It was an atmosphere of pandemonium on Tuesday at the state House of Assembly Nkaliki, as the lawmaker representing Afikpo South Constituency, Hon. Nkemka Okoro Onuma, swayed his thugs to beat up a pregnant female journalist, and other state correspondents at the assembly premises.

            The mayhem which occurred during the first day of the screening/confirmation of the second batch of commissioner nominees sent to the state Assembly by the state governor, Engr. David Umahi, started when Mr. Emegha was screened by the Assembly after his name was forwarded to the House for screening and possible confirmation by Governor David Umahi.

Mr Emegha’s screening was fraught with some irregularities as the Speaker of the House Francis Nwifuru noticed that the year of his graduation from Primary School did not tally with the year he started secondary school on his documents.

Nwifuru had asked him to explain how he started secondary school a year before the year he graduated from primary school as stated in his result but he could not give any reasonable answer to the query from the lawmakers

So after the incident on the floor of the house, Journalists wanted to interview him (the commissioner nominee) who was the immediate past Special Assistant to the Governor Umahi on Abakaliki Capital City, but Mr. Nkemka, who represents Afikpo South West, came and took him away to the office of the Speaker.

Later, Mr. Nkemka emerged from the office and some Journalists led by Samson Nwafor, Nigerian Pilot correspondent in Ebonyi went to complain to him about the way he prevented them from interviewing Mr. Emegha.

“On getting there, the lawmaker threatened to slap Samson, as he was shouting on top of his voice, his boys joined him and attacked Samson, hit him very hard on his chest and he fell down,” they also attacked the pregnant female journalist who was there with them by hitting her on the stomach.

“At this point I intervened and joined in separating the fight. The noise also attracted some Police Officers posted to the Assembly who came and helped to restore calm. Later Mr. Stanley Emegha came and pleaded with the journalists to forgive the lawmaker and the thugs who attacked them, Anioke narrated.”

He further stated that at that point one of the thugs who were with him came and started shouting again that the journalists can go and write whatever they want.

“He also threatened to beat us up and warned that we should leave the place. At that point I became unconformable and made to enter my car but his boys came and held my car door and dragged me out. One of them came from the back and hit me on the back of my head while others joined in the beating”

“I managed to extricate myself from them and entered my car, this time Mr. Emegha himself came and held my car door pleading with me. I started the car nonetheless and drove off forcing him and others with him to leave the door”

“But as I got to the gate, they told the gateman to lock the gate and not to allow me to leave. They swamped around my car and were trying to forcefully open it but they couldn’t. Some were hitting the glasses with their hands trying to break it. At that point, the Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Tony Nwizi came and told the security men to open the gate which they did and I managed to escape to safety, he added”. 

Mr. Anioke, sustained injuries to his mouth and hands from the beatings he received from the thugs.

On his part, Mr. Nwafor Samson, of Pilot Newspaper, stated: “We were interviewing Mr. Stanley Okoro, Emegha, one of the commissioner nominees after screening when the lawmaker moved him to his office. All of us were embarrassed.

            “So, when they came out of his office, we decided to approach him to express our displeasure over the manner he dragged him out and he got infuriated and threatened to slap me.

            “I told him it has not gotten to the extent of slapping anybody but before we could know it, his thugs numbering about 20 descended on us. It was as if he came prepared to attack us.

            “As the thugs were attacking us, the lawmaker quickly moved back to the chambers to join the screening of the remaining commissioner nominees”.

            Meanwhile, the           National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, Chris Isiguzo, condemned the attack on journalists and demanded that the leadership of the assembly apologies to the affected journalists.

            “It is totally unacceptable to us and we demand that Ebonyi State House of Assembly should not just apologies to those that were manhandled; they should also make sure that they are taken care of in the hospital. So they should take care of their bills and assure us of their safety in that House of Assembly” He said.

            The state chapter of the union also condemned the attack It expressed shock that a lawmaker, alongside his thugs, attacked journalists who were at the assembly to cover the screening of commissioner nominees.

            The Union asked the assembly to compel Onuma to tender unreserved apologies within three days from the date of the incident; otherwise it would direct its members to boycott activities of the house.

             Responding to the letter transmitted to the house by the NUJ concerning the incident, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru stated “My dear colleagues there is a letter before me from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, complaining of attack, intimidation, molestation by some members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly to the journalists they sent.

            “I wish to use this opportunity to apologize to the journalists; having mentioned some of my honourable members here that they attacked them. Whether they did or not I apologize and I say forgive us. We are politicians and you should also remember that”.

As over 30,000 Farmers benefit from loan

The 2019 Agric loan disbursement committee, set up by the Governor David Nweze led administration to monitor the disbursement of Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Agric loan, has completed its tour in 12 out of the13 local governments that make up the state.

            The local governments toured were Afikpo South, Ikwo, Ezza North, Izzi, Abakaliki, Ohaozara, Ezza South, Onicha, Ivo, Ishielu, Ohaukwu and Ebonyi.

            During the visits, chairman of the committee, who is also the Chairman of Ishielu local government area, Hon Sunday Eze, pointed out that the committee was out to carry out its assignment of ascertaining how the CBN rice loan was disbursed in all the local government areas as well as the measures put in place to ensure that the loan would be paid back.

            The first point of call was Afikpo South local government area, while the second place to visit was Ikwo local government area which has 20 wards.

            At Ikwo, the ward councilors narrated how the loan was disbursed. According to Iga Chukwu Alobu, Ndiagu Amegu Ward, Igbo Marcewell, Egbelu Ward, Chukwu Sunday, Noyo Ward, Rebecca Nwangele, Enyimagu Ward I, and Nwanchor Paulinus, Ettam ward, 200 farmers were profiled in each ward and they were given N25, 000 each.

            They said that very few farmers showed interest at the beginning because it was a loan, but when they began sharing the money, so many farmers indicated interest and they were accommodated.

            According to the Chairman, John Nnabo, the councilors were the ones that profiled the farmers and they made sure that every farmer who received the loan has a guarantor who signed the guarantors form.

            He said in some wards where the farmers were not up to 200, they used cooperative societies to argument the figures, stating that N25, 000 was given to each farmer and that by January 2020 some farmers who took the loan will start paying back.

He said he mandated councillors to suretee 10 most important persons in their ward

            At Ezza North, the treasurer of the council, Ifeanyi Agha, said that the council purchased 2,500 bags of fertilizer at the time of the visit, and have applied for more 2,500 bags.

            He said they gave out fertilizer instead of cash, stating that some farmers got 8 bags while some got 4 bags depending on the hectare of land the said farmer demanded for and that a committee was set up to oversee the distribution.

            The Chairman, Hon. Nora Alo, stated that the council fully participated in the exercise just like every other local government.

            She added that for a hectare of land, a farmer needs four bags of fertilizer, stating that they have delay getting fertilizer from the state fertilizer company and that they are going to source for fertilizer elsewhere.

            She said some of the farmers requested for cash, but that mostly, they are going to give cooperatives cash loan.

            In Ezza North, a farmer received four bags of MPK fertilizer at a reduced cost of N4500, while Urea was given at N6,000 a bag, according to the Chairman, stressing that councillors profiled the farmers and that indemnity form was signed by every beneficiary and that the guarantor must be a local government staff , so that if the money is not paid back, it would be deducted from the staff salary.

            At Izzi, which has 14 wards, 200 farmers were also profiled in each ward. Hon. Paulinus, councilor Igbudu ward, Hon Nwobodo Monday, Amuzu Igbeagu ward I, Hon. David Mbam, Hon Samuel Onwe, Ndiagu Ward, Olodo Patience, Ezza Inyimagu ward, Mrs Nwakego Janeth, all stated that farmers got two bags of fertilizer and N25, 000.

            Chairman of the council, Hon Paul Nwogha whose transparency in the distribution and disbursement was clearly seen by journalists who toured the local governments with the committee, noted that ward councilors formed cooperative societies to be chaired by them.

            Stating that they were careful about those who accessed the loan to make sure that the right people were chosen to avoid stories when its time to pay back.

            He said the council purchased fertilizer worth N19million (MPK), Urea and herbicides N35million, while the remain cash was distributed to farmers.

            He also stated how much he collected as a farmer, and handed over to the committee list of how the loan was disbursed.

Also, in Ezza South, the chairman of the council, Sunday Ogodo said that N25, 000 cash was given to farmers because that was what they demanded for.

He said the farmers brought notable guarantors from their different wards and 200 farmers were profiled in each of the 11 wards that make up the local government.

