By Samuel Amah-Ugbor, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, has alleged that Governor David Umahi, was running the state as his private business concern.
This is even as the PDP in the state claimed that the Ebonyi State University under Governor Umahi’s watch, currently suffers both academic and financial quagmire, saying the varsity had ‘collapsed’ under the current administration.
Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in Ebonyi State, Elder Fred Udeogu, stated this during his New Year message to Ebonyians, in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Udogu chided the Governor for running the affairs of Ebonyi State as that of a family concern.
Elder Udogu said, “The Government of Ebonyi State is run as a private business of one man and his immediate family. If you look at what is happening in the State today, you will see that nobody who contributed to David Umahi becoming governor is still with him.
“If Ebonyi was to be another State, Umahi’s style of governance would have plunged it into an irredeemable crisis.
“I commend Ebonyians for their ability to condone Umahi’s high handedness and repressive governance
“I appreciate our people for condoning all the things happening in Ebonyi State. If not for the maturity of our people, there would have been unimaginable hostility in the State, but our people are very docile. If not so, the system is terrible, and the government is something else.”
The party Chieftain accused Umahi of not following the the State’s master plan, which according to him, was designed by the founding fathers, whose doggedness saw to the creation of the state.
“If you look at the entire State, you see that people who are coming from other states will think that work is ongoing, but I tell you, nothing is happening. The project he is doing has nothing to do with the blue print designed by those who contributed to the creation of Ebonyi State.
“We don’t have master plan in this State. We don’t have any arrangement for tomorrow in this State. Look at human capital development, it is on zero level. Look at the health sector, it is dead. Look at the Ebonyi State university which is the second government we have in this state, it is dead and gone,” he added.
When contacted by journalists on the matter, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, faulted the PDP helmsman’s claims, describing it as a cheap blackmail.
He further urged Ebonyians to disregard it, saying such allegations coming from Udogu were both baseless and unfounded.
According to Orji, “This is one of the series of cheap blackmail orchestrated by political detractors whose vaunting ambitions have reduced them into petty and rustic thinkers. The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi has no time for such lies.”
Picture: Dave Umahi, Ebonyi Governor
