehicles to be procured for security agencies.

    “The governor has fully paid for the 40 sienna vehicles and 20 Hilux vans being presented as the recipients are charged to judiciously utilise the vehicles.

    “I want to thank the governor for this feat despite the prevailing economic challenges as he had earlier distributed 70 utility vehicles to security agencies in 2019,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the heads of various security agencies, top government officials, youth groups among other stakeholders, witnessed the presentation ceremony.

  • ASUU lampoons Gov Umahi over threat to life of chairman

    ASUU lampoons Gov Umahi over threat to life of chairman

    The Calabar Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said that it would hold Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State responsible for any harm on it’s branch chairman at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Comrade Ikechukwu Igwenyi.

    It has also blamed Umahi for the deteriorating welfare of staff of the university and the proscription of ASUU in the insitution in a bid to administer the university with impunity without checks.

    Calabar Zonal chairman of ASUU Dr Aniekan Brown told newsmen weekend in Uyo that the Governor has already mobilized the Ohaozara kinsmen of Igwenyi to attack him and his family after he (Umahi) had threatened the chairman to leave his post and  resign from the University for refusing to back down on issues partaining to the welfare of union members in the University.

    Brown recalled that the nationwide ASUU strike was  suspended in Ebonyi State University on 24th December, 2020 after the announcement by Igwenyi to members at the Faculty of Agriculture, CAS Annex of the University and as a result,
    EBSU staff members were ready to go back to work immediately school reopens and EBSU Management has been notified by the Branch.


    “It has became a cause of concern and worry to the Union that as political stakeholders in Ohaozara, led by the Local Government Chairperson, Princess Nkechi Iyioku and the Commissioner for Local Government and
    Chieftaincy Matters, Bar. Samuel Okoronkwo visited Governor David Umahi in the spirit of Christmas at his country home in Uburu on 28th
    December, 2020, the outcome was a threat to mobilize youths and traditional rulers from the area to occupy the family home of Comrade
    Ikechuku Okorie Igwenyi in Abakaliki, who is the Acting Chairperson of ASUU, EBSU Branch to force him to resign and leave Ebonyi State or face
    some consequences. Similar instruction was given to youths, Technical Advisers and Faculty Presidents in EBSU on 29th Decemeber, 2020 when they paid a Christmas visit to the Governor.



    “Governor David Umahi, who is supposed to be the Chief security Officer of the State with a primary obligation of protecting lives and properties of the citizens stated that Comrade Igwenyi is the reason there is no peace in the State and in the University and urged the people of Ohaozara Local Government Area to raise 1000 youths and
    occupy the residence of Comrade Ikechuku Igwenyi at Abakaliki for seven days, apprehend his parents in their family home at Okposi and
    occupied the place for another seven days while the traditional rulers should initiate plans to ostracize the Igwenyi family from Okposi
    Community, should he fail to leave the seat as ASUU Chairperson and resign his appointment as a Lecturer from the University, stating that
    his APC government will not tolerate any perceived enemy of the party and would knock any perceived opposition in the mouth to paralysis.



    The zonal chairman wondered how Igwenyi has become a threat to peace in Ebonyi State for advocating for workers welfare that a “Governor is
    ordering such an illustrious son to leave his appointment and employment in EBSU in his own interest or face the consequences. Has
    he done any other thing than represent the interest of EBSU staff that he serves diligently and vowed to represent their interest satisfactorily.” He queried.


    “On this note, it has become imperative that the life of Comrade Igwenyi and family is under intense threat by Governor David Umahi and
    all concerned should take note and save the situation before it gets out of control. Should anything happen to Comrade Ikechuku Igwenyi and family, everyone should hold Governor David Nweze Umahi responsible.” Brown warned.


    The Union reminded the Governor that he has no right to suspend or proscribe ASUU aso labour matters remained in the exclusive list of the Nigerian constitution while ASUU-EBSU was part of the just suspended Nationwide Strike Action as
    an affiliate branch of ASUU, from where she derived her charter of operations, and therefore duty bound to abide by the directives of ASUU.

    “Consequently, no state has a prerogative or constitutional preserve to take any action
    on it. What that translates to is that the purported proscription or suspension of ASUU EBSU by the Government of Ebonyi State is ultra vires, inconsequential and of no effect. In this regard, ASUU has approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to challenge the authority of Ebonyi State Government to make such an utterance. Meanwhile, it is a misplaced priority and spells doom for the people of Ebonyi State for Government to embark on cosmetic infrastructural
    development to the detriment of education and human capital development.” He said.

    It also opposed a political group called Divine Mandate Professors (DMPs) raised by the Umahi’s government to run the affairs of the University, proscribed the Unions and dissolved the University
    Governing Council to allow the DMPs take over from the University Council.

    “This is choking the Management of EBSU and in their communiqué to the State Government, the DMPs accepted 20% deduction of staff monthly salaries at source to support the State Government in her fight against Covid-19. They also accepted that staff strength must be reduced without pension and gratuity beginning from

    Implementation of the result of a Medical Board while the leadership of the Unions must be disbanded by the removal and expulsion of ASUU
    Chairman, who also doubles as the Chairman of Joint Committee of Trade Unions.

