The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi

  • Mob attacks policemen, snatches riffles

    Mob attacks policemen, snatches riffles

    Two policemen attached to Ebonyi State command were Tuesday hospitalized following injuries they sustained when they were attacked by a mob where they went to make arrest.

    Also, they were dispossessed of their service AK-47 riffles by the mob.

    The two officers whose names and ranks could not be immediately ascertained, it was gathered, were attacked at Amofia Ngbo, Ohaukwu local government area.

    The officers had gone to the community to arrest a man who stabbed another man for demanding to be paid money owed him when they were surrounded by members of the community who refused to allow them effect the arrest of the suspect.

    An eyewitness who did not want his name in print said that the policemen insisted that the suspect must be arrested and swooped on him.

    Another source added that following the attack on the policemen by the youths, stern looking policemen in large numbers stormed the area in the late evening and started destroying things.

    He disclosed that houses were razed in the alleged police reprisal attack.

    Police spokesman, ASP George Okafor confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

    He said the policemen attacked are responding to treatment and that their AK-47 riffles snatched are still missing.

    Okafor added that some arrest has been made in connection with the incident.

    Meanwhile, it was learnt that people have deserted the community.

     

  • Umahi inaugurates roads in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, has inaugurated the construction of three major roads in the three senatorial zones.

    The roads include the 23.7km Hilltop- Nwofe and the 15.5km Nkalagu/Ehamufu Roads awarded to China Zunghaoi Limited as well as the 23.5 km Amasiri/Okposi/Uburu Road awarded to CONROCK Nigeria Limited.

    Governor Umahi informed the people who gathered at the Hilltop Field in Abakaliki that the commencement of work on the Hilltop-Nwofe Road was a dream fulfilled.

    He added that the reconstruction of the road was underscored by the overwhelming support and solidarity he received from Izzi people during the governorship election.

    Recalling that the road had suffered many years of neglect, he noted that his decision to award the contract was also informed by the massive support from the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, who is an Izzi man.

    The Governor, who directed that work must go on simultaneously from the two ends of the road, directed that three civil engineers from the local government areas where the road traversed must be part of the teams that would supervise the construction of the roads.

    According to him, the engineers would garner more experience from the contractors to enable them to benefit from projects that would be awarded in future by his administration.

    At Nkalagu, the Governor described the Nkalagu-Ehamufu Road which last received government’s attention almost six decades ago as not only important to Ebonyi State but also to the entire Igbo race.

    He revealed that negotiation had reached advanced stage for Ibeto Cement Company to take over and revitalise NIGERCEM Cement Factory in Nkalagu to regain its glory.

    “By inaugurating the road construction, it is no longer hidden that Ibeto would revitalise NIGERCEM. We must have concluded with Ibeto to ensure that the rights of our communities, local and state governments are protected,” he added.

    At Amasiri Junction where he described the gathering as being akin to a political rally, the governor announced plans to construct Effium-Agba-Ohoffia Road, Ntezi-Isu Road and Ebwona Road next year.

    He said the Amasiri-Okposi-Uburu Road was important because it also links Ebonyi State with Enugu State.

    Governor Umahi directed local government chairmen and coordinators of development centres whose areas are linked to the roads to monitor the progress of work by the contractors.

    He said: “There is no project started by this administration that will be stopped. They have their money. Where our money stopped, they continue with their money and we will be paying. It is in the agreement. I will give you a road built on concrete that will last for 50 years.”

    The Commissioner for Works, Mr. Fidelis Nweze, observed that the Hilltop-Nwofe Road had never received attention since the inception of old Eastern Region.

    Meanwhile, progress is being recorded on the Abakaliki-Afikpo Road. This followed the outcry from road users who ply the federal road.

     

  • Ebonyi NYSC cancels terminal parade over bomb scare

    Ebonyi NYSC cancels terminal parade over bomb scare

    The Terminal parade for the 2015 Batch B stream two National Youth Service Corp, (NYSC) members deployed to Ebonyi State was Wednesday put off following a bomb scare at the camp ground.

    The parade was expected to take place at the Old McGregor College orientation camp Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state

    The Nation gathered that there was panic and tension at the camp ground when security operative raised the alarm of suspected explosive device in the orientation camp which prompted corps members and officials of the scheme to scamper for safety.

    The security operative attached to the camp ground combed the hostels of the corp members looking for a possible place the device was hidden.

