The decision of Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, to put his family members in positions of influence in the state is causing division among stakeholders in the state, Chijioke Agwu reports.
Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Nwaeze Umahi, is currently facing concerted oppositions from critical stakeholders especially National Assembly members from the state over his determination to sufficiently empower some of his family members through political patronage.
Umahi’s elder brother, Chief 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 latter, Governor Umahi appointed another of his brothers, Rouy Nwaeze Umahi, as the Secretary of Ebonyi State Pipes Production Company.
During the just concluded PDP Congresses in the state, Governor Umahi’s step-brother, Mr Maxwel Umahi, emerged the Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
But the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the emergence of Governor Umahi’s immediate younger brother, Mr. Augustine Umahi, as the new South East Zonal PDP Vice Chairman in the just concluded zonal congresses of the party.
The emergence of Augustine Umahi as the Narional Vice Chairman of the party for South East Zone pits Chief Umahi against some critical stakeholders of the party in the state as well as some of his loyalists particularly his then Aide on internal security, Chief Ali Odefa, who displayed open interest in the position.
Chief Odefa, a former South East zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, was until his resignation to contest the position, Governor Umahi’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Internal Security.
He reportedly resigned to contest the position after repeated efforts to get the nods of his boss to contest the position failed.
But it appeared that Governor Umahi, for whatever reasons, did not receive Chief Ali’s resignation letter until the day of the election.
Reports alleged that Governor Umahi, to pave way for easy victory for his brother, Chief Augustine Umahi, reportedly petitioned the congresses committee to disqualify Chief Ali 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.
It took the intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, for Chief Ali to escape outright disqualification from the contest.
Although Chief Ali later lost the position to Chief Austine Umahi, they are indications that the last may not have been heard of the festering feud.
This perhaps accounts for why Governor Umahi, upon returning to Abakaliki immediately after the Congress, confirmed and accepted Chief Odefa’s resignation letter and thanked him for the services he rendered to the state.
The governor, in one breath, also approved the sack of his appointees he allegedly made under the influence of his estranged aide.
He also sacked all his appointees loyal to Senator Sonni Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South); Sen. 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 instrumental to Chief Ali’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 is a clear message of the governor’s acceptance of the gauntlet thrown by the stakeholders.
He said, “At Okpara Square, the venue of the congress, the gang up against the governor was unmistaken. Sen. Ogbuoji was openly backing 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 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.
There are also fears and speculations of impeachment moves against the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Odefa Obasi Odefa, who is also the elder brother of Chief Ali.
But one of the floor functionaries of the House while chatting with our correspondent dismissed the speculations as “too baseless for response.”
He said that the Deputy Speaker was not part of 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.”
Meanwhile, Chief Ali’s kinsmen from his own Onicha Local Government Area of the state, on Monday,May 16, 2016, stormed Abakaliki, the state capital in solidarity with the governor.
They accused their son of disrespecting constituted authority and embarrassing the state.
The people who were made up of stakeholders 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 Chief Odefa and groups would not deflate the governor’s support in the area.
The former council Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, who is also the state commissioner for Solid Minerals, Chief Donatus Odii Njoku, who led the delegation said that his people were dissociating themselves from the Odefas and their group.
Also, on Tuesday 16th May, 2016, just the following day, the people of Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state where the Senator representing Ebonyi South in the Nigeria Senate, Chief Sonni Ogbuoji hails from, also stormed Ebonyi Government House in solidarity with the governor.
They also threatened to recall the senator if he fails to stop opposing the governor through his “undemocratic tendencies.”
The people 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, Sunny Ogbuorji’’ among other , disowned the senator.
Reading a communiqué signed by major stakeholders of the area during the protest, the state Commissioner for Finance, Dr. 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 14th May, 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 applauded governor Umahi for his political sagacity and legerdemain which has fetched the state the zonal vice chairman of the Party.
‘’We congratulate His Excellency Engr. Chief David Nweze 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 Austin Umahi.”
Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff Government House, Chief 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.
The state is tensed; it appears the state is in for the repeat of what transpired in the state during the first tenure of former governor Sam Egwu, now Senator, when Abuja-based politicians headed by the then Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, battled the then governor, Sam Egwu, over political leadership of the young state of Ebonyi.