Umahi/Anyim feud; Aged women, youths protest against repeat of 2003 political killings 1
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Umahi/Anyim feud; Aged women, youths protest against repeat of 2003 political killings

As Gov Umahi sacks appointees from Anyim’s hometown

Aged women and youths numbering over 100 from Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State yesterday staged a peaceful protest against plot to instigate political crisis and have a repeat of the 2003 political violence which claimed the lives of many youths of the state.

The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions like; “we can’t sit down and watch a repeat of 2003 killings again”, “Ishiagu people are not known for violence, stop instigating violence in Ebonyi Anyim”.

Others include; “Our youths must not die again just like in 2003”, “live Governor Umahi alone”, “Stop bringing bad name to Ishiagu”, among others.

The protesters who marched round the village were seen chanting songs of peace and solidarity for Governor Umahi were also seen carrying palm fronts and leaves.

The Spokesperson of the protesters, Mrs. Martha Okoro while narrating the ordeal of the 2003 political crisis insisted that never again must the state witness such a political violence again.

Mrs. Okoro noted that the protest is to warn those instigating political crisis in the State to desist or face the wrath of woman and youths in the State.

According to her; “we the women and youths of Ishiagu community came out to protest and to warn against another political crisis and killings in Ebonyi State. What the state witnessed in 2003 is better imagined”.

“Our greatest worry is that each political crisis witnessed in any of the administrations in the state, our son, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim must be linked, so it has become a source of worry to us. We have invited her to explain to us his level of involvement and we believe he will come down to face us”.

“In 2003, it was between his and Governor Same Egwu, between 2007 and 2015, it was between him and Chief Martin Elechi, now it is between him and Chief David Umahi. The painful part is that in all this, we are at the recieving end”.

“The community has lost alot of development that should have come to it because of his attacks to the administrations. Ishiagu people are peace loving people, so we don’t really know why he has continued to fight and distract all the administrations since 1999 till date. Enough is enough”.

Similary, the Ebonyi State governor, Chief David Umahi has sacked most of his political appointees from the hometown of Senator Anyim Puis Anyim, Ivo Local Government Area of the State.

The sack of the appointees may not be unconnected to feud between Governor David Umahi and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government and Coordinating Commissioner, Dr. Kenneth Ụgbọala Wednesday said the sack was informed by the Governor’s decision to ensure inclusiveness in governance.

Those affected by the sack are: All Senior Technical Assistants (STAs) and Technical Assistants (TAs) to the Governor; All Liaison Officers; and All Management Committee members from Ivo Local Government Area.

The statement directed them to handover all Government Property in their possession to the Secretary to the State Government and Coordinating Commissioner by the close of work today, 2nd December 2020.

It would be recalled that Governor Umahi had last Thursday sacked Coordinators of Ivo and Echiele Development Centres.

Meanwhile, The Christian Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State Branch has expressed worries over the recent altercation between Governor David Umahi and the former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

CAN stated that the disagreement could distract the Governor from giving attention to his ongoing developmental projects across the State and possible political crisis in the state.

Recall that the Governor and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim with some National Assembly members have recently engaged themselves in war of words over issues relating to Umahi’s defection.

The CAN leadership led by its Chairman, Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, during its mediatory/courtesy visit to the Governor on Tuesday, sued for peace adding that everyone has the right to move or remain in any political Party of his choice.

They noted that it was too early to begin extreme politicking at this point when the people were desirous to see the completion of the International Airport, the Olympic size Stadium, among other ongoing projects across the State.

Nwali and the Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Monday Nkwoagu, who spoke on behalf of the group during the visit, enjoined the Governor to employ all wisdom and tact at his disposal to quell the brewing crises as there could be no development without peace.

Nwali said: ” Finally, we want to make a passionate appeal, and that passionate appeal is this: CAN is religiously minded and constitutionally minded.

“But we can’t leave the centre because of what is awaiting us. We need the peace; that peace is all that we are looking for. We are also going to seek your blessing to interface with the other group, also to plead for that peace”.

“Ebonyi State is a young growing State, and our case is not different. In Washington DC which I know, there is always a sweep between Democrats and Republicans”.

Governor Umahi while responding assured CAN that there was no crises in the State adding that the fight against the State and its government by about ten persons can not override the solidarity of the majority of the stakeholders.

According to him, the fight was not unusual, but a confirmation that he is a genuine governor.

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