    Sources close to the State Secretariat office of the National Youth Service Corps informed our reporter that the scheme has concluded plans for the terminal parade when the rumor of the alleged discovery of the explosive device filtered in.

    A Corps members who spoke to The Nation in confidence stated that their apprehension was heightened when some unknown faces were seen coming into the camp ground during the camp fire night.

    Following reports by some corps members that unknown faces were seen entering Aso Rock Hostel, the security operatives had to search thoroughly for the device in the hostels.

    As the panic raged in the camp ground, the leadership of the scheme hurriedly distributed posting letters to the corps members to the area of their primary assignment.

    Spokesman, ASP George Okafor who confirmed the development said that the camp ground was safe as no bomb device was found by the Anti bomb Squad deployed to the orientation camp.

    He disclosed that a cable was found at the camp ground adding that the Anti bomb Squad has recovered the cable and would soon come out with its report.

    He noted that security has been beefed up in the camp ground ahead of the posting of another batch of corp members.

    Chairman of NYSC governing board who is also the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Charles Akpuenika said he got a call from a security agency in the state alerting him on the bomb scare.

    He said he immediately communicated the State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi who ordered that the terminal parade be called off.

    Hon Akpuenika said; “I got a call from a security agency in the state that briefed me on what was happening at the camp ground and the panic the bomb scare created among corps members”.

    “I immediately placed a call to the Governor; he ordered that the terminal parade be called off. The Governor is so interested in the safety every Ebonyi indigene and visitors to the State. He would not desire that anybody be hurt and that was why it was called off”.

    “Actually, from the information I got from the security agency, a cable allegedly usually used to construct bomb was discovered by the security agency at the camp ground”.

    “The cable has been taken by the Anti Bomb Squad and I believe that they would be in a better position to inform us if the cable was actually intended to be used by some miscreants to construct bomb in the area”.

    “Ebonyi is a safe ground for visitors, there has never been any fear of terror attack in the state and we don’t hope to have one. People should feel free to come to the state and there security is assured.”

  • Police arrest four MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    Police arrest four MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    Four members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were in the early hours of Friday arrested by policemen attached to Ebonyi State police command.

    The members who engaged in a peaceful protest along some streets in Abakaliki including Vanco junction were seen carrying placards, flags of the group and chanting songs of solidarity.

    The development caused pandemonium within the state capital as keke operators and vehicles belonging to private individuals were diverted other adjoining streets to avoid significant disruption of economic activities in the state.

    Police spokesman in the State, ASP George Okafor confirmed the arrest of the MASSOB members.

    He threatened that the police in the state would not allow the group to gain any influence over the state as the command was prepared for any showdown with MASSOB.

    So far, relative peace has since returned to the state capital as security operatives have been positioned at different strategic points to clampdown on the activities of MASSOB in the state.

  • NCC, Ebonyi train 1000 youths in ICT

    NCC, Ebonyi train 1000 youths in ICT

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Ebonyi State Government have trained over 1000 youths of the state in Information Communications Technology (ICT).

    The training programme which held at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre was organised by the Global Youths Awareness and Development Initiative (GYADI), a non-governmental organisation.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Professor Umar Dantata at the event stressed the need for youths to be formally trained in ICT to enable them play active role in the emerging digital economy.

    Prof. Dantata said  that countries such as China, Singapore and Germany are recording high human development index and appreciable growth in gross domestic product as a result of unlimited access to Information Communications Technology provided to their citizens.

    Represented by a Deputy Director in the Commission, Mr Austin Odo, the Vice Chairman stressed that if Nigeria would join notable sustainable economies in the world there was the need for government at all levels to invest aggressively in ICT development.

    The President of the GYADI Prince Ejighionwu Ebei who described it as first of its kind in the state said it was packaged as capacity programme to encourage ICT proficiency literacy among the Ebonyi youths.

    “The youths who are the most valuabe human resources, the most agile and a critical demographic group of the nation needs to be incorporated in all developmental facets that will trigger sustainable national development,” he said.

    He noted that the training will create job opportunities for the teaming unemployed youths and improved Internally Generated Revenue of the state with accelerated increase in the Gross Domestic Products of the state.

    Earlier, the Special Adviser to Governor Umahi on ICT, Prince Aja Nwabueze said the state government had partnered with federal government agencies including NCC on ICT.

    Prince Ajah explained that the participants would be trained on web design, networking, internet marketing and Graphic design.

    He disclosed that the participants were carefully selected from the thirteen local government areas of the state.

    Governor David Umahi represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Bernard Odo while declaring the event open announced plans by his administration to phase out blackboard in schools for e-learning facilities as part of a road map for ICT development in the state.

    Some of the participants appreciated the Nigerian Communications Commission and the state government for organizing the summit but called for the provision of free internet services in some public places.

    About one thousand youths participated in the summit which was the first of its kind in the state.

    The theme of the summit was refocusing talented Ebonyi youths for sustainable national development in training and capacity building through ICT.

  • Ebonyi steps up crackdown on vice

    Ebonyi steps up crackdown on vice

    Rather than cool the chase after criminals, the deployment of a woman police commissioner to Ebonyi State may be heating it up. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports from Abakaliki

    CRIMINALS have caused much havoc in Ebonyi State, as they have done elsewhere, but the police and other security agencies in the state have equally done their bit to keep them quiet. Former Commissioner of Police Maigari Dikko took the fight to kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists among other outlaws, and was reckoned to have  acquitted himself quite well.

    Then he was redeployed and a woman, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah, brought in to replace him.

    There were questions. Will the heat on the hoodlums cool? Can she cope?

    Abdallah has since put those anxious questions to bed. The command under her leadership has even stepped up the charge, with their dragnet haulling in suspected criminals of all shades, the latest being some 18 suspects.

    That added to the impressive busy schedule of the new CP. On September 8, a few days after she took office, a medical doctor Johnson Obunna was kidnapped. The CP mobilised her personnel and rescued him unharmed.

    The command followed that up by arresting a gang of suspected kidnappers who abducted the Afikpo Zonal Manager of the Nigerian Breweries Limited, Kehinde Baruwa who was kidnapped at the entrance of his street, off Ndibe Beach Road in Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state.

    When a group of pirates and suspected militants invaded Afikpo town, they were repelled by men of the command, which lost one of its officers in the exchange of fire.

    It was gathered that CP Abdallah led that operation. The pirates  reportedly ran back to the beach and sped off on their motorised boats.

    Some of the 18 suspects were accused of armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism and vandalism, among others.

    Nine of the suspects were paraded to reporters at the Command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

    Abdallah said the gang attacked a police patrol team at Evangel Camp Junction Okpoto Ishielu along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway in the wee hours of the morning and inflicted bullet and machete cut wounds on them and snatched three AK47 rifles and 20  rounds of ammunition in each of the rifles.

    She said efforts were being made to track down those who fled.

    CP Ibekwe also said three other suspects Samuel Agha, Francis Okoro and Chukwu Ogbonnaya were arrested for being in possession of four locally made pistols and four live cartridges and have since been charged to court.

    Also the command arrested one Onyema Nwali, John Nwopokwu and Friday Nwakpa at Ihoto Ameka Ezza South on a tip off and recovered an AK47 from them.

    The command equally swooped on a meeting of a cult group known as the Vikings Confraternity who took to their heels, dropping a pistol.

    “Again,” she said, “one Nnanna Igwe and Ugbu John were arrested on a tip off while planning an armed robbery operation. One locally made pistol, one live ammunition and one expended cartridge were recovered by the Police,” the CP added.

    The CP said the Police patrol team intercepted one Kelechi Alo at Abaomege-Afikpo Highway and recovered four newly made local pistols with 13 9mm live ammunitions from him.

  • In Ebonyi, Umahi reclaims Fridays

    In Ebonyi, Umahi reclaims Fridays

    It is no longer business as usual on Fridays in Ebonyi State following the decision of Governor Dave Umahi to remind civil servants in the state that Fridays are working days, and not days meant for social engagements. The Governor recently banned all government functionaries and civil servants in the state from attending social events fixed for Fridays. The governor said Fridays are working days.

    Before this announcement, civil servants in the state are known to either absent themselves from work or close pretty early on Friday under the pretext of having to attend one social engagement or the other. In Ebonyi, the maxim “thank God it’s Friday” was no joke before a new Sheriff came to disrupt things.

    Wielding what many sulking civil servants described as an unusual big stick, the Governor said, anybody who wishes to hold weddings, fu­neral, and any other kind of event should fix that on week­ends because government functionaries and civil ser­vants have been banned from attending such functions.” Thus, Governor Umahi has finally reclaimed Friday from the revelers of Ebonyi.

