The decision of Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, to put his family members in positions is causing division among stakeholders in the state, Special Correspondent, CHIJIOKE AGWU, reports.
Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, is currently facing concerted opposition from critical stakeholders, especially National Assembly members from the state over his agenda at empowering some of his family members through political patronage.
His elder brother, Laz Umahi, had earlier in the year emerged the new traditional ruler of Umunaga Community of Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.
Few weeks later, the governor appointed another of his brothers, Roy Umahi, as the Secretary of Ebonyi State Pipes Production Company.
During the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congresses in the state, his step-brother, Maxwel Umahi, emerged Deputy Chairman of the party.
But the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the emergence of the governor’s immediate younger brother, Augustine Umahi, as the new South East Zonal PDP Vice Chairman in the recently concluded zonal congresses of the party.
Umahi, stakeholders draw swords
The emergence of Augustine as the National Vice Chairman of the party for South East Zone has set the governor on collision course with critical stakeholders of the party in the state as well as some of his loyalists. One of his supporters that rose against the action was his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Internal Security, Ali Odefa, who incidentally, expressed interest in the position.
Odefa, former South East zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, had reportedly resigned his post to contest for the position, after repeated efforts to get the nod of his boss on the move had failed.
Curiously, it was alleged that Umahi, did not receive Odefa’s resignation letter until the day of the election.
In what seemed a fast move to pave way for easy victory for his brother, Augustine, the governor reportedly petitioned the congresses committee to disqualify Odefa on the basis that he did not resign his office as SA on security before coming to stand election, a situation that contradicts the stipulations of the party’s constitution.
Ekweremadu intervenes
It took the intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for Odefa to escape outright disqualification from the contest.
Although he eventually lost the position to Augustine, there was the feeling that the last may not have been heard on the festering feud.
That, perhaps, accounted for why the governor, upon returning to Abakaliki shortly after the Congress, confirmed and accepted Odefa’s resignation letter and thanked him for the services he had rendered to the state.
The governor, in one breath, also approved the sack of his appointees he said, he made under the influence of his estranged aide.
He also sacked all the appointees loyal to Senator Sonni Ogbuorji (Ebonyi South); Senator Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), Linus Abba Okorie (Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency) and Chris Usulor (Ezza South State Constituency).
Sources close to the governor told our correspondent that the above lawmakers were suspected to be instrumental to Odefa’s insistence on contesting the election against the governor’s wish.
The source, who begged not to be mentioned, noted that the sack of the appointees loyal to the aggrieved stakeholders was a clear indication of Umahi’s readiness to do battle with the stakeholders.
According to our source, “At Okpara Square, the venue of the congress, the gang-up against the governor was unmistakable. Senator Ogbuorji was openly barking at the governor and threatening fire and brimstone. That was when governor knew that the gang-up was strong. What he has just done is to tell them that he was ready for the battle”
The storm gathers
The appointees, who were relieved of their appointments are as follows:
Mr. Okporie Agwu Nnachi, Coordinator Edda West Development Centre; Ogbonnaya Oti, Coordinator, OnichaWest Development Centre; Akas Oko Ibiam, member, Edda West Development Centre Management Committee; Felicia Egbe Ann, member, Edda West Development Centre Management Committee; Chidi Oko Arua, member, Edda West Development Management Committee; Paul Obasi, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Sunday Igwe, member, Onicha West Development Management Committee; Blessing Nwali, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Elizabeth Ngwu, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Mrs. Ikechukwu Nwite, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Mrs. Chukwu Chinenye Adaeze, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee, Mrs. Ozoemena Offia, member, Onicha West Developemnt Centre Management Committee; Mary Okoro, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Ngozi Elechi, member Ezza South Development Centre Management Committee; Ikechukwu Aliobu, member Ezza South Development Centre Management Committee; Chukwuma Nwinya, member, Ezza South Management Committee; Oke James Friday, member, Ezzama Development Centre management committee; Monday Olisa, member, Ishielu Development Centre Management Committee; Mrs. Constantine Eze, member, Ishielu Development Centre Management committee; John Ali, Liaison Officer, Onicha Local Government Area; Darlington Okorie Liaison, Officer Onicha Local Government Area; Victor Ogbonna, Liaison Officer, Onicha Local Government Area; Monday Oroke, Liaison Officer, Ezza South Local Government Area; Mike Ishienyi, Liaison Officer, Onicha Local Government Area, and Ogbouefi Ndidi, member, Local Government Advisory Committee.
