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  • FG to give Southeast roads attention, says Umahi

    FG to give Southeast roads attention, says Umahi

    • Insists Obi can’t defeat Tinubu at Supreme Court

    Minister of Works and former governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi has assured that federal roads in the southeast will receive the attention of the federal government under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    Umahi who stated this while on a one-day tour of federal government projects in the state also disclosed that the federal government through the federal Ministry of Works was exploring available options to use rigid pavement technology to complete some of the ongoing road projects because of the high vehicular traffic on them.

    Umahi, who also visited Imo State commended the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma for bringing visible developments for the period he has been in office, noting that Uzodinma’s handiwork is showing everywhere in the state.

    The minister, while in Abia disclosed that the government was considering using cement rigid pavement technology to complete some roads including the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Aba-Owerri Expressway and among others.

    The Minister stated that the government was willing to partner other stakeholders on a Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement; through what he described as Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), to fix other roads that were yet to be given attention to by the federal government, disclosed that it would be difficult to fix southeast roads with budgetary allocation and added that he would be meeting with members of the National Assembly to see how they could help in addressing the situation.

    Read Also: Obi can’t win Tinubu at appeal, says Umahi

    On some of the road projects that were abandoned by various contractors, the Works Minister disclosed that he would be meeting with the ministry’s legal department to decide on what their next line of action would be. This is even as he expressed delight in the job being done by some of the contractors that he met on site on the 12 federal government project sites in Abia State.

    Umahi, while listing some of the progress made on federal government roads in the state said Section One of the Port Harcourt-Enugu Express Road, which runs from Lokpanta to Abia Tower in Umuahia, which is hundred percent completed with a Trailer Park; Section Two of the road runs from Umuahia Tower to Aba; Rehabilitation of Umuahia-Ikwuano to Ikot Ekpene-Umudike Road with a length of 49.2 kilometers; Section of Nkporo-Abiriba-Ohafia Road, awarded in 2012, that has been abandoned; Bende-Arochukwu-Ohafia section one, awarded in 2018; Aba-Owerri Road, awarded in 2020 and others.

    The minister solicited the support of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti to sort out the issues affecting the building of a trailer park at Arungwa Aba, saying that the State government should acquire the place and partner the Federal Government to develop it with the private sector.

    Otti thanked the Minister for visiting Abia and expressed his government’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government to fix the Federal Roads in the State.

    ‘Uzodinma’s handiwork shows everywhere in Imo’

    The Minister while in Imo to inspect ongoing Federal Government projects said he was marvelled at the quality of roads, most of them federal government roads, which Uzodinma had initiated and completed in Imo State within a short period of time.

    Umahi noted that the Owerri to Okigwe road happens to be one of the best roads in all the roads he has visited as a Minister.

    He said: “Imo residents and indeed the Southeast is blessed to have Governor Uzodinma, as his handwork is already showing everywhere.

    “Let me thank you for a lot of improvement that you have done in the State as is also  shown by the neatness and beauty of the Capital city.”

    He used the opportunity to congratulate  Governor  Uzodinma and President Tinubu on the election successes, including the latest victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court. 

    Umahi advised the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the last election, Mr. Peter Obi, “not to waste his time going ahead with the case as God has used him to justify the efforts of the Governor and to reposition the Southeast.”

    Obi can’t win Tinubu at appeal, says Umah

    During the Works Minister’s visit to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, he called on the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi not to contemplate appealing the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) which affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu at the poll.

    The PEPT had dismissed the suit filed by Peter Obi and his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of the country against Tinubu.

    Obi, however, has vowed to challenge the judgement of the tribunal in the Supreme Court.

    But Umahi while answering questions from reporters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital on Saturday when he paid a visit to Governor Francis Nwifuru as part of his ongoing inspection of federal roads in the south-east, urged Obi not to go on appeal against the tribunal judgement.

    He said the LP presidential candidate would still fail in the Appeal court as according to him, he came 3rd at the general election.

    The former Governor of Ebonyi State opined that God told him that Tinubu would become President of the country in 2023 and it has manifested in his victory.