  • 18 suspected criminals held in Ebonyi

    18 suspected criminals held in Ebonyi

    No fewer than 18 suspected criminals have been arrested by the police in Ebonyi State, an indication that the state’s new Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah has been quite busy since her posting to the state. On September 8, a few days after she took office, a medical doctor Johnson Obunna was kidnapped. The CP mobilised her personnel and rescued him unhurt.

    The command followed this up with the arrest of a gang of suspected kidnappers which abducted the Afikpo Zonal Manager of the Nigerian Breweries Limited, Kehinde Baruwa.

    The manager was abducted at the entrance to his street, off Ndibe Beach road Afikpo North local government area of the state.

    When a group of pirates and suspected militants invaded Afikpo town recently, they were also repelled by gallant men of the command and in the exchange of fire one of the police officers was killed.

    It was gathered that the CP personally led the operation that repelled the pirates who ran back to the beach and disappeared on their speed boats.

    The recent onslaught against the men of the underworld has also led to the arrest of 18 persons on suspicion of committing various crimes ranging from armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism, vandalism, etc.

    Nine of the suspects were paraded to reporters at the Command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

    Abdallah said three of the suspects Ndubuisi Iseh, Uchenna Nweke and Sunday Elom were arrested while planning to embark on a robbery attack.

    She said the gang had attacked a police patrol team at Evangel Camp Junction Okpoto Ishielu along the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway in the wee hours of the morning and inflicted bullet and machete cut wounds on them and snatched three AK47 riffles and twenty rounds of ammunition in each of the riffles.

    “While the police officers are hospitalised, the command through intelligence led policing, diligence and gallantry smashed an intended robbery attack by the same gang the three suspects.”

    “The three AK47 riffles were recovered with thirteen live ammunitions. The suspects confessed that they had planned to block Lokoja/Abuja Highway to rob innocent citizens before the command aborted their planned operations”

    She said efforts is still on to track the rest of the fleeing suspects.

    CP Ibekwe also said three other suspects Samuel Agha, Francis Okoro and Chukwu Ogbonnaya were arrested for being in possession of four locally made pistols and four live cartridges and have since been charged to court.

    Also the command arrested one Onyema Nwali, John Nwopokwu and Friday Nwakpa at Ihoto Ameka Ezza South on a tip off and recovered an AK47 from them.

    The command also swooped on a meeting of a cult group known as the Vikings Confraternity who took to their heels and in the process dropped a pistol which was recovered.

    “Again one Nnanna Igwe and Ugbu John were arrested on a tip off while planning an armed robbery operation. One locally made pistol, one live ammunition and one expended cartridge were recovered by the Police,” the CP added.

    The CP said the police patrol team intercepted one Kelechi Alo at Abaomege-Afikpo Highway and recovered four newly made local pistols with thirteen 9mm live ammunitions from him.

    She further stated that the command’s officers in conjunction with Commercial bicycle (Okada) operators arrested two robbers who robbed two passengers on Okada dispossessing both of them  of a total sum of N81,400.

    She commended the Okada operators who trailed the robbery suspects and alerted the police to effect the arrests.

    The command, said the CP, also arrested one Ndubuisi Ogbonnia and Chinedu Gabriel all of Amasiri Community in Afikpo North as they vandalized EEDC Transformer and stole the armored cables. The two suspects were charged to court where they pleaded guilty and were convicted.

  • Ebonyi police parade suspects

    Ebonyi police parade suspects

    The Ebonyi State police command has arrested 18 persons for robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism, vandalism and others.

    Nine of the suspects were paraded yesterday at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki.

    Commissioner of Police Peace Abdallah Ibekwe said three of the suspects, Ndubuisi Iseh, Uchenna Nweke and Sunday Elom, were arrested while planning a robbery operation.

    She said the gang attacked a patrol team at Evangel Camp Junction in Okpoto Ishielu on the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway, injured the officers and snatched three AK47.

    “While the officers are hospitalised, the command, through intelligence,  smashed an intended robbery attack by the same gang.

    “The AK47 were recovered with 13 live ammunition. The suspects confessed that they had planned to block the Lokoja/Abuja Highway to rob.”

    Ibekwe said efforts were still on to track the suspects.

    Three others – Samuel Agha, Francis Okoro and Chukwu Ogbonnaya were arrested for being in possession of four locally-made pistols and four live cartridges. They have been charged to court.

