The All Progressives Grand Alliance Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State,Prof Benard Odoh, has described Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, as lacking human feeling.
Speaking in an interview on a national television, on Thursday, Odoh accused the governor of stiffling opposition parties in the state.
He alleged that the Umahi-led administration had done all manner of things to stop me, including assasination attempt on his life.
”I am in this race because I believe I have something to offer our people and because the government of the day is scared of my emergence, they have done all kind of things to stop me, including assasination attempt. Two officers working with me have been killed”.
Speaking further, Prof. Odoh who was the former Secretary to the State Government cleared the air on the rift between him and the governor.
”Between 29 May 2015 and 2nd of April I served under Gov. Dave Umahi’ administration, we argued for over 3 years and constantly differ on policy direction. Why did I differ with him? My idea of governance was to improve the well being of the people. I had looked forward to policy issues that will better the life of our people.
‘There is Insecurity, killings and communal war in Ebony state. There is undue government interferrence in the lives of our people. The government wants to install all leadership in public and public spheres of the state. Communal crisis is at its highest record in Ebonyi’s history. People were killed in such a phnomenal way in the last 7 years. Ebubeagu was a major menace until the court disbanded them. But the governor went ahead to set up another one he called Neighbourhood Watch. They are stockpiling every community with arms. They are threatening people everyday that if you are not going to vote APC, you are going to be hunted and shot at. Ebonyi is hostile now to all of us.
“I don’t have any personal matter against the governor. I value and appreciate that he gave me opportunity to serve