He said they also gave money to cooperatives formed by the farmers and set up a committee that will recover the loan, adding that they made sure that those who didn’t pay back the 2018 agric loan weren’t included.

Those who spoke at the council include, Ogbuewu Chidiebere, councillor Echara ward, Nwite Juliet, Amuzu ward, councillors of Amanda, Amagu Nsokkora wards respectively.

They stated that the loan was judiciously distributed.

While at Abakaliki local government, the number of farmers who benefited from the Agric loan varied.

However, nobody from the Urban ward was given because according to the Chairman, Emmanuel Nwangele, those from the Urban didn’t show interest in the loan, adding that they were also owing the 2018 Agric Loan given to them.

            Hon. Benard Ngele, councillor Amagu Enyigba Ward, Igwe Victor, Ndiagu Amechi Ward and Vice Chairman of the council, Mrs. Nkwuda Chinyere, noted that some wards profiled 220 farmers, while some profiled below that.

            According to the chairman, some wards were profiled more because the Urban ward doesn’t have rice farm, adding that some farmers in the local government were not interested at first, but when others stated getting the loan, they began to show interest.

            Nwangele said they had meeting with the farmers and they said money should be given to them not fertilizer.

            He said the stakeholders were sensitized to make sure that those who collected the loan pay back and the responsibility was given to the stakeholders, traditional rulers, while the councilors profiled the farmers.

            He noted that the council constituted a committee that prepared form for guarantors and after filling the form, the councillors vetted it to make sure that the said surtees would pay if the farmers failed to pay.

            In Ohaozara, Hon. Nwigwe, Umuanaga ward and also the leader of the council, said 200 names were profiled in each ward, stating that the council will start recovering the loan from farmers 15th of January 2020.

            He pointed out that the local government chairman, Hon. Chinyere Iyioku, set up a committee and its members included the supervisors to oversee the distribution and disbursement of the loan and farm inputs which lasted for two weeks.

            Nwigwe said each farmer got N20, 000 with one bag of fertilizer while one of the supervisors, Ikenna Eze said all the beneficiaries in the 11 wards that make up the local government obtained court affidavits, where they swore to pay back, which was attached to the guarantors form.

            He said civil servants were mostly the guarantors while the ward councilors were also not left out.

            Eze maintained that anyone who failed to pay back the loan would be dragged to court by the council.

            In Onicha local government, farmers got N16, 000 and two bags of fertilizer. According to the local government chairman, Hon. Igboke Felix Ogbonnaya, after meeting with the farmers, they discovered that more fertilizer would not be beneficial to them, so the council resorted to given each farmer N16, 000 and two bags of fertilizer.

            He said all the 12 ward executives were captured and the distribution was booth by booth, adding that farmers were also made to sign the indemnity from.

            At Ivo, deputy leader of the council, Agu Agahi, Ukanwa, councilor representing Ihenta Ogidi ward, supervisor for works, Hon. Nwosu Akpoke, noted that 200 farmers were profiled while I10 collected the loan. Chairman of the council, Hon. Ogbonnaya Ude, said that the 11 ward councillors in Ivo profiled the farmers, and they documented every farmer who was profiled with their passports.

            Adding that they distributed 4 bags of fertilizer and N7000 either for herbicides or cash.

            He maintained that if the farmers couldn’t pay back the loan, then the council would pay, insisting that people were reluctant to comply.

            The committee also went to Ishielu local government area, where they interacted with the chairman of the council, Hon. Sunday Eze.

            Hon. Frank Alo Uchechukwu, councillor, Okpoto ward said 200 farmers were profiled and on the day of the distribution/disbursement, the local government chairman was with them until past 10pm despite the heavy down pour, to ensure that the fertilizer and cash were judiciously distributed. Each farmer according to him got N14, 000and two bags of fertilizer, adding that 95% of those who applied for the loan were present while 5% couldn’t come that day because of the distance and heavy down pour, but that their portion was also reserved for them.

            He said that as the councillor of Okpoto people, he knows the address of every farmer who accessed the loan, and that their guarantors were all civil servants not below grade level 12. “So I know if you don’t pay I will hold you responsible. So the passport of the person is there as well as the guarantor’s and I know them in person. So I believe my people will pay the money”.