    Umahi said “Throughout the campaign period and even now, I keep saying it boldly that God told me that Tinubu will be President of Nigeria.

    “It was tough here in South East but I am very happy that Tinubu eventually became the President of this country.

    “Like I said in Imo State, God has a purpose for everybody. There was John the Baptist, there was Christ and there is still Christ.

    “Peter Obi has served the purpose of John the Baptist for the Divine President Bola Tinubu Ahmed, that’s all that God brought him to do this time around.

    “So, I advise him not to appeal the judgement. I am not a lawyer but the Governor of Ebonyi State is a lawyer and he has interpreted the judgment and it has left no hope for any appeal.

     ”Those judges are spirits. They went into everything and dissected them just like getting a coconut and breaking it. You will get the water and everything and get the nut.

    “So, I advise him not to go to appeal, he is not even 2nd, he came 3rd at the election. He is our brother. Let South Eastern people come together to support President Tinubu. He made us the number one Minister even when we didn’t vote very well for him.

    “But we voted even very well more than other regions because through the calling of John the Baptist, we were able to bring down PDP and that is a victory for APC.”

    He called on the east to key into the centre to be treated fairly like other regions of the country.

    “We have to key into the centre to be treated like others, Now that Mr . President has graciously done what has never been done by giving us the Minister of Works; we are going to rewrite the wrongs.”

  • Tribunal affirms Umahi as Ebonyi South Senator

    Tribunal affirms Umahi as Ebonyi South Senator

    The Ebonyi Election Petitions Tribunal has affirmed the election of David Umahi as Senator for Ebonyi South Senatorial zone.

    Umahi, who is now the Minister of Works, defeated Mr Linus Okorie, of Labour Party and Senator Ama Nnachi of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to clinch the position in March.

    However Senator Nnachi and Mr Okorie challenged the results in separate suits at the tribunal. 

    In its ruling, the Tribunal noted Nnachi and his party, PDP anchored on the ground of non-compliance to the electoral law.

    It however ruled that they petitioners failed to prove their allegation of illegal cancellation of results with a view to falsify the results. 

    They also failed to prove that voters were disenfranchised as there was no eye-witness report adding that he documents were dumped on the court. 

    “They failed to plead and tender voters register, no of PVCs collected and call voters who were disenfranchised to give evidence”

    ” They also failed to prove their allegation of over-voting. They didn’t tender the BVAs Report, voter’s register in prove of their case”, the Tribunal said 

    The Tribunal further stated that the complaint of the Petitioners in 68 out of over 800 polling units in Ebonyi South Senatorial District does not substantially affect the result and return of the 2nd Respondent(Umahi).

    “The court would therefore not invalidate the return of 2nd Respondent on said basis.

    “In the final analysis,The Petitioners  failed to prove their ground of petition, therefore it is lacking in merit and same is dismissed with Cost of N200,000 in favour of the Respondents against the Petitioners”, the Tribunal added

    On the petition by Mr Okorie, the court ruled that the Petitioners failed to prove that the 2nd Respondent was not elected by majority of lawful votes. 

    “They also failed to prove that the principle of margin of votes was applicable to the Petition. They failed to prove that the total number of PVCs collected in polling units were elections allegedly did not hold was more than the difference between the 1st Petitioner and 2nd Respondent. 

    “The Petitioners did not discharge the burden placed on them by the law, their case therefore fails”, the tribunal ruled 

    It further awarded cost of N200,000 awarded against the Petitioners in favour of the Respondents.

    Reacting, Okorie disagreed with the ruling of the Tribunal adding that it neither served justice, reflected evidences presented, the electoral law nor the expressed will of the electorates of Ebonyi South. 

    He said: “I have received the decision of the Election  Petition Tribunal to dismiss my petition challenging the wrongful return of, the now Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi; as the Senator representing Ebonyi South District in the 2023 general elections. I disagree with that decision, even as I respect it. 

    “The minimum expected justice, in the circumstances of that election, was to declare it inconclusive and order a supplementary election in, at least, the 16 polling units with over 10,000 collected PVCs where no elections held/results were not collated; in an election with a declared winning figure (margin of lead) of 2,882! Similar decisions abound from other tribunals across the country”.

