Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has ordered the sealing of a popular hotel owned by the Senator representing Ebonyi central senatorial zone, Sen. Obinna Ogba.
He then ordered the police to take over the hotel and ensure that no meeting holds there tomorrow.
Umahi stated this during an All Progressives Congress (APC) meeting held at Ecumenical centre, Abakaliki on Friday.
According to him, the order to seal off the hotel came as a result of illegal APC parallel congress said to hold in the hotel tomorrow.
Following the seal off, he then declared the suspected sponsor of the illegal parallel congress wanted while he promised five hundred thousand naira (N500.000.00) to anyone that arrests the suspect and hands him over to the police.
Recall that PDP is also holding its state congress tomorrow and since the state government sealed their secretariat after Governor David Umahi left the party to join the ruling party APC, PDP has been using the said hotel to hold all of its meetings.
His words: “I can’t remember his name but they said it is Kenneth Nwakparata, and that he wants to conduct parallel congress. That letter he wrote is fake news and I have declared him wanted. Anywhere you see him, bring him to the police, you will get N500.000.00.”
“Also, where he proposes to conduct the congress is at Obinna Ogba’s hotel. Well, they have gone to ask and they said they didn’t book the place but he only wrote to me.
“I am cancelling any meeting there tomorrow. There shall be no meeting there and the CP must take over the entire place and beef it up with security.” He said.
Umahi added, “but if you want to try me, then go there and see what will happen. I am the chief security officer of the state and it is my duty to maintain law and order.”
Umahi however commended the various senatorial zones for the peaceful manner they resolved the positions that were zoned to them.
Reacting to the sealing of the hotel, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caretaker chairman, Chief Fred Udeogu, described Gov. Umahi’s order as useless and unimaginable.
Udeogu, however, assured all the party faithful of a peaceful convention tomorrow.
His words: “I state categorically that the information you people have is as useless as it is unimaginable. As far as I am concerned, the owner of this hotel is a bonafide member of PDP.
“It is not easy for even an APC man to come here to use this place for anything. The level of non-communication between PDP and APC is so diametric.
“It has been long since the governor wants to seal this hotel that belongs to distinguished Senator Obinna Ogba. But I tell you this is a baseless and directionless issue.
“Umahi lacks focus and advisers by saying he will seal this hotel, let him come and seal it, we are waiting. We applied to the police, INEC about a month ago and they have the timetable of PDP that covers the ward, LG and state congresses and they have given us a go-ahead. I pray that the God of sincerity and reality should get into the leadership of this state because there is no how someone will wake up and start saying something that has no bearing. We have been carefully avoiding government facilities in the state. He has no business with what we are doing likewise us. PDP is peaceful,” Udeogu maintained.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune
Pat Okpala
October 18, 2021 at 1:49 pmThe statements purported to be made by the Governor smarks of dictatorship. Umahi’s position as the Governor of Ebonyi State is not a permanent position. He should use wisdom in handling inter and intra party issues.
One day, he will be outside looking inside of his current office. No condition is permanent.