Umahi, lawmakers trade words over arming of militia, say Gov. after their lives; allegations false – Umahi

National Assembly members from Ebonyi State, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Governor of the State, David Umahi are back to the trenches over political disagrement leading to accusation and counter accusation over arming of militia to unleash terror on percieved opponents.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the senators and members of the House of Representatives, said Umahi is arming militia groups in the State and is threatening to unleash terror on them.

Chairman of the caucus and former Governor of the State, Sam Egwu, who briefed on behalf of others, told Nigerians to hold Umahi responsible should any member of the National Assembly is attacked.

But Francis Nwaze, media aide to Ebonyi Governor, dismissed the claims saying the claims were false as he urged Nigerians to ignore the allegations.

“The Governor is too busy to listen to gossips from people who are idle and want to distract him. The Governor is busy delivering the dividends of democracy to the people. He won’t have time for this. Their claims are false and what they’re alleging is not true,” he said.

Egwu while addressing the media  claimed: “We are alarmed and concerned by the senseless killing of security personnel in the lawful discharge of their duties. This situation has been further compounded in Ebonyi State by the wide scale distribution of pump-action and AK-47 rifles and ammunition to young men throughout the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State by the State Government under the guise of vigilante/Ebubeagu. 

“As it stands today in Ebonyi State, it is impossible to draw a line between the criminal activities of agents of the State Government, and that of other groups. Today, Ebonyi State is awash with weapons supplied and distributed by the State Government, to persons who are undocumented, nor trained in weapons handling ostensibly for use against perceived political opponents. 

“It is important to state here that Governor Umahi’s resort to arming thugs and Cultists across Ebonyi State is his response to the refusal of major political stakeholders in the State who rejected and refused to decamp with him from the PDP to the APC. For this reason, Governor Umahi has decided to procure and distribute arms and ammunition to thugs, cultists and some of his appointees under the guise of vigilante/Ebube-agu to intimidate and stifle the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State. 

“It is for this reason that Ebonyi State has become the first and only state in the South East to inaugurate and arm the so-called Ebube-Agu. 

“As law abiding citizens, we have written to the Inspector General of Police and heads of relevant Security Agencies on the deteriorating security situation in Ebonyi State. In those petitions, we have documented violent attacks, attempted murder and murder of Ebonyi citizens by agents of the State Government, in the most recent past. 

“Only last week, Governor Umahi organised what he termed Town Hall Security meetings at the State capital Abakaliki. However, in those meetings, the Governor merely used the platform to issue threats and incite violence and public hatred against PDP members of the National Assembly and other perceived political opponents.”

“The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi is misusing the Ebube Agu Security outfit to proliferate arms in Ebonyi State. The world needs to know that his target is not criminals but Political opponents. The Ebonyi State Government has distributed dozens of guns 

(Pump-action and AK-47 and ammunition across the state to individuals who are accountable to him. 

“We have pictorial evidence of Development centre coordinators and his other staff clutching guns and other dangerous weapons. We also have audio evidence of the Governor’s younger brother, Mr Austine Umahi, addressing agents of the Ebonyi State Government on how to deploy their weapons on perceived political opponents. 

“Every effort must be made by the relevant Security agencies to recover and mop up the arms and ammunition in Ebonyi State which Governor David Umahi has distributed to individuals who were neither trained nor documented as to keep track record of those in possession of férearms in Ebonyi State. 

“The Inspector General of Police should note that Governor Umahi should be held directly responsible should any harm befall any member of the National Assembly,” he added.

▪︎ By National Update