The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Martin Elechi

  • Ebonyi APC suspends Acting Chairman

    A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi state on Thursday said it has suspended indefinitely the factional Acting Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, for allegedly conniving with some party leaders to tamper with the party’s guidelines for Saturday’s state Congress.

    Rising from a meeting of the factional State Executive Council, SEC, of the party in Abakaliki, the state capital, the Ben Nwaobasi led faction said the suspension of Nwachukwu became necessary in order to bring lasting peace to the party.

    The faction warned the public to henceforth, be mindful of their dealings with him.

    The party has been factionalised since 2014 when the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonna Ọnụ pulled out from the party to set up a factional office with some State Executive Committee members.

    The SEC members led by Nwachukwu, who was then Nwaobasi’s Vice Chairman purportedly announced the impeachment on Mr Nwaobasi.

    But the Nwaobasi group which is backed by Senator Julius Ucha, a Former Governorship candidate under the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party, ANPP, faulted the impeachment for not following due process.

    The fictionalization continued till the last ward and local government congresses, where both factions held parallel Congresses.

    Nwachukwu and some State Working Committee (SWC) members had on Monday adopted as a working document a report presented to it by a three man committee led by Mr Onu, which proposed a new zoning arrangement for the Saturday’s state Congress of the Party.

    The other two members of the committee were former Governor, Martin Elechi (representing Ebonyi Central) and an ex-Senator, Chris Nwankwo (representing Ebonyi North), who is also Elechi’s in-law.

    According to the new zoning formula,  Chairmanship position of the party is zoned to Mr Nwachukwu’s Ebonyi North zone and even narrowed it down to his Ohaukwu local government.

    But briefing journalists after the 54th SEC meeting of the party on Thursday, the state publicity secretary of APC in the state, Mr Ngaji Nwodo, who read the resolutions of SEC said the adoption of the purported new zoning formula presented by Onu’s led committee by the Acting Chairman was a clear violation of the party’s constitution.

    They maintained that the new zoning formula adopted by Nwachukwu and his cohort was an anti-party activity and indiscipline,noting that it was unfortunate that Mr Onu, who is a serving Minister in the government of the APC is championing it.

    “SEC condemns the nocturnal and anti-party action of Mr Eze Nwachukwu Eze, Chief Martin Elechi, Ogbonnaya Onu and Chris Nwankwo, to tamper with the 2014 APC Congress guidelines which is still in force for the 2018 congress,”they said.

    They also noted that the new zoning formula was not only done with disregard to the constitutional rights of members of the state executive committee of the party in the state, but anti progressive in its entirety.

    They added that the action of Nwachukwu and his cohort must be dealt with decisively and seriously.

    SEC further directed Onu, Elechi and Chris Nwankwo to withdraw the purported new zoning arrangement within 24hrs or they would be constrained to invoke in full the party’s constitution to discipline them.

    They further called on members of the party especially interested aspirants in the state’s congress to discountenance the purported new zoning formula by the Onu led committee.

  • 20,000 youths oppose impeachment move against Elechi

    Over 20,000 youths yesterday staged a peaceful rally in support of Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi.

    They warned against his removal from office.

    The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions, such as: “Elechi is man of peace”, “Elechi has fulfilled all his electoral promises”, “Burning of Ebonyi State House of Assembly will not make someone governor”, “Ebonyi is not for sale”, among others, were guided by security operatives.

    The rally, which started at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, was attended by a crowd, which caused a gridlock on the old Enugu Road.

    Members of parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) attended the rally.

    They decried the impeachment threat, resolving to, however, support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

    Spokesman for the protesters, Leonard Igboke, said: “The political crisis in the state borders on the ambition of one man to be governor. That particular ambition has been overstretched to the extent that all manner of mischief, lies, propaganda, vendetta, brigandage, scavenging, innuendoes, cultism, killings, maiming, blackmailing  have been employed to achieve this ambition.”

    They described the impeachment plot and the burning of the House of Assembly as a threat to peace in the state and country and urged the National Assembly, civil liberty organisations, international community and the Nigeria Bar Association to intervene.

    Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. Boniface Chima hailed the youth for supporting Governor Elechi “at this trying moment” and enjoined them to sustain the support.

  • Governor alleges impeachment plot

    Governor alleges impeachment plot

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi alleged a plot by politicians to impeach him.

    He spoke at the Government House, Abakaliki when addressing members of the Ezza Ezzekuna Youth Congress, who visited him.

    Elechi alleged that politicians were holding meetings to perfect a strategy to impeach him.

    He said: “I want to bring to your notice that some politicians, who have vowed to govern this state at all cost, have been holding secret meetings on how to impeach me. They said I’m a bad person and if I remain in power, they will not be able to rule the state. If they sack me, I will relocate to my home town.”

    The governor urged youths not to allow the state to be taken over by politicians, who are not after their welfare.

    He advised them to be vigilant and resist attempt to use them to cause trouble.

    The congress President, Mr. Leonard Igboke, a lawyer, said the youth were at the Government House to express solidarity with the Elechi administration.

    He urged him to be firm despite the political developments.

  • Panel to probe Elechi, others ready

    Panel to probe Elechi, others ready

    Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday set up a committee to investigate five petitions in which Governor Martin Elechi and his allies are accused of financial misappropriation.

    The petitions include the one by Ebonyi Integrity Group, through its counsel, Clement Odaah, which accused the governor, his son (Elechi N. Elechi), Sir Edward Nkwegu and others of contract inflation and connivance to use the state’s fund for private gains.

    The petitions were read on the floor of the House by the acting leader, Ikechukwu Ogbu and adopted by the Assembly as a working document through a motion  moved by Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, representing Izzi West Constituency.

    The Minority Leader, Enyi C. Enyi, described the allegations as shocking, saying they were impeachable offences if the governor was found guilty.

    Other lawmakers noted the need for the House to invoke its constitutional powers to deal with the petitions.

    They said those accused would be given the opportunity to defend themselves.

    Speaker Chukwuma Nwazunku, who adopted the petition through voice votes, set up a special committee headed by Odefa O. Odefa, representing Onicha South, to investigate the allegations and report to the House.

    He said the essence of the committee was to carry out a thorough investigation, as they were weighty allegations.

  • Ebonyi gets SSG as Elechi reshuffles exco

    Ebonyi gets SSG as Elechi reshuffles exco

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi yesterday appointed a Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Boniface Chima, following the removal of Chief Fidelis Mbam on health grounds.

    Chima, until his appointment, was the secretary of Ebonyi Founding Fathers Forum.

    Elechi, at the swearing-in of the SSG in Abakaliki, hailed the former SSG for his dedication to duty in the last seven and a half years.

    The SSG promised to perform.

    The governor also announced the reshuffle of his executive council (exco).

    He said the exercise became necessary, following the resignation of exco members, who wanted to vie for political offices.

    Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Dr Ifeanyi Ike will head the Ministry of Information and State Orientation.

    Commissioner for Works and Transport Chukwuma Nwandiugo, an engineer, will oversee the Department of Petroleum Pricing and Distribution and Chief Jonah Egba, formerly of Inter-Party Dialogue, will take over the Department of Grants and Donor Agency and oversee the Ministry of Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction.

  • Moves to impeach Elechi begin

    Moves to impeach Elechi begin

    •EFCC quizzes commissioners, accountant-general
    •Odaa: I was not arrested

    Forces alleged to be from  the Presidency have begun moves to impeach Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed three top officials in the Elechi administration for alleged corruption and financial recklessness of local government funds.

    They are the Accountant-General, Edwin Igbele, Commissioner for Finance, Ogbonnaya Odaa and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Cele Nwali.

    Although the amount involved in the alleged corruption was unspecified, EFCC said Nwali would account for the deduction of N13million from the local government funds to produce T-shirts for the centenary celebration.

    It was, however, learnt that the invitation of the officials signalled the beginning of a plot to impeach Elechi by alleged forces in the Presidency.

    The governor and top government officials were said to be championing protest votes against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the elections, following the hijack of the party structure from the governor by Abuja forces.