The chairman of the council, reiterated that two bags of fertilizer and N14,000 cash were given to farmers. Stating that following the heterogeneous nature of Ishielu people, anyone leading them has to be open to them.

            “The most important thing is that we are doing what the government asks us to do, there is nothing to hide. Sometimes we stay out till 10pm. We have 16 wards in Ishielu and at the time of this visit, we have only three wards that are yet to receive their own fertilizer and cash. I want to promise the committee that the farmers will get their own loan and will pay at when due” he noted.

Asked what happens when a farmer could not pay because of flood or other natural disasters, he noted: “The loan is not insured. So every farmer will pay as far as they signed the indemnity form, they must pay and I can assure you that the councillors are working on them right from the day they received the loan. We are still going to set up another committee that will monitor the farming to note those ones that are progressing incase the government decides to increase the loan, we will give them more fund”, he added.

            The chairman said that there were people who are not from Ishielu that were also profiled. “There are stranger elements in Ishielu. If you go to Nigercem, it’s just like a community, even though they attached part of them to Umuhuali, some to Nkalaha, Amazu and Nkalagu. We profiled them, they were born and brought up there. If you go to Ezillo we have a lot of stranger elements there, the same thing in Nkalagu even Okpoto, so we profiled them. As far as you have farmland, we have the largest farmland in Ebonyi state, that is the Ezill of arm, so we have opportunity more than others” he stated.

On his part, councilor Ezillo ward II, Okechukwu Basil, noted that the disbursement has been peaceful. While Hon. Otubo Nnaemeka Godswill, deputy majority leader, Ishielu legislative council and councillor representing Umuhuali ward, said the distribution and disbursement got to the grassroot and to the real farmers, stating that he came from a remote village, yet in each compound some farmers receive fertilizer and money.

            However, Hon. Nwonu Simon also spoke during the visit.

            In Ohaukwu local government area, each of the profiled farmers got 4 bags of fertilizer and N7, 000 according to councilors who spoke.

            The chairman, Hon Clement Odah told the committee that farmers were drawn from the villages and the disbursement and distribution was done booth by booth and 20 farmers benefited from each booth. On how to recover the loan, he said that they made sure that the guarantors are known persons while the primary guarantors are the ward councilors.

            He maintained that each guarantor must worth the money loaned, stressing there are two categories of farmers-individuals and cooperatives. While 1,950 was drawn from 195 cooperatives, 500 individuals were gotten.

            Odah said all farmers got the same amount and farm inputs in the 15 wards that make up Ohaukwu local government area.

            On challenges encountered, he noted, “we are still struggling to recover the 2018 agric loan, so some of the farmers were skeptical, but with reassurance they were able to queue in. we went back home to identify the real farmers, so the loan was not given to anyone who just presented himself as a farmer”, he stated.

            The last place to visit was Ebonyi local government area where the local government chairman hinted the committee that the council distributed only fertilizers to farmers just as they demanded.

            In Ebonyi, unlike Abakaliki local government area, those from Urban were part of the loan as their representatives I.e ward councillors were present during the committee’s visit.

            It would be recall that Ebonyi state government accessed Agric loan for Ebonyi farmers following the state government’s target to be the number 1, rice producing state in Nigeria.

            The loan is strictly for rice farming and each ward is expected to access N5million. 200 farmers were expected to be profiled in each ward and each of the farmers is expected to access N25, 000 loan.

            10% interest is expected to be paid by the beneficiaries and repaying the loan is expected to start from at least, January 2020.

            Meanwhile, the committee embarked on the tour with a team of journalists who asked local government chairmen and the ward councilors for clarifications in cases that were not clear.

In his quest to make Ebonyi number state in agriculture, Governor David Nweze Umahi has sought partnership with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment

The governor, during his visit recently to the office of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment, Abuja revealed he was there not for only agriculture this time, but funding for skill acquisition center and special vocational schools.

He told the Managing Director of the  Nigerian Sovereign Investment, Mr. Uche Orji, that in the face of the near-dried oil based economy, the only way to survive the looming hunger in the country is for everybody to go into agriculture and other skill based activities that will boost the economy.

He commended Nigerian Sovereign Investment for their dedication to driving the vision of the present administration in the area of agriculture and disclosed that his administration had since inception adopted workable and non-grammar based agricultural policy which has turned around the fortune of the state that remains one of the least in terms of federal allocation.