    ” Whatever motivated the tribunal to so flagrantly ignore the weighty evidences before it, especially Certified True Copies of INEC results and the unambiguous provisions of section 137 of the Electoral Act 2022 in the circumstance, is best known to them”, he said

    He noted that the final decision on the matter does not lie with the tribunal but with the Court of Appeal. 

    “At stake is the growth and development of our democracy as typified by the freely expressed choice of the people. Accordingly, I shall not relent until the sacred will of the people prevails”

    ” I wish to salute the doggedness and sacrifice of the people of Ebonyi South who have remained steadfast in the pursuit of their mandate.

    Read Also: Atiku, Obi: why we are challenging tribunal verdict

    “While I weep for democracy in Nigeria, I refuse to give up on her; all the same. I urge you not to give up too. I know that this is a tall order given the recent outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal; which has demoralized many”,he said

    He explained that he has mandated his lawyers to appeal the judgement. 

    “This truncation of the will of the people, commenced by INEC, in Ebonyi South shall not be allowed to stand

    “I plead with all patriots and lovers of democracy in Ebonyi South to remain calm, focused, hopeful and steadfast as we continue to trudge the course of recovering your stolen mandate”, he added

  • Tolling of federal highways to go on, says Umahi

    Tolling of federal highways to go on, says Umahi

    The tolling of federal highways across the country is to start soon, Works Minister David Umahi hinted yesterday.

    He said service stations and security patrols will be provided to compliment the toll plazas

    Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, the minister, lauded the move by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to collaborate with his Lagos and Ogun counterparts – governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Dapo Abiodun – light up the dual-carriage Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The reintroduction of toll gates was mooted under the watch of Mr. Babatunde Fashola as Works and Housing Minister during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The government announced identified preferred/reserved bidders for 12 federal highways which were listed for concession under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

    The development followed the conclusion of the evaluation of the proposals submitted for Phase I of the Value-Added Concession (VAC) under the HDMI.

    The HDMI is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiated by the government to stimulate sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure.

    The ûrst phase of the VAC seeks to concession 12 economically-viable road corridors to technically and ûnancially capable private sector firms/consortia.

    Read Also; Wike frowns at N85bn Wasa housing infrastructure, says project poorly negotiated

    The 12 highways spanning 1,963 kilometres or 5.6 per cent of Nigeria’s 35,000 kilometres federal highways are: Benin-Asaba; Abuja-Lokoja; Kano-Katsina; Onitsha-Owerri-Aba; Sagamu-Benin; Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga; Kano-Maiduguri (Kano-Shuarin); Kano-Maiduguri (Potiskum-Damaturu); Lokoja-Benin; Enugu-Port Harcourt; Ilorin-Jebba; Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry-Seme Border.

    Umahi said: “I was happy to hear from the governor of Oyo State that, (concerning) the famous Lagos-Ibadan, which is about 97 per cent on average completion, he is already talking with the governors of Lagos and Ogun states for a combined commitment and effort to put solar light all through the stretch of the road (Lagos-Ibadan).

    “It is commendable and part of our renewed hope agenda to make our highways safer for our people; so that people can travel at night.

    “Also, I am asking them to deploy CCTV, and of course, we are going to toll the road so that when we are having tolling, we are also going to be having service stations. We will also have security, that is, a rapid response squad.”

    The minister also insisted that road contractors using asphalt would henceforth be made to sign an indemnity bond that will guarantee the durability of the roads for 30 years.

    Admitting the use of concrete for road construction as the way to go, Umahi said the roads can last up to 50 years after completion, it will not force any contractor to use concrete. Hence, those insisting on using asphalt, must also guarantee the durability of the roads.

    To ensure adequate funding for all ongoing projects, the minister spoke of a plan to  plead with the National Assembly to, through the 2023 Supplementary Budget, restore the over N650 billion that was taken away from most of the ongoing projects.

    Umahi said he has initiated talks cement manufacturers on the need to lower their price since concrete technology will increase their turnover.

    He stated that constructing roads with concrete will not only attract investors, but also create jobs and opportunities for more indigenous contractors.