    Onyema Nwali, John Nwopokwu and Friday Nwakpa were arrested at Ihoto Ameka Ezza South after a tip off and an AK47 was recovered from them.

    “Nnanna Igwe and Ugbu John were arrested after a tip off while planning a robbery operation. One locally-made pistol, one live ammunition and one expended cartridge were recovered from them. The patrol team also intercepted Kelechi Alo at Abaomege-Afikpo Highway and recovered four new local pistols with 13 9mm live ammunition from him,” Ibekwe added.

    Appreciating the support of relevant stakeholders, the commissioner assured residents of security during the Yuletide.

    “The command will continue in its efforts to stamp out crime in the state. The police is driven by a leadership that demands excellence and commitment to selfless service to Nigerians”, she said.

  • Ebonyi, no longer at ease over Umahi’s political moves

    Ebonyi, no longer at ease over Umahi’s political moves

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi’s alleged friendly relationship with the Presidency is not only a source of concern to his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but also the root cause of the speculation that he is poised to dump PDP for All Progressives Congress (APC). Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu reports that the development has pitched Umahi’s supporters with the followers of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and may redefine political alignments in the state.

    In Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, and its environs, it is still possible today to see Governor Dave Umahi and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), sharing warm jokes in public places. Just recently, when Anyim buried his mother- in- law at Isiagu and Umahi graced the occasion in style, the handshake was warm enough to create doubts in the minds of anyone suspecting a possible rupture in the relationship of the two political leaders.

    This show notwithstanding, insiders in the politics of the South-East state confirmed to The Nation during the week that all is no longer the same between Anyim and his political grandson, Umahi. We gathered that some PDP chieftains in the state, especially close associates of Anyim, who allege that the governor is shifting his allegiance to the new lords in Abuja, are no longer at ease with his political overtures.

    “All is no longer the same here because we have reason to believe that Governor Umahi, who is always passionate to be his own man politically, is poised to dump our leaders here. This is unfortunate because it is these same leaders that made him who he is today. We hear and have seen concrete moves that confirmed to us that he may no longer be a PDP loyalist”, alleged a top PDP member in the state who pleaded not to be named.

    Although Umahi has reportedly denied any move to dump PDP for APC, the allegation had literally placed iced water on the hitherto warm relationship between him and the other leaders of PDP in the state. Sources said some Anyim supporters, who accuse Umahi of not deferring to the former SGF any longer, are however helpless as Umahi’s control of PDP in the state and indeed the politics of the state today seems near total.

    According to Chief Uzoubi Uko, “Whether he chooses to remain in PDP or to defect to APC will make little or no difference in his control of the politics of Ebonyi. The governor is fully in charge here. If you understand the politics of this state and the dynamism of Umahi, a grassroots leader, you will understand that he is not and will never be threatened even if he chooses to defect to APC. But he has said he is not planning to dump PDP but have seen the need to give President Muhammadu Buhari the support he needs to succeed. Now, tell me, what is wrong with that? I do not know why some elements are just desperate to create tension where none exists.”

    In fact, since Engr. Dave Umahi, then as the Deputy Governor, first declared resolve to pursue his governorship ambition in Ebonyi State in spite of the then Governor Martin Elechi’s open refusal to offer the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to him, the tempo of the politics of the South-East state has remained in the upward swing. The same, it seems, could be said to be the case with the political image of Umahi himself. He has always displayed uncanny ways of winning the stiff political battles he chose to fight.

    Bookmakers had given him little chance when he battled with Elechi, his boss, over the soul of the ruling party in the state. But he won and not only emerged the party’s flag bearer but also the governor of the state notwithstanding reports that most of the associates of the then Governor Elechi had teamed up in the Labour Party to raise the carpet off his feet at the grassroots level.

    Abuja connection

    When Umahi hijacked the leadership of PDP from serving governor Elechi before the last general elections, in what some commentators described as one of the most dramatic political coups of the Jonathan era, close observers credited the feat to his strong Abuja connections. Though the major actors in the Wadata Plaza headquarters of PDP in Abuja then and in the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan-led Presidency have all taken the back seat, his close associates confessed that Umahi is still highly connected in Abuja and is poised to utilize that connection to enhance both his political fortunes and the fortunes of his state.

    Ironically, it is this attempt by the governor to cultivate friendship with the Presidency and chieftains of the ruling APC at the centre that is allegedly heating up the politics of the state.