Governor Umahi noted that with salient economic bottlenecks staring the state in the face as a result of merger allocation from the Centre, the only way to survive was to maximize the agrarian nature of Ebonyi soil to go into full scale agriculture, hence, the need to source for more funding from the agency.

He said that his administration through skill acquisition has trained over 6000 Ebonyians both male and female in various areas of the economy to be self reliant and called on the Nigerian Sovereign Investment to graciously partner with the state government in terms of funding as a take-off grant to enable the beneficiaries go into full scale production in various skills learnt.

The Governor who announced that currently; over 3000 women are being trained on various skill acquisition through the office of the First Lady, also solicited for funds to enable the state government augment start-up funds for the participants.

Responding, the Managing Director of Nigerian Sovereign Investment, Uche Orji commended Governor Umahi for his laudable achievements in the state which he described as magical.

He said the agency is always willing to partner with states and relevant bodies that show genuine interest in lifting their people from poverty through agriculture and skill acquisition.

Mr. Orji said they will be willing to partner with Ebonyi State government in the areas of agriculture and skill acquisition to help the state government drive her vision of agricultural revival which is already going on in the state through the popular ‘one man one hectare policy’.

Recently, report alleging the regrouping of Abuja based politicians from Ebonyi state in order to usurp power from Ebonyi state Governor, Engr. David Umahi in 2023 dominated the news wave.

Although some of the national assembly members have come up with their own reactions on the matter, but political analysts have revealed that while there may not be a defined group as ‘Abuja group’as the case during Dr Sam Egwu’s administration, Governor Umahi’s successor may not be a consensus candidate, especially on the part of the Abuja representatives.

Analysts believed that the governor would have a problem installing his preferred candidate since some of the national assembly members not just have interest in Gov. Umahi’s job, but are keenly ready to wrestle power with whomever he may choose as a successor.

They maintained that even when some of them especially the two term serving members may act like they are not interested in becoming the next governor of Ebonyi state, that plans are already on the way to fight the governorship battle with full force in 2023. In fact it was even gathered that some of them are saving heavily for that battle.

They argued that among the national assembly members, there is a group of persons that have formed serious bond and as such, have become very strong force to contend with.

“And when they come together to plan, nothing stops them from achieving success. This group has proved inseparable within the past five years they have been in the national assembly and the governor may fallout with them in the course of choosing his successor. And when that happens they may come together to fight back”, according to one of the analysts.

However, even when some of the national assembly members are having governorship ambition which is not bad, they may think it is too early for them to make it public.

Meanwhile, reacting to alleged report of resurgence of Abuja group, the Senator representing Ebonyi Central zone, Senator Obinna Ogba, described it as as a total blackmail and an attempt to cause trouble and disaffection in the state by sowing the seeds of bitterness, anger, distrust, and hatred. While calling on the people of the state to disregard the media report and go about their normal business.

Ogba was fingered in the report as the leader of the new Abuja group, who with alleged efforts of some Abuja politicians, mostly, National Assembly members of PDP extraction and some All Progressives Congress stalwarts from the state to “thwart and outsmart governor Umahi from choosing his preferred successor as governor of Ebonyi state in 2023.”

“The so called Abuja group only exists in the writer’s imagination and that of his sponsors. It is pertinent to state that if there is any Abuja group or would be, I am not aware and can not be a party to such distraction.

“This is surely the handiwork of the opposition who were recently defeated at the polls. The target is to distract the party and government in the state by sowing seeds of discord.

“The Ebonyi PDP as a family has come a long way since 1998 and has worked very hard to maintain the number one position in the politics of the state, and we cannot allow any passenger to come in between us”.

“Our governor Engr. David Umahi is a team player who has carried major stakeholders along. We are proud of him and we have overwhelming confidence in him as our leader.

“Let me use this medium to warn such fourth columnists that some of us are very old in this game of politics. This tactic is too elementary that we could have ignored it but for record purposes.

“I want to assure members of our great party that i am solidly behind the performing governor of the State, Engr. David Umahi and I am determined to give him the necessary support to make his second term another huge success.”

“For emphasis may I state without equivocation that there is no Abuja group in Ebonyi state and i can never encourage such as it would disrupt the smooth run of the state”.

“Let me put the record straight, there was no meeting of either the so called Abuja group or any such group working against the interest of Governor David Umahi be it in ‘Bisalla road’ Abuja or Enugu as the confused writer claimed”.

“It is a known fact that i am a foundation member of the PDP and has remain so, i would not for any reason hold meeting with some persons mentioned in the purported report as they are members of the APC whom I cannot discuss politics with. I have nothing with them and so far they remain in APC, I would not have anything with them”.

“It is on record that I have never left the PDP even for one day. I was a founding member of the party and former party chairman, I am too big to play anti party behind the scene”.

On his part, member representing Ikwo-Ezza South federal constituency, Hon Laz Ogbee, said that he has the privilege of having access to  the governor of which he could not be part of plot to bite him from the back,  noting that his philosophy and believe in life is that it is only God that gives power.

He maintained that he was even with the governor when it wasn’t certain he was going to become the governor of Ebonyi state, and that Gov. Umahi has done so excellently in carrying them alone and as such,  deserves his support.

 Ogbee accused Comrade Chinedu Ogah of the  All Progressives Congress, APC House of Representatives candidate for Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of sponsoring the media report of resurgence of Abuja group in Ebonyi State.

 He said that it has been revealed the said reporter whose identity has been unveiled was paid by Comrade Chinedu Ogah to put up the report to smear the existing good relationship between himself and the State Governor, Chief David Umahi.

The Two term House of Representatives member, noted that with his expected victory at the election petition tribunal ans the frustration and truama the defeated candidate of the APC has envisaged, he resorted to blackmail and tarnish the good image he has built with the State Governor adding that this latest act has shown his level of desperation.

Hon Ogbee stated that since his landslide victory at the polls and his subsequent inuguration at the National Assembly, “Comrade Ogah has deployed several antics to get victory at the tribunal through the back door and having failed in his gimmicks and propaganda, the latest was to sponsor media report against my person but I tell you, such antics is dead on arrival”.

He however, expressed confidence on the Tribunal stating that falsehood, manipulations and lies would never overcome truth and the wishes and aspirations  of the people of Ezza South/Ikwo Federal constituency which they exhibited by voting him for a second term in the just concluded National Assembly election in the State.

“Having observed that all his efforts and gimmicks aimed at arm-twisting the tribunal members to achieve victory from the back door, and his frivolous petitions against the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC which was thrown to the dust bin, his latest antics now is to sponsor media report to smear the wonderful relationship that has long existed between myself and the Governor of the state”.

“I have always remain a committed ally and loyalist of Governor David Umahi. We have built confidence amongst us and I have never jettison out in any of his political ambition even in the days of Chief Martin Elechi. The desparation that Comrade Ogah is exhibiting today is an aftermath of his activities under the last administration where he treated everyone as a slave and later betrayed the man that built him”.

“We are not known for betraying our masters rather we are known for our loyalty to our principel. Comrade Ogah should look for another strategy to adopt because Governor David Umahi is too intelligent and smart to fall for such antics and gimmicks from a nobody and oppotunist”.

Hon Ogbee explained that his major concern is to give qualitative representation, attract meaningful projects, empower the people and give employment to the teeming youths of Ezza South/Ikwo Federal constituency who have been yearning for more of such opportunity from him.

He noted that no amount of propaganda and blackmail from Comrade Ogah would deter him from redressing the wrongs and advantage Ogah took against the people of the state by demanding 6 months of their salaries in exchange of an employment.

He stated that he supported Gov Umahi when it was uncertain that he would become Governor in 2015, adding that Gov Umahi has done so excellently that he deserves support and encouragement such that they would remain suppurative.

“This is surely the handiwork of the opposition who were recently defeated at the polls. The target is to distract the party and government in the state by sowing seeds of discord”.

“Let me use this medium to warn such fourth columnists that some of us are very old in this game of politics. This tactic is too elementary that we could have ignored it but for record purposes.

“I want to assure the good people of Ezza South/Ikwo Federal constituency that our victory has been for seen and our detractors are jittery, so there is need for all to remain calm and continue supporting our Governor to continue in his qualitative governance in the state”.

“For emphasis may I state without equivocation that there is no Abuja group in Ebonyi state and i can never encourage such as it would disrupt the smooth run of the state”.

“Let me put the record straight, there was no meeting of either the so called Abuja group or any such group working against the interest of Governor David Umahi be it in ‘Bisalla road’ Abuja or Enugu as the confused writer claimed”.

Afikpo North Local government Chairman, Hon. Ogbonnaya Oko Enyim, has shunned the visitation of the 2019 Agric loan disbursement committee set up by the State government to monitor the distribution of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agric loan.

          Enyim was billed to receive the committee chaired by the Ishielu local government chairman, Hon. Sunday Eze, on July 15, after the committee’s visit to Afikpo South local government area.

But when he was informed that the committee members were on their way to Afikpo North , Enyim told them to go and meet with his councillors because according to him he had other things to attend to.

But chairman of the committee maintained that the state did not release the money to the councillors and as such, the chairman was supposed to be on ground during the visitation for proper accounting.

The chairman however rescheduled the visit for July 24, but Enyim did not pick serveral calls made across to him by the secretary of the committee on the day of the visit.

The chairman also instructed the secretary of the committee to further liase with the chairman of Afikpo North so that a new date would be picked for the supervision.

But when Enyim was called on the telephone for the new date, it was gathered that he picked offence and even shouted at the secretary that he had told them to meet with the councillors for the verification but the committee refused.

This didn’t go down well with the Chairman of the committee who decided to visit other local governments until the Afikpo North Council boss accepts to receive them.

Then on July 25, it was gathered that Enyim sent a message to the secretary of the committee through the deputy leader of the council that his vice was waiting to receive the committee at the local government headquarters.

 But the chairman of the committee maintained that Enyim was supposed to be available to receive the committee.

Meanwhile, The Voice gathered  from a source in the area that Afikpo North local government chairman was alleged not to have judiciously disbursed the loan to farmers, which could be the reason he has been dodging to meet with the committee one on one, thereby sabotaging the effort of the state government in taking its agric policy down to the grassroot.

According to the source, about N40million may have been diverted to an individual purse.

It was gathered that while farmers in other local government areas were happy accessing the loan either by way of farm implement or cash, their colleagues in Afikpo North local government area, were being deprived of the state government’s agric intervention programme of his Excellency, Engr. David Nweze Umahi.

          Speaking on the refusal of Enyim to receive the committee, chairman, Hon. Eze stated: “I kindly advised the council chairman of Afikpo North local government to receive the committee, but he refused. I don’t know what he is hiding. Out of the 13 local government chairmen, its only Afikpo North that have refused to see the committee and I don’t know his reasons. But I want to promise the committee members that we will do our report and submit to his Excellency.

“The committee has done well and I want to commend the newsmen for their assistance.  like I told my colleagues, this is not a jamboree. Government set up the committee to make sure its agricultural policy gets to the grassroot as we supervise the disbursement as regards the 2019 agric loan .  So if you are not serious with the committee it means you don’t like what the governor is doing.

“I also thank members of the committee, they have done very much as well as our colleagues who despite their busy schedules made time to give account of the disbursement as it concerns their different local government areas,” he stated

Recall that the state government recently rolled out the 2019 agric loan for rice farming in all the thirteen local government areas of the state.

Each ward is expected to get N5million loan which would be repaid next year.

It was a celebration galore as elites from all works of life converged on Wednesday to celebrate the 55th birthday of the Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba.

          The celebration which took place on July 25, 2019 was organized by the Holy Family Catholic Chaplaincy, AE-FUNAI, at the Holy Family Catholic Chaplaincy, building site.

          Speaking at the occasion, the Chaplain of the Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Peter Chika Agbo, said the gesture to celebrate the Vice Chancellor was borne out of his landmark contributions towards the development of the University and the church irrespective of denomination.

          According to him, the infrastructural transformation of the University is a testimony of the promise made by Prof. Nwajiuba on assumption of office.

          “You told me in your office that by the time you leave AE-FUNAI, people must confess that a child of God was here. In line with your words, the infrastructural transformation in all nooks and crannies of the University bear eloquent testimony to substantiate the veracity of this fact”, Fr. Agbo said.

          On his part, The Vice Chancellor, thanked the Catholic Church and the University community, maintaining he was committed to do more in the upliftment of the church and the university.

          One of the dignitaries, Pst Mrs. Queen Agwu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, described the VC as a man of humility, whose achievements cut across all spheres of life.

          The event was also graced by the speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, University dons, Clergymen, staff and students of AE-FUNAI.