    The minister said: “All we are saying to all contractors is that there are two choices to make. The first choice is that you must begin to do our roads according to the design. This means that the shelf life of our roads designed on asphalt is 30 years. You must ensure that it lasts for 30 years and give us an indemnity.

    “The legal departments will draft the letters to them to come and sign, and commit to an affidavit that the roads that they are building must last 30 years. If you have already committed to asphalt, then you must be committed to the durability of the roads without excuse.

    “Please, go ahead and use asphalt, no problems. But if you are afraid, then we can come over and we can agree on a redesign. This is not for roads that are about 80 per cent or 90 per cent in completion.

    “Even if you have roads that are 90 per cent or 100 per cent completed, you must still give us that indemnity. Nigerians are tired of paying for jobs and they would not get value for it.

    “About N650 billion was taken away and I don’t blame anybody because when Mr. President came on board, there was no money for these palliatives because of the subsidy removal, and that is a wise decision. So, this N500 billion and other funds for emergencies were taken away from the ongoing projects for 2022.

    “When I went around, like in the Southwest, these projects had been stopped because there was no money to pay for them. My plea is that there are consequences of not returning the money. Some of the projects have reached 90 per cent, some 80 per cent and some 70 per cent. Some are those that will impact very seriously in our economic activities.

    So, if you don’t have this money, there are consequences. One, you start paying interest on generated certificates – and this runs into millions. Second, the roads will not be completed.

    “I believe that we have to count one before we count two in our budgetary system. These funds ought to be returned. Some of the funds are just part payment, and not the funds to complete all ongoing projects.”

  • Umahi promises durable roads across Nigeria

    Umahi promises durable roads across Nigeria

    • Fed Govt to explore use of concrete

    Works Minister David Umahi yesterday decried the short lifespan of roads across the country.

    He said the average lifespan of roads in Nigeria is between five and seven years.

    The minister said this may be attributed to a number of reasons, including lack of competence among contractors, the climate, and the quality of materials used in constructing the roads.

    Umahi bared his mind after touring some roads, including those under construction in the last 20, 12 and three years.

    The minister said the sad development was unacceptable to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    He said the government would explore the use of technology, including concrete, in constructing its roads across the country, instead of using asphalt.

    According to him, this will expand the lifespan of roads for up to 50 years.

    Umahi urged state governors to prioritise the repair and construction of all roads, regardless of whether they are state or federal-owned.

    Read Also: Hold governors accountable for palliatives, says Tinubu

    The minister argued that the populace cannot distinguish between a Federal and state road.

    He urged governors to ask for a refund after completing Federal roads in their domains, saying this is better than letting them lapse into disrepair and putting the populace in pains and danger.

    Umahi, who spoke in an interview on Channels Television, said he would be working with the National Security Agency (NSA) to ensure that roads across the six geopolitical zones in the country are safe.

    He said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that I should be on the road the very first day I was sworn into office. He directed that I should tour all the roads in the country.

    “Today, I am going to Kaduna-Kano road, after which I will be touring the Southwest to see things for myself.

    “On Tuesday, I inspected the Abuja-Lokoja and Benin road. I wasn’t very satisfied with some of the contractors. Yesterday, I had a meeting with them and I directed all the contractors on Abuja-Lokoja road to get back to site. I gave them two months to correct all the defects.

    “I suggested to them new technologies that should take the axial road at that section of Abuja-Lokoja.

    “I noticed that some projects have been ongoing for the past 20 years; some for 12 years. I think the minimum I saw was three years. That is not very healthy for the country.

    “I also noticed that some of the projects, while you are still on the road, are encumbered.

    “I also noticed that the lifespan of our roads – maximum – is between five to seven years. That should not be. That is why every year, we are putting money on road projects and not getting value for it.

    “For a project of 130 kilometres, why should we award it once? We can phase. Naturally, every road project should be within the budget cycle of two years. These are the things we are looking at.

    “My take on that is that if you are going to make a profit of 100 per cent within 20 years, why don’t you make a lesser profit within two years? This is because, as you are increasing the value of the project, your money also may be depreciating. We are going to be looking at that.

