The Unedited Press Release
Being text of press conference addressed by Ebonyi State APC Stakeholders Resident in Abuja on Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Gentlemen of the press,
“The time is always right to do what is right.” (Martin Luther King 1965)
We have invited you to this crucial press conference for issues of strategic importance to Ebonyi State. There is no gainsaying the fact that our dear country is going through a very tempestuous experience. The security challenges that have beset the nation from North to South, East and West define these trying times.
At times like this, the question that each and everyone of us should be asking ourselves is, what and how can I be of help to make things less damaging to our corporative and social well being?
This, definitely, is not a time for political brickbats, finger pointing, blame games, acrimony or engaging in foul language. It is a time for seeking for solution and working towards collective and social harmony.
Situation in Ebonyi State
As you are aware, Ebonyi State is not immune to the challenges, which we outlined above. We dare say that as a state and people, we are blessed with a visionary government led by a benevolent democrat that foresees the future, plans ahead and tackles challenges excellently.
Our Governor, Chief Engineer David Nweze Umahi, has been up and doing in effectively delivering good governance to our dear state in the past six years.
However, we are pained, when on Tuesday May 18, 2021, some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly caucus from Ebonyi State caucus of the National Assembly, led by Senator Samuel Egwu, addressed the press and made wild, provocative and tendentious allegations against the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Ebonyi State Government.
We are however shocked that they did not retract their statement knowing full well that this is a security matter that should not be trivialised or politicized, this more so against the background that the Governor’s actions were based on decisions jointly taken by all the governors of Southeast irrespective of party affiliations, and that our Governor being the chairman of Southeast Governors Forum, had to lead the implementation process. If this is not commendable and proactive leadership, we do not know what is. We therefore condemn the contents of the press conference in its entirety.
What was most ignoble about the shameful display of political rascality by the PDP federal lawmakers, was not just the lies and felonious claims they leveled against the governor, they sought to politicize the security of lives and property of Ebonyi people. But suffice it to say that the group’s allegation the governor recruited thugs in the name of Ebube Agu for the purpose of intimidating the opposition PDP, is malicious, medatious, puerile and trivial.
There is no evidence to show that Ebube Agu has harassed anybody. What one would have expected is for the Ebonyi PDP caucus of the NASS was to come up with ways to support the efforts of the governor in securing the people of Ebonyi State, rather than descend into crass partisanship.
Search for Political Sympathy
As patriotic leaders of thought of Ebonyi State resident in Abuja, it is our considered resolve to admonish Senator Egwu and his group to step back from the maniacal hunt for political sympathy amid threats to the security of lives of our people. Continuing in this path of perfidy at a time when the state and entire country is under maximum security red alert is quite unbecoming of the Ebonyi NASS PDP caucus from Ebonyi State led by Senator Egwu, who is a former governor and chief security officer of the state.
Perhaps, it is apposite to remind them that there can be no politics about life as the Igbo say, Ndu Bu isi
The group’s attempt to disparage the governor is nothing but a disengenous attempt to curry political sympathy and has nothing do with the safety and security of lives and property of Ebonyi State.
We would like to place it on record that we have confidence in the excellent leadership and performance of Governor Dave Umahi. Ebonyi people are highly impressed with Governor Dave Umahi’s superlative performance in governance and his landmark efforts in securing the safety of lives and property of Ebonyi people.
In conclusion, we enjoin Ebonyi people and Nigerians at large to discountenance the frivolous and spurious utterances of Senator Ewu and his colleagues against the governor as the allegations are based on the fact of his recent defection from PDP to APC.
Thank you gentlemen
Senator Julius Ali Ucha,
Commissioner representing South East in NASC
Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Works,
And former Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly