The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the 2023 elections, in Ebonyi State, Prof. Bernard Odoh, has said undue interferences by the government were responsible for the killings and avoidable crises, in the state.
This was as he observed that Ebonyi State had the highest cases of communal crises in the entire South-East geo-political zone, saying if elected, he will end all hostilities in the state within six months.
Odoh, a former Secretary to the State Government, stated this while addressing the leadership of Amasiri Age Grades and Traditional Rulers, at Amasiri, in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday.
He said, "It's true you people are not here to talk about party or politics; but after God, the next bigger power is political power. However, it's important that communities have an idea of the choices before them and then, make the right choices in the forthcoming elections.
"The first is exactly seven weeks from now. It's the election that will produce members of the National Assembly and the president of the country. Sir Eleje is our own and he's contesting for Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the Ebonyi South Zone.
"Amasiri, to me, is a home because there is no year (based on my training as a Geologist), we don't do the mapping from here to Ndibe Beach, Oso, Owutu, to Nguzu and Ohafia in Abia State, looking for what's underneath the earth. This is a place I'm used to and I have lots of quality friends here.
"In the current Ebonyi government, I served two years and eleven months as SSG. I had to resign because poverty was growing under the current government. In 2015, the Ebonyi poverty rate was 56 per cent; in 2022, the Ebonyi poverty rate had risen to 80 per cent. I made advice and opinions on policies that could have helped reduce the poverty rate in the state, and they were rejected by the governor. And I said I won't be part of a government that's not interested in reducing the poverty rate of our people. And I left.
"I am the only political office holder in this country that served a government, resigned and submitted himself to EFCC for probe, because I didn't eat government Kobo, during my two and half years in government.
"My idea is that Ebonyi can be a better state for all of us. Today, Ebonyi State has the highest cases of communal crises in the whole of Southern Nigeria. You heard what happened in Afikpo South (Edda) Local Government Area of the state last week and yesterday (January 1, 2023). These crises are caused by undue government interference. These undue interferences by the government are responsible for the killing of many of our people in Ebonyi State.
"If you support me and as your governor, I won't interfere with the affairs of our communities. It's not my business. They are people that will be handling that.
"Communities will have the freedom to put or elect their choice Town Union presidents, monarchs, etc. I won't meddle in the affairs of the Okada Riders Association, I won't dictate for them. The same goes for hospital management, school management and others. We will allow our people to be free here. This is because democracy is about choice. Our people will be free to make their choices.
"Within six months of our administration, all incidences of communities or communal crises and wars will be ceased. It's where you have peace, that development thrives."