    Two godfathers in the state (the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and ex-Governor Sam Egwu ) had been at loggerheads with Governor Elechi.

    Investigation showed that the three officials, who flew into Abuja yesterday, have been detained.

    It was gathered that they were grilled on what they knew about an asphalt project meant for the 13 local governments.

    A source said: “The officials are being quizzed on allegations bordering on corruption and financial recklessness involving local government funds.

    “The interrogation borders on what they know about an asphalt project earmarked for the 13 local governments by the Elechi administration for which money running into millions of naira were deducted at source from local governments’ account.

    “Nwali was quizzed for allegedly directing the 13 local governments to erect asphalt complexes in their headquarters. Six of the councils complied and seven did not. Yet funds were deducted from the accounts of the local governments.

    “Nwali is fingered as the mastermind of the deduction of N1million from each of the council ostensibly to fund the production of T-shirts for the centenary celebration.

    “There is no evidence that the T-shirts were produced and the N13million remains unaccounted for.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We may detain them, pending the conclusion of this preliminary investigation.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the interrogation.

    It was learnt that since the Elechi group lost out at the primaries, there had been fears that the ruling party might lose the state to the opposition.

    A source said: “These Abuja forces hijacked the party structure from the governor and shut out the governor’s anointed governorship candidate, ex-Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu. They also want to impeach him.

    “They are doing these because Elechi still commands support in the state and they fear protest votes against PDP in the elections.”

    Odaa said he was never arrested but invited by the agency to react to a politically-motivated petition by opposition politicians on the finances of the state.

    The Supervising Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Ike, who debunked the allegation of financial impropriety or arrests of the government functionaries, described it as “the  handiwork of the opposition, who are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill”.

  • Ebonyi budgets N80b for next year

    Ebonyi budgets N80b for next year

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi yesterday presented an appropriation bill of N80,017,929,870.00 (Eighty billion, seventeen million, nine hundred and twenty-nine thousand, eight hundred and seventy naira) to the House of Assembly for passage into law.

    In a surprise development, the warring factions of the Assembly sheathed their swords and came together to receive the governor to the chambers. They were led by embattled Speaker Chukwuma Nwazunku.

    The presentation ended speculations and apprehensions that the budget may not be presented to the House this year or that it may be presented to the 13 members loyal to Governor Elechi.

    The sitting, however, started three hours behind schedule, as the lawmakers and the governor had a marathon closed-door meeting, the outcome of which was not made known to reporters.

    Tagged: “Budget of transmission and economic fulfilment”, it is over six per cent lower than last year’s downward revised budget of N85,634,933,972.

    According to the governor, 47.48 per cent of the budget or N39,991,977,780 billion is being proposed as recurrent expenditure and N42,025,952,090. billion or 52,52 per cent  of the budget is for capital expenditure.

    Elechi hailed the Assembly for the cordial relationship it maintained with the Executive, “although in the last few months, there have been trials caused by internal and external factors.”

    He said the 2014 “Budget of stabilisation” faced obstacles, especially the global economic meltdown, fluctuations of crude prices, which led to a shortfall in the expected revenue of the federal and state governments, as its expenditure profile rose.

    “Despite the hiccups experienced over the years, we have a justification to say we have consolidated on the performances of the past years; that we have reasonably, if not wholly, fulfilled our electoral promises to our people; and that we have created a hope for the future generation,” the governor said.

    Nwazunku praised him for his prudent management of the state’s resources. He promised that the Assembly would ensure a speedy passage of the budget to enable the governor continue his good programmes.

    Nwazunku announced the setting up of a special appropriation committee to ensure a speedy passage of the budget.

    Members are Frank Onwe, Odefa Obasi Odefa, Nwifuru Ogbonnaya, Val Okike, Chike Ogiji and Oliver Nwachukwu.

    Twenty-one of the 24 members were in attendance, including Deputy Speaker Blaise Orji.

  • I ‘ll not dump PDP, says Elechi

    I ‘ll not dump PDP, says Elechi

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi said yesterday that he would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fight the injustice meted out to him.

