Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has lambasted the Factional Leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Simon Ekpa, for instigating killings and disturbances witnessed in the south-east geo-political zone of the country.
Umahi made the condemnation on Thursday on the occasion of a Special Widows Party organized by the State Government for widows and Elders held at the Ecumenical Center Abakaliki.
He condemned in strong terms the activities of unknown gunmen in wrecking havoc in the zone.
“Every criminal says he is IPOB, every criminal says he is ESN, today we haves another bandit called Simon Ekpa, who says he is a leader,”
According to him,”we are living in the seed we sowed, when this incident started in the name of Biafran agitation, South-East Governors stood against it, but some people silently encouraged it, today it has gone beyond Nnamdi Kanu”
Umahi reiterated that Ebonyi State is not part of Biafra stating “if Biafran agitation is to start killing ourselves, to be declaring sit-at- home, destroying markets, living in the forest is strange to Ndigbo”
He solicited for intelligence gathering on the part of the people to stop the killing in the region.
On the recent killing of personnels of Ebubeagu security outfit, Umahi solicited for intelligence information from the people.
“The Local Government Chairmen should give us information, we are going to enter all forests to flush out this criminals killing our people”
The Governor said that Ndigbo will agitate for equal treatment in the comity of State in Nigeria.
“It’s time to end the banditry in south-east geo-political zone of the country”
Umahi emphasized that the State government has slated 15th of every month to celebrate widows and elders in the state.
“We will provide wrappers for widows/elders, and open bank accounts for them where we lodge funds into their accounts”
“Local Government Chairmen should provide 1,000 names of elders and widows in their council, we will do free medical comprehensive test for them”
On the forth coming general election, Umahi urged the people to vote for all APC Candidates vying for various elective positions.
‘We from the South are not contesting for governorship position of the State ”
“The next governor of the State will come from the Northern zone, he is Hon Francis Nwifuru, the present Speaker of the State House of Assembly”
In attendance at the event included the Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe, Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and APC Governorship Candidate Hon Francis Nwifuru, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria South-East zone Dr Abraham Nwali, members of the State Executive Council, Traditional Rulers, women groups, widows and the down trodden among others.