    The rumour about his alleged plan to dump PDP garnered steam when he held a closed-door 45 minutes meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta. Stepping out of the meeting, Umahi had said to the new leaders at the centre, “We also came here to thank you for the manners and the ways you have been using the wisdom of God to assist in piloting the affairs of our nation. I thank you very greatly sir. I believe very strongly that what transpired during the election is actually the will of God. And we have the opportunity to right the wrong.

    “There is no administration that wouldn’t have some ills but the most important thing is the ability and the knowledge and wisdom to identify them like you just advised me here; all those good ones continue with them, the bad ones you can always right them,” he said.

    He did not stop there but openly pledged support for Buhari, saying of him: “And I use the opportunity to thank Mr. President Sir and to say one of the greatest things that will move this nation forward is forthrightness and Mr. President has displayed that. In our meetings, the governors, we are very pleased with him. It’s not a question of being in this party or being in the other party.

    “He displays rare sense of humility, honesty and the willingness to carry this country forward. And that’s what we are looking for. We are not interested in which party or the other party. We are interested in the man who has the welfare and the interest of the nation at heart. His directive to stop many accounts of NNPC, I’m sure you are gladdened because I had discussed that with you and you complained bitterly about the way NNPC was being run; when they keep more money than what they give the federal government.

    “So, we thank you and I want to say Sir that you continue to support Mr. President, General Buhari, and I’m very sure with you sir by his side, he is going to deliver in his promises,” Umahi said.

    Coming from a PDP governor, these comments have been interpreted to be a confirmation that the governor may be on his way out of PDP.

    Umahi’s interest in APC dates back to July this year, barely a month after his swearing in as governor, when he paid a well publicized visit to Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa though he defended then that his support for the programmes and policies of the President, especially the anti-corruption stance, does not translate to plans to defect to APC.

    But most political watchers could not believe him because not only has he gone out of his way to associate closely with Buhari and Obasanjo, he has also been seen consolidating his stake in the leading political platform by associating with and sending special gifts to some powerful Emirs who allegedly wield enormous influence in APC.

    We also gathered from top political leaders from the state, especially federal lawmakers who have held several meetings with him that he is zealous about the need to collaborate with Buhari’s government, notwithstanding how some elements in PDP will interpret it. An earlier report had quoted one of the Ebonyi State federal lawmakers as saying that Umahi actually advised them in a meeting to ensure that they align their bills with the vision of the Buhari-led government.

    No matter how Umahi may try to justify his resolve to praise and work with Buhari’s government in the interest of Nigeria, he can no longer deny the fact that this decision may have pitched him against PDP purists who see him as a betrayer. Umahi, it seems, is not perturbed. But there is some unease even amongst his associates, who are wondering if it is necessary for him to encourage this brewing political battle and if the governor stands a chance of coming out of it without sustaining some fatal political bruises?

    A top government official in Abakaliki, explaining the situation in the Government House said on Friday, “We are not worried here by the rumour because the governor is not afraid of political battles. He thrives from it. Recall that his political rise into the Ebonyi State Government House began when the then Governor Martin Elechi, who had assured him that the governorship of the state would be zoned to his old Afikpo bloc of Ebonyi South Senatorial district, suddenly shifted interest from him to the former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

    “Many had thought the shift would mark the end of Umahi’s dreams but it ironically marked the beginning of a new tempo, a more radical and realistic tempo. Immediately the former Health Minister was named as the consensus governorship candidate, Umahi dished out his campaign posters. You know the rest of the story. So, he is not afraid to do the right thing,” he said.

    It is on record that in that political battle the official recalled, Umahi was backed by political heavyweights in the PDP like former Governor Sam Egwu, whose friendship with the then National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Muazu, gave enormous influence and the then Secretary to Government of the Federation, (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who literally oversaw Nigeria then, among others.

    With the help of these people, Umahi defeated Elechi and effectively took over control of PDP in the state.

    Now that his new steps would imply dumping these same PDP lords, it remains to be seen how it would impact on the politics of the state. Already, some supporters are saying that the weak economy of the state makes it wise for Umahi to relate well with the federal government. But the question his critics are asking is if he must dump PDP and his political godfathers before working with the Buhari-led federal government?

    The chess-like game has just commenced and it remains to be seen how it will ultimately affect common Ebonyi people and Governor Dave Umahi.