    He spoke at a town hall meeting at the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki.

    The governor told the people not to be disturbed about the rumoured impeachment plot against him by his estranged deputy and PDP’s governorship candidate, Chief Dave Umahi, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku and their collaborators.

    He said he was ready to face anti-graft agencies over any alleged financial misdeed and supported the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

     

     

  • Ebonyi Reps PDP caucus rejects Elechi’s candidate

    Ebonyi Reps PDP caucus rejects Elechi’s candidate

    The Ebonyi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives yesterday described as unacceptable, the emergence of former Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu as the PDP ‘consensus’ candidate in the governorship election in 2015.

    At a news briefing at the National Assembly, the five-member Reps Caucus rejected Chukwu, saying he was “hand-picked” by Governor Martin Elechi without “true consultation and participation of the stakeholders of the party and the state.”

    The caucus members include Sylvester Ogbaga, Christopher Omoisu, Linus Okorie, Tobias Okwuru and Peter Ogeali.

    The caucus led by Okorie said: “We are aware that no true attempt at consensus building was undertaken and that no consensus has been achieved on the issue.

    “For instance, no attempt was made or has been made to consult the National Assembly caucus, the state Assembly caucus, traditional institutions and other stakeholders in the state.”

    They accused the governor of planning to retire them (lawmakers) prematurely from their political careers with acts of abuse meant to undermine the electoral process.

    “All the highlighted acts of abuse of the constitution of the party and the approved guidelines were undertaken to circumvent the process, manipulate the delegates’ list and subsequently proceed to return a set of predetermined candidates for the positions under the party without genuine and credible primary election.”

    Appealing to the PDP National Working Committee to ensure transparency in the coming elections, the caucus pleaded with the governor to ensure a level- playing field for the aspirants.

    The lawmakers said: “We appeal that all organs of the party should remain on the alert to ensure that the PDP candidates in the state emerge through credible primaries achieved through adherence to the party constitution, extant guidelines and approved processes and procedures.

    “For emphasis, we plead that the governor should be prevailed upon to grant us and indeed all aspirants a level-playing field to canvass our candidature and not seek to ‘retire’ us ignominiously through underhand methods capable of truncating the system and destroying the party and its electoral chances.”

    However, only three members of the five-member caucus signed the statement, as the two other members, who did not sign the statement, were said to be out of the Federal Capital Territory.

    While Tobias Okwuru and Peter Ogeali did not sign the statement, Linus Okorie, Sylvester Ogbaga and Christopher Omoisu appended their signatures to it.

     

     

  • Ebonyi ready for NAFEST

    Ebonyi ready for NAFEST

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi has said the state is ready to host, for the first time, the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).

    He told a delegation of the chief executives of culture, who visited the state to assess its preparedness that he was thrilled by the choice of the state to host NAFEST 2014.

    Ebonyi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Chief Hyacinth Ikpor said the state had prepared for the event, adding that it would promote unity and project the state as a tourist destination.

    The General Manager, Ebonyi State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Moses Oshibe, said the event would boost the state’s economy and enhance understanding and socio-cultural relations among ethnic groups.

    A resident of Abakaliki, Prince Agwu, said NAFEST would give the state the opportunity to showcase its talents.

    The theme of this year’s edition is: “Celebrating Nigeria at Hundred: The Role of Culture as a Vehicle for National Unity”.

    An indigene, Mr. Augustine Igbo, said he was not satisfied with the preparation. He advised government to pay attention to the development of its tourist sites to enhance revenue generation.

     

    Security has been tightened on the Onwe Road where the International Conference Centre is located and Abakaliki Township Stadium, venues of the festival.

    The city is wearing a new look with the renovation of roads by the Ebonyi State Road Maintenance Agency (EBROMA).

    The Ministry of Environment has been monitoring the contractors responsible for keeping the city clean and is ensuring that Abakaliki remains clean throughout the festival.

    Over 4,000 artistes and other participants from the 36 states are expected in the Ebonyi State capital for the 28th edition of NAFEST.

    The event started yesterday.