While the confusion lasted, there were fears and speculations on impeachment moves against the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Odefa Obasi Odefa, elder brother to the embattled Odefa.
But an official of the Assembly who spoke to our correspondent, dismissed the speculations as “too baseless for response”, stressing that t the Deputy Speaker was not involved in the gang-up against the governor.
He said, “No, it is not true. That is too baseless for response. I don’t think he is in support of his brother. You can see that none of his loyal appointees was affected by the tsunami,” the source added.
Kinsmen disown Odefa, Ogbuorji
Even at that, Odefa’s kinsmen from his Onicha Local Government Area of the state, on Monday, May 16, 2016, stormed Abakaliki, the state capital in solidarity with the governor.
They accused him of disrespecting constituted authority and embarrassing the state.
The people who were made up of chieftains and supporters of the party as well as leaders of thought numbering over 2,500, assured the governor of the support of the people of the area, saying that the absence of Odefa and his followers should not diminish the governor’s support in the area.
The former Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, who is also the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Donatus Njoku, who led the delegation, said that his people were dissociating themselves from Odefa and his group.
The following day, Tuesday, May 16, 2016, the people of Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state where the Senator representing Ebonyi South in the Senate, Sonni Ogbuorji hails from, also stormed Ebonyi Government House in solidarity with the governor.
They also threatened to recall the senator if he failed to stop opposing the governor through his “undemocratic tendencies.”
The delegates, numbering over 3,000 who carried placards during the peaceful protest at Government House, Abakaliki, with various inscriptions such as “Sonni Ogbuorji you are a confusionist”, “Sonni Ogbuorji you have failed PDP in Ebonyi state”, “Ebonyi South Senatorial zone is recalling you, Sonni Ogbuorji” among others, disowned the senator.
Reading a communique signed by major stakeholders of the area during the protest, the state Commissioner for Finance, Dennis Ekumankama, said, “We condemn in strong terms the inglorious attitude, antagonism and disloyalty exhibited by our representatives at the National Assembly led by Senator Sonni Ogbuorji during the South East congress of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu State on May14, 2016.
“We disassociate ourselves and Edda clan from the inexcusable display of undemocratic tendencies and unwarranted show of shame by the said Senator and his group.
The Edda people also lauded Umahi for his political sagacity and legerdemain which has fetched the state the zonal vice chairman of the Party.
“We congratulate His Excellency, David Umahi for his political sagacity and foresightedness that has won the state the position of National Vice Chairman South East zone of the PDP in the person of Chief Augustine Umahi.”
Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff Government House, Emmanuel Offor Okorie, who received the protesters on behalf of the governor, condemned the Senator’s alleged conduct during the South East PDP congress, and urged them to call him to order, even as he promised to relay their message to the governor.
While the intrigues played out, there were suspicions in some quarters that Ebonyi was perhaps, set for the repeat of what transpired during the first tenure of the former governor, Senator Sam Egwu, when Abuja-based politicians headed by the then Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, battled the then governor, over political leadership of the state.
,But on Saturday, May 28, the governor took what appeared a preemptive measure against a return to that ugly past in the state. In it, he recalled about 25 of some of his aides who were relieved of their appointments on account of the PDP incident.
He however directed that they would undergo screening in the state House of Assembly as they had done earlier.
Umahi, who described the incident at the congress as “a mutiny”, added that they are penalties for mutiny.
“The incident that happened in Enugu during the South East PDP congress, was a mutiny and everybody knows the penalty of mutiny.
“But in the spirit of forgiveness, all the coordinators and management committee members who were sacked because of the matter will be given fresh appointments.
“They have to go back to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. We have forgiven you but tell your masters that Ebonyi problems can only be solved here in Ebonyi State and not outside the state,” he said.
The governor added that he had also forgiven Odefa, adding however, that he would be redeployed to another wing of the government.