It is indeed a perilous time for the church, as thousands of Christians are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.

This is seen in the case of Adoration Ministry Power, at Ekpelu village  in Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi State, where a pastor of the church, was allegedly stripped naked for carrying out his church service.

According to the clergy, Prophet Chibata N. Big Breeze, he disclosed to The Voice that his church has been facing great persecution in Ekpelu village, which has led to the church being sacked in the village.

He lamented the degree of hostility among the villagers mostly the vigilante who constantly harass and detain his members on their way to church.

He decried that two sundays ago, his  pastor colleague was attacked, brutally beaten and stripped naked after several attempts to stop her from attending the church, while members were unlawfully detained by the vigilante at night in effort to stop them from attending night vigil.

He revealed to The Voice that recently, a 10 year old boy by the name Ifeanyi Nkwome, was allegedly attacked with machete by his aged father for attending his church.

He further disclosed that the mother of the child, Mrs.Ukamaka Nkwome, rushed the child to the church from where he was taken to  a nearby hospital for treatment.

He added that through the effort of the members they were able to offset the victim’s hospital bill, stressing that the church thereafter faced threats which according to him, has been reported to the police who advised him to relocate.

Prophet Chibata also said he has helped so many persons in the village among whom were farmers and that some of them were in possession of his money as well as several others whom he lent money with the hope of returning it back before he was asked to  vacate from the area.

“Since the day i rendered assistance to the woman whose husband attacked her son because he attended my church, i have been receiving several attacks, because i told the husband to pay me back the money we spent treating his son. Rather, the man verbally attacked me saying that i should leave the community, that my prayer cannot work on them anymore.

“Even the small boy that was attacked and his mother no longer attend my church because the father later chased them out. So since that day i left the community, many of my properties are there, so I’m just waiting to know what to do next,” he lamented

The clergy noted that he received threats to relocate, and he had to relocate, adding that they still traced him to the community were he relocated to and tried attacking him, but they didn’t succeed, as they were arrested by the police.

He told our reporter that he consulted the villagers before he brought the church to the community and they all agreed.

He called on the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN], Ebonyi state chapter and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria to intervene on the matter, stating that the church has lost its properties while he  (the pastor) was presently barred from entering the church where most of his properties are lying in waste.

Reacting to the attack on young Ifeanyi by his father, the village chairman, identified as Joe Black,  stated that the matter was not officially reported to him, stating he got the information when the woman had reported the issue to the traditional ruler, and it was at the stage of reconciliation, revealing that the case has led the woman leaving her matrimonial home with her children to Okpoitumo still in Ikwo for safety purposes.

When The Voice visited Mr. Nkwome Alo, who was said to be the eldest man in the community and the chief priest of Noyo Clan, he declined more comments, insisting that he was too old to comment.

Meanwhile, information gathered by The Voice revealed that Mr. Nkwome was known for his alleged hostility in the community, as he was accused of  attempting to kill one of his wives by pouring fuel on her and was about to set her ablaze, when the villagers rescued her.

It was also gathered that Mr Nkwome, was allegedly known for his spiritual powers as the chief priest, and any of his wives he perceives as enemy, would be seriously dealt with.

Mr. Nkwome as leant had vowed that none of his children or family members would attend any church since he is a staunch traditionalist.

 Speaking with the traditional ruler, HRH Eze Albert Opuefi, he noted that the family has been known for mischievous cases. Adding that before the attack on his son, Mr. Nkwome had earlier been beat to a pulp by his children, and was rescued by him [the traditional ruler] who took him to the hospital. Reacting on the pastor’s issue, he noted that he had advised the pastor several times but the advice fell on deaf ears.

“I believe in freedom of worship, anyone is free to  worship anywhere.There are churches in Ekpelu, the pastor  did not negotiate with the people, because if you come to a place to establish anything you to first negotiate with the people. You know Ekeplu is the ancestral home  of Ikwo. There are times in Ekpelu when anyone who comes to Ekepelu even from ikwo must be sure to take anything he sees because there are so many things people do here which others don’t do. So Ekpelu is reserved place for ancentral home. There was a church they built in my own land, i was asked to close it. But what i did was that i left the church and obtained land in some other place in Ikwo. So this is the second time. Even though this community is known as an central home we operate church very well here also,” he maintained.