    “I have directed that all the ‘No Objections’ my ministry submitted to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) be returned. We need to look at the new methods of constructing our roads based on our climate.”

  • Umahi inspects Abuja-Lokoja road, threatens to sack contractors over shoddy job

    Umahi inspects Abuja-Lokoja road, threatens to sack contractors over shoddy job

    The minister of works, David Umahi has expressed deep dissatisfaction over the work done on the Abuja-Lokoja road by some contractors.

    The minister cited the constructed bridge on section 4 of the project, saying it was poorly done, and would not hesitate reviewing the contract of the handling firms.

    Speaking during the inspection of the Abuja-Lokoja road on Tuesday, Umahi threatened to terminate the contract of any contractor in the project who fails to meet with the expected outcomes, especially with regards to the quality of work done.

    Read Also: FG set to takeover King David University – Umahi

    He stressed that if a contractor fails in one project, the firm’s other projects will be terminated.

    He further disclosed that he and the team of experts in the ministry of works were exploring technological options to ensure that projects delivered meet the expectations of Nigerians.

    He said: “Yesterday, I inspected about eight projects on Abuja-Lokoja roads and I was disappointed with what I saw. How can you collect money to do something and you didn’t do it right? Do people fear God at all? We must work, and do the work for the people instead of ours.”

    The minister, while speaking with journalists expressed strong confidence in God and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as his godfather.

    He stated that while he is aware that many of the contractors have been recommended by very powerful people across the country, such persons are not as powerful as the God and the president.

    He, therefore, told contractors that he would be examining all the jobs done, even as he goes out to the field for project inspection.

    He said: “I have the mandate of Mr. President to ensure that the roads are good for Nigerians to ply.”

    He called on all contractors, particularly the big construction companies to embrace concrete pavement for the construction of Nigerian roads, as he argued that technology offers the nation durability of the roads for use.

    He further suggested a flyover on Kotonkarifi instead of a low bridge which cannot solve the problem of flooding on the highway.

    Umahi stated that people living at the bank of the River Niger will be relocated to a place yet to be approved by President Tinubu.

    At Ganaja federal road where Governor Yahaya Bello has done some landscaping, Umahi promised to take it over so that the road which has become a nightmare to motorists from the South-East, South-West and South-South will become better, and the users of the road will experience ease while using the road.

    Also, at Gito, the Governor frowned at the work done by the contractor, saying that some of the work had gulped billions of Naira, yet some of them have no design.

    To this effect, he threatened to review and relocate the Ministry’s highway controllers for approving poorly- constructed work.

    Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state noted that the people of Kogi had suffered from bad roads, both socially and economically.

    In his remarks, Governor Bello said: “The condition of our Federal roads has been a source of great concern to our administration, the people of Kogi State and Nigerians in general, owing to the fact that Kogi is geographically the connecting point between Northern and Southern Nigeria.

    “The suffering endured by commuters, the negative impact on trade and economic activities, and the strain on our transportation system have not gone unnoticed.

    “It is with this in mind that we extend our sincere appreciation to the Minister for not only acknowledging this plight but also for promising urgent interventions to alleviate the situation.”

  • I am not a regional minister, says Umahi

    I am not a regional minister, says Umahi

    The minister of works and former governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, has said that he holds the position of the minister of the federal republic of Nigeria, not just a regional or Ebonyi state minister.

    He stated that under his leadership, bureaucratic processes will be a thing of the past, as no file will be expected to be left unattended to for two hours without genuine explanations.

    He also emphasized that due to his background, he considers himself a field-oriented individual rather than an office-bound one, adding that the ministry’s team of experts will embark on tours across the six geopolitical zones of the nation to assess the condition of road infrastructures and strategize methods to enhance the well-being of Nigerians.

    Umahi made this known while speaking during a press conference at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, after the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Villa.

    He said: “I’m going to be training tomorrow. I will offer my address to you tomorrow. I have indicated to see the contractors, and after taking a briefing from the Heads of Departments, we will meet with the contractors because I am not an office person, I am a field person. God giving us life, with some of you in that department, I will be inspecting the Lokojo-Benin road and Lokoja-Abuja road.

    “We are going to make changes. Like I said, I am not an office person, which means that the bureaucratic tendencies of our system will be fully unaccessed because normally, no file will stay with anybody for more than two hours. If there is a reason for the file to stay more than two hours, you must come to me personally to explain, and I will be working through zones.

    Read Also: Swearing-in: Alake, Umahi, other ministers-designate complete documentation – OSGF

    “After this week, the upper week, I will be on the field, and I will settle down only when I have seen all your projects and the new ones we intend to also do.

    “So, we’ll be touring the six geo-political zones to see things for ourselves, and the challenge of engineers on the issue of who creates technology, even with the challenge of forex and challenges of very undulating petroleum prices and with the abundance of limestone in our country, and even bitumen in Ondo and some locations in the country.

    “We are going to local content in our tenure, in our administration. So, we have to be prepared for a renewed hope that is anchored on change.

    “So I want to thank you very much and I don’t want you to entertain any fear. I am a welfarist. I am also a man of war. For those who want to reset the clock backwards, we will not agree. For those who want to be part of this history to help this country, you will be my friend.

    “I am not a Minister of Ebonyi State, I am not a Minister of the South East, I am a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and my best friends are those who are in line with the aspirations of Mr President, the renewed hope and the very high expectations of Nigerians.

    “Each time people talk about me, I say they should talk about God because I don’t know how it happens, and that is going to repeat itself – all by the fingers of God.

    “Let’s prepare to work. I love my family so much, and because of that, I will love your family so much. I extend my love to each and every one of you. I can’t do it alone; it is not about me, it is about us.”

  • Let’s heal Nigeria, Umahi charges Christians

    As Christians celebrate Easter, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has charged Christians to use the solemnity of the season to heal all wounds arising from the last elections in the country.

    Umahi in his Easter message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, said this year’s Easter is apt as it presents clear opportunity for Christians and Nigerians in general to heal the country and make peace with one another as the only panacea to development.

    Umahi said there is no sacrifice too much to make to achieve peace and called on Christians to emulate Jesus by giving all, adding that all that was not given is lost and prayed God to continue to sustain mankind in His everlasting love.

    He acknowledged that the country has been greatly wounded by various divisive political tendencies but said this year’s Easter should be the season to address all these challenges that face us as a people and learn to forgive one another in the spirit of Easter.

     

  • Umahi suspends auditor-general, others over communal crisis

    Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi , yesterday suspended the Auditor-General of the state, Mr Innocent Nwida, from office over the latest communal crisis in the state. The governor also suspended other elected and appointed office holders from Igbeagu Community in the Izzi Local Government Area of the state because of the crisis. Umahi had on April 9 suspended the chairmen of Ikwo and Abakaliki local government councils and all elected and appointed office holders from Enyibichiri in Ikwo and Enyigba in Abakaliki over a communal clash.

    The  Commissioner for Border, Peace and Internal Security, Dr Kenneth Ugbala,  announced the suspension of the officials while addressing newsmen after the governor’s meeting with people from Igbeagu Community, involved in a boundary dispute with Ukele Community in Cross River.

    Ugbala noted that the suspension, which took immediate effect would elapse when peace returned to the communities.  “The affected persons include the Auditor-General of the state, Mr Innocent Nwida, Mr Cletus Nwakpu, Project Coordinator of the FADAMA 3 programme and His Royal Highness, Ogbonnaya Ukwa, among other political office holders.  “The issue of whether the governor has the constitutional right to suspend the elected officers does not arise because they are constitutionally mandated to protect the lives and property of their people.

    “However, when an elected officer fails to perform this function, he has violated the constitution and should either resign, be suspended or charged to court.  “The courts would interpret such issues further and we are expecting such situations with this decision taken,” Ugbala said.   The commissioner berated the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for its inability to permanently resolve the boundry disputes, including others in several parts of the state.

    “We sometimes doubt the sincerity of the Federal Government in settling such crisis and view the NBC as a toothless bulldog.  “It has made several visits to the disputed areas even before the inception of the present administration but no decision has been made. “It is not our duty to demarcate the boundaries and the state government has attended all meetings convened by the NBC, being always disposed to peace.”

  • Breaking: Umahi suspends auditor-general, others

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Friday suspended the Auditor-General of the state, Mr Innocent Nwida from office over the latest communal crisis in the state.

    The governor also suspended other elected and appointed office holders from Igbeagu Community in the Izzi Local Government Area of the state because of the crisis.

    On April 9, Umahi suspended the chairmen of Ikwo and Abakaliki Local Government Councils and all elected and appointed office holders from Enyibichiri in Ikwo and Enyigba in Abakaliki over a communal clash.

    Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Commissioner for Border, Peace and Internal Security, announced the suspension of the officials while addressing newsmen after the governor’s meeting with people from Igbeagu Community, involved in a boundary dispute with Ukele community in Cross River.

    Ugbala noted that the suspension, which took immediate effect would elapse when peace returned to the communities.

    “The affected persons include the Auditor-General of the state, Mr Innocent Nwida, Mr Cletus Nwakpu, Project Coordinator of the FADAMA 3 programme and His Royal Highness, Ogbonnaya Ukwa, among other political office holders.

    “The issue of whether the governor has the constitutional right to suspend the elected officers does not arise because they are constitutionally mandated to protect the lives and property of their people.

    “However, when an elected officer fails to perform this function, he has violated the constitution and should either resign, be suspended or charged to court.

    “The courts would interpret such issues further and we are expecting such situations with this decision taken,” Ugbala said.

    Read Also:  Umahi suspends two LG chairmen over communal clashes

    The commissioner berated the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for its inability to permanently resolve the bound disputes, including others in several parts of the state.

    “We sometimes doubt the sincerity of the Federal Government in settling such crisis and view the NBC as a toothless bulldog.

    “It has made several visits to the disputed areas even before the inception of the present administration but no decision has been made.

    “It is not our duty to demarcate the boundaries and the state government has attended all meetings convened by the NBC, being always disposed to peace.

    “We urge the commission to live up to its responsibilities because no land is worth the lives of the citizens.

    “The commission only makes ‘urban carol’ visits to the areas whenever there are clashes and we urge the media to mandate it to perform its duties.”

    The commissioner noted that Umahi would visit the affected areas on Saturday to assess the extent of damage and find a permanent solution to the crisis.

    “Stakeholders from the areas are enjoined to enlighten their people on ways of ensuring peace as the government will also look into issues concerning internally displaced persons,” he said.

  • Umahi set to join APC?

    Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi is set to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC), latest May 29th.

    The candidate of the APC, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji disclosed this in Enugu while rejecting the just concluded governorship election in which Umahi who ran on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner.

    In his words: “the information we have now is that while the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, had acted as a mole in PDP all along, he has started making moves to ditch PDP and cross over to the APC on or before May 29.

    We are aware that the votes that enthroned Umahi were procured with the connivance of the system, a reason there are gloomy faces all over the state after the announcement of the claimed victory.”

    The senator who is representing Ebonyi South in the upper chamber told reporters that having known the antecedents of the governor, they would not accept him in APC.

    He also blamed the failure of the party in the election on the internal wrangling among the members.

    “What rather happened as all party insiders know is that the APC in Ebonyi worked so much against itself. By this allusion, I don’t indict all the members or leadership, I am actually taking about the moles among us that double dealt and made things impossible for us while they cloaked like part of us.”

    Ogbuoji commended those party members who worked assiduously for the party.

    He said: “With this, I also commend and doff my hat for those committed members and leaders of our party, APC that worked assiduously to ensure we made it big and good.

    “I want to assure you that even with the gang-up, I and the party gave a good account of the outing and made the ruling party understand that Ebonyi people can’t be taken for a ride.

    “I therefore call for consolidation and stronger bond in the party, and that none – including the candidates should despair in the face of the development of this rape of democracy.

    “Consolidating a new system takes tenacity and resolute steady effort to achieve and our great party should not relent in giving our dear state the opposition and checks we need in order to stop gangster politicians riding roughshod over our future.

    “I am aware also of those among us that desired the change we targeted to bring, seemingly worked for it but in the actual sense worked in contrary direction and deliberately frustrated the change they claimed to belong to.”