BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
Ebonyi Council of Elders said it must resist every calculated plan by some elements especially the Abuja based politicians to distort a long agreed gubernatorial zoning arrangement in the state.
The Chairman of the Ebonyi State Council of Elders, Engr. Ben Okah, made this known during the Council's press conference, Friday in Abakaliki.
The Council also condemned antics of some Abuja based politicians who allegedly canvassed for the removal of Governor David Umahi and his Deputy, Chief Eric Igwe from office, for defecting from PDP to APC.
"We condemn vehemently the action of these people who have taken their fights to an Abuja court to canvass for the removal of Governor Dave Umahi and his deputy, from office for the reason of crossing from a moribund and a crisis PDP to APC which has a great leader, President Muhammad Buhari. A move which is to emancipate the Igbo race.
"These people who are guided by inordinate ambitions are employing every form of blackmail and fake information to cause mayhem in Ebonyi State.
"We note also their ignoble intention to distort a long agreed gubernatorial zoning arrangement in Ebonyi State and that this will not be acceptable at all," the Chairman said.
Okah warned the Abuja based politicians not to visit the state with the mayhem, even though, they might use legal means to pursue their ambitions, stressing that, the Council "cannot stand akimbo while destructive elements whose track records are well-known ruin Ebonyi."
He had earlier commended Governor Umahi's developmental strides in Ebonyi, noting that the council were highly disturbed these days, by the antics of some elements based in Abuja and those belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, trying to inject dust of confusion in the state politics.
Okah accused some of Ebonyi politicians who are based in Abuja to have been hell-bent on distracting the smooth running of the state government under the watch of Governor David Nweze Umahi.
"We are happy with the peace and tranquillity existing in Ebonyi because of the security apparatuses set up in the state, particularly the Ebubeagu outfit which has limited the rate of crime drastically.
"We are happy with even spread of infrastructure and appointments in all the local governments of Ebonyi State.
"We have confidence that the governor with his achievements in the state and with limited resources can do well as the President of Nigeria.
"We are, however, very disturbed by the antics of some elements based in Abuja and those who belong to the PDP political party. These people are hell-bent on distracting the smooth running of Ebonyi State Government and hence attempting to ruin the peace and tranquillity existing here," he said.
Okah noted that the giant developmental strides of Governor Umahi were because of the peaceful atmosphere witnessed in all nooks and crannies of Ebonyi, and however, stated that the council would not allow them to ruin the peace and tranquillity existing in the state.
He appealed to Ebonyi people to remain calm and go about their businesses while praying for peace to reign in the state.
He as well appealed to Governor Umahi not to be distracted but to remain focused in executing his people-oriented projects and programs in the state.
