* We Are Solidly behind Gov. Umahi – Ohaukwu Stakeholders
By Chinwe Onwosi
The Last has not been heard on the Ebonyi State Governor David Nweze Umahis Defection as more events continue to unfold with stakeholders of PDP defecting and throwing their weight behind the Governor, endorsing his move to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Friday, November, 20, saw the stakeholders of Ohaukwu local government area of the state backing the decision of Governor Umahi to join the ruling party, APC.
Barely few hours after, Governor David Umahi ordered the immediate sack of political office holders from the council Area, as contained in a statement signed by the secretary to the state Government, Kenneth Ugbala, the former appointees were directed to hand over all government properties in their possession.
Those who were removed from office includes; the Coordinators, Executive Assistants, (EAs), Senior Technical Assistants, (STAs), Technical Assistants, (TAs), Liaison Officers and, Management Committee Members of Development Centres in the council area with immediate effect.
The Voice gathered that the dissolution of the political appointees may not be unconnected to the political intrigues in Ohaukwu.
The Voice scooped that the sacked appointees were nominated by the former governor of the state, Sen Sam Ominyi Egwu, who had addressed a press conference affirming his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP
The SSG’s statement reads in part: “In the avowed determination of Ebonyi State Government to allow greater participation of Ebonyians in governance, His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Nweze Umahi has approved the removal from office of the following political office holders from Ohaukwu Local Government Area with immediate effect.”
Earlier, Stakeholders of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Friday backed the decision of Governor David Umahi to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Stakeholders who made their position known at a meeting held in the Council headquarters, Ezzamgbo, said they were solidly behind Governor Umahi, adding that the people of the Council were 99.9% APC.
The Chairman of the Council, Barrister Clement Odah who addressed Journalists on behalf of the Stakeholders, said the people of the council had benefitted heavily from Umahi’s administration, assuring that they were fully with him.
According to him, on moral ground, none of them is entitled to take a different direction other than the direction of the Governor.
He maintained that Ohaukwu people would deliver 100% votes to the APC in 2023.
Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial district and first civilian Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Egwu, who is opposed to Umahi’s defection to APC hails from Ohaukwu LGA.
Odah said, “Ohaukwu Local Government are part and parcel of the All Progressives Congress (APC). At a personal level, I want to let the world know that I am the son of the Governor, Engr. David Umahi. He made me what I am today. As long as politics is concerned, he is the beginning and the end of my political sojourn. He remains my father, benefactor, and boss.”
“Beyond me, we have appointees of Government and elected persons here. All of us are beneficiaries of the magnanimity of the Governor. On moral ground, none of us is entitled to take a different direction other than the direction of the Governor.”
“As a people, we have witnessed tremendous development in our area. We have the gigantic and longest flyover and only a person that loves you can give you such a gift.”
“Every Ohaukwu man, every Ohaukwu youth and every Ohaukwu woman will continue to support the Governor. As long as we are concerned, this LGA is 99.9 percent APC. I would have said Ohaukwu is 100 percent, but our Governor himself has conceded 0.01% for a certain class of persons.”
“If anybody is not in agreement with the Governor, the question is: what are your reasons? We have flyovers, good roads, ecumenical centre, international airport, international stadium and international market. We have all the good things we see in Dubai. Anybody saying we shouldn’t stand with David Umahi, does he have anything better than what he has offered us? So, we stand with the Governor and we will always stand by him.”
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Sunday Inyima, who was rumored to have resigned his appointment sequel to the defection of Umahi to APC, described the rumor as false, insisting that the entire Ohaukwu people including himself, were solidly behind Governor Umahi.