    “The resistance mounted by the Union under the leadership of Comrade Igwenyi and because he refused to dance to the tune of government and the DMPs is the reason he has become endangered and classified as a threat to
    Government. Comrade Igwenyi has been severely disturbed by security agencies and several allegations put on him. This has culminated to
    the recent threat to his life and family by the Governor of Ebonyi State during the Christmas visit by Ohaozara APC political stakeholders, which was also attended by Igwenyi Family members.” The chairman concluded.

  • IPOB can’t represent and speak for Igbos- Governor Umahi says

    IPOB can’t represent and speak for Igbos- Governor Umahi says

    Governor Dave Umahi has said that the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) does not represent the interest of Ndigbo and cannot speak for Igbos.

    The Nation reports that Governor Umahi said this over the weekend when he led other Southeastern governors to visit his colleague in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, in Government House, Port Harcourt over the crisis that rocked Oyigbo local government area. IPOB members clashed with security agents after during the #EndSARS protest in Rivers state.

    Speaking during the meeting, Umahi said

    “We can claim here and show leaders back home that all we read in the social media from your own account are all lies. We did not come to verify your claims. You did not report to us.

    I have lived in Rivers State for a very long time. My six children out of seven were all born here in Rivers State. We have never had any form of discrimination here. We must call a spade a spade.

    We have 11.5million Igbos living in the north. We have three million Igbos that are of voting age in Lagos State not to talk about other parts of this country. And somebody wants to start a war for us so that the Igbos will be slaughtered.

    During the civil war, we lost three million Igbos. Most of them were killed when they were running away from the north back to the southeast. Everywhere you go in this country, you see our infrastructure. Think about the percentage of infrastructure of Ndigbo in Lagos and in Abuja. Who brings war upon itself?

    We, Ndiigbo, we do not support criminalities. Do not buy into any criminal that is from our side. I find it very funny when somebody is going to be claiming that part of Benue State must descend into his territory and part of Rivers State must descend into his territory. What sort of madness is that?

    Even if there is referendum, people must freely say where they want to belong to. You can’t force them. No matter the history you have, you can’t force people to belong to where you want them belong. They want to belong to where they want to belong.

    Why I am telling you this is that we should be wise not to support what is wrong. Let’s go back and tell ourselves the truth. What is happening cannot be said to be for Ndiigbo. Those people are not speaking for us. What are you agitating for and you are destroying the properties of Ndiigbo? Won’t that tell you that they are looking for something?

    They came to my state, the beautiful streetlights and beautiful infrastructures you are destroying them. You are burning tyres on the tarred road. Is it part of the agitation? Let us rise up and defend our name.” 

  • BREAKING: Gov. Umahi test positive to covid-19

    BREAKING: Gov. Umahi test positive to covid-19

    Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi and some of his aides have tested positive for COVID-19
    This was confirmed today, Saturday, July 4 in a statement signed by the governor himself.
    Umahi said some of his aides also tested positive, adding that they had submitted their samples for the test which came back positive.
    He said presently they are not showing any symptoms but have since gone into isolation in line with protocols laid down by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
    To that effect, the governor has directed his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, to take over the frontline coordination of the state’s fight against the pandemic to protect Ebonyi people.
    Umahi also appealed to residents of the state to take the NCDC protocols more seriously while stating that he’s working from home and will conduct all meetings virtually.
    Ebonyi state currently has 438 confirmed cases of the viral disease. 357 persons have been successfully treated while three have died.
  • Ebonyi Govt. says Umahi never claimed to be APC member

    Ebonyi Govt. says Umahi never claimed to be APC member

    The Ebonyi Government has said that Gov. David Umahi had at no time claimed to be a member of  both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Mr Uchenna Orji, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, made the declaration on Tuesday at a news conference, describing the claims that the governor had said so in some media publication as unfounded and baseless.

    Orji said that the government should not have ordinarily reacted to the publication but did so because the state’s image was at stake.

    “It was nonsensical for someone to write such report because no one can be in both the PDP and APC at the same time.

    “The parties have registers to prove this as the governor only said during the concerned function that he is the governor of both parties and and everyone in Ebonyi.

    “Anyone who therefore, blackmails the Ebony Sstate Government using any party will realise that there are people who will readily defend the governor’s actions.

    “The governor’s strides are glaring to all and he has always maintained that after party politics, administration of the state takes over,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the government was not unmindful of the mechanisms of individuals who feel they could thrive on blackmail against the government.

    “The governor is, however, not distracted but focused on making Ebonyi the best state in the country and people are attesting to this fact.

    “The media should help to achieve developmental journalism by reporting rightly and objectively,” he said.

    He also said the government was directing another online media outfit to retract its report on the state’s non-passage of the 2020 budget in 2019 or face legal actions.

    “The publication reported that Ebonyi was one of the seven states in the country which did not sign its 2020 appropriation bill into law in 2019 and this is also unfounded.

    “The governor in the full glare of the public and media, presented the state’s 2020 appropriation bill to the State House of Assembly on Dec. 13, 2019 which the House passed into law and he accented to.

    “The state government through the Ministries of Finance and Information, subsequently convened a briefing where it analysed all projections and issues surrounding the budget,” he said. (NAN)