Umahi after my Life -ASUU EBSU Boss Alleges
……Hold Umahi responsible if anything happened to Igwenyi- zonal chairman
……Umahi has never threatened anyone – SA Media
The Acting Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ebonyi State chapter, Ikechukwu Igwenyi has alleged that the governor David Umahi is after his life and property for carrying out his union’s activities.
He alleged that the threat is coming from the Ebonyi State State Governor, Gov. David Umahi who allegedly sent youths to his country home and his residence in Abakaliki.
Igwenyi who spoke to The Voice from his hideout alleged that an armed hoodlums led by some aides of the Governor invaded his family compound at Mebi-Owa Okposi in Ohaozara LGA.
It was gathered that another set of youths also invaded his Abakaliki residence, but Igwenyi and his family quickly fled on sighting the youths.
Igwenyi noted further that he had no rift with the state government to warrant such attacks and I’ll treatments, as he was only representing the interest of the people.
He noted that the perceived grievance of the Governor, must have started when the union went on strike earlier last year, which was suspended, as the union consequently joined the national strike which lasted for months due to lockdown following the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added that during the period when the lock down was relaxed, the Governor asked the lecturers to resume school, when they were still on nationwide strike. And that, the union refused because they were still on strike, following the refusal of the lecturers to resume on the governor’s order, the Governor proscribed all the unions except student union.
The action was perceived as an affront to the governor, as the union was alleged to have dragged the State government to court to ascertain if the state government has the jurisdiction to proscribe the union which is a national body.
“The strike here was suspended on the 21st of December, when I got home , we paid Christmas homage to him, and I became a topic there in address. He turned around to say that I am the problem that until I resign as ASUU chairperson that there will be no peace, and there will not be peace around, that my people will help him execute this order, that he will raise 1000 youths to occupy my house in the village for seven days and my house in the town until I leave office and leave the state, that I must write my appointment and leave the state, that I must resign my appointment as ASUU chairman and leave the state. That if after 7 days nothing happens, that the traditional rulers should set plan in motion to ostracize me and my family.”
“I taught it was a joke, I had to put on strong ground to inform people, look at what I have. And eventually on 31st youth were mobilize to my country home. My mother was under apprehension. Youths were also sent to Abakaliki.
“I was in my house when they came. And when they came, I was preparing to go home for a meeting held by the Eze for us to meet and ask him what the problem was. As I was about leaving, they came seized the environment and my vehicle, I had to scale a wall and disappears.
“So, up till now, I don’t know what I did. Because if it is strike the strike have been suspended. People should please find out what I did, my house is not ASUU secretariat, it is not ASUU extension. My community has nothing to do with ASUU.”
“The university Management is silence, I have not heard that the management made a statement, following the outcry I made that my life is under threat, and the whole world is away that youth came to my house and I fled to my safety, I have not even receive a phone call from them. No member of the management has called me” he stated.
He appealed to the governor to differentiate him
Meanwile, the calabar zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) has threatened to hold Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State responsible for any harm to its branch chairman at the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Comrade Ikechukwu Igwenyi.
This is is contained in a statement signed by the zonal chairman of ASUU, Dr. Aniekan Brown and made available to the press. Brown alleged that the governor had already mobilised the Ohaozara kinsmen of Igwenyi to attack him and his family after he (Umahi) had threatened the chairman to leave his post and resign from the university for refusing to back-down on issues pertaining to the welfare of union members in the university.
He blamed Umahi for the deflating welfare of staff of the university and the proscription of ASUU in the institution in a bid to administer the university with impunity.
Brown recalled that the nationwide ASUU strike was suspended in Ebonyi State University on December 24, 2020 after the announcement by Igwenyi to members at the Faculty of Agriculture, CAS annex of the university and as a result, EBSU staff members were ready to go back to work immediately school reopens and EBSU management has been notified by the branch.
Responsing, The zonal chairman wondered how Igwenyi has become a threat to peace in Ebonyi State for advocating for workers welfare that: “Governor is ordering such an illustrious son to leave his appointment and employment in EBSU in his own interest or face the consequences. Has he done any other thing than represent the interest of EBSU staff that he serves diligently and vowed to represent their interest satisfactorily,” he queried.
“On this note, it has become imperative that the life of Comrade Igwenyi and family is under intense threat by Governor David Umahi and all concerned should take note and save the situation before it gets out of control. Should anything happen to Comrade Ikechukwu Igwenyi and family, everyone should hold Governor David Nweze Umahi responsible,” Brown warned.
Reacting to the allegation of threat to life against the State governor, the media aide to Governor Umahi, Francis Nweze in a press briefing has called on the general public to discount such, as it was not existing.
Stating youths protested against the chairman , which the governor has called the youth to other to readdress the grudge between the ASUU chairman and the youths.
He said: “Governor Umahi is interest is on the development of the State and nothing more. So anybody telling you that there is a threat to life is not existing, it is null and void. And I want to also tell you that while the rumor flying here and there in the social media , have responded to a couple of call from some national media houses and I told them the same thing I’m telling you now.”
“A couple of days back, the governor got the news of some people protesting against the said chairman, it was alleged that some youth protested against him for reasons they later explained to the governor. But on that the governor has called on them and advised them to desist from the protest, that he is going to try to settle whatever their grudge against the said chairman is.
“So the governor has never threatened, he does not have such time. For the past two weeks have been people coming to appreciate the governor, nothing more. So I want to urge the entire public to discount such rumor of such, because it does not exists” He said.
