NATIONAL PANEL REPORTERS
Governor David Umahi has expressed his willingness to forfeit his 2023 Senatorial bid instead of granting freedom to the alleged perpetrators of the Edda crisis already arrested by the security operatives in Ebonyi State.
The governor stated this when he was begged by the Edda women in the Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.
The Edda crisis erupted as a result of a sheer difference between two politicians, Eni Uduma Chima and Stanley Okoro Emegha from the Ekoli Edda community following their town's youth election.
Eni Uduma Chima is the 2023 House of Representatives Candidate for the Afikpo North and South Federal Constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while Stanley Okoro Emegha is the State APC Chairman and Security Consultant.
It was gathered that the duo are currently in protective custody alongside some members of their community who were trapped by the security operatives in the state following Governor Umahi's order for their arrest immediately after the crisis tensed up with tragic records of shootings, killings and destruction of property worth millions of Naira.
The Edda community people especially their leaders have begged the state government to grant freedom to those arrested and assured of making peace in their area.
But Governor Umahi urged the leaders of the Edda community to stop appealing to him to order the release of those arrested for having allegedly perpetrated the evil acts in the area.
He said: "I want all the leaders of Edda Community to stop appealing to me to release your children that I'm holding.
"I prefer to lose the election instead of releasing them, but I know I will win in Jesus' name. "
Umahi expressed his confidence in the effective delivery of duties by the security chiefs and their men in Ebonyi and however, advised the community people and other citizens of the state to always report anything threatening their peace to the relevant authorities for immediate intervention.
Recall that the governor distributed over 300 phantoms of wrappers and bags of rice to the community women during their peaceful interface within the yuletide season amid the crisis period. -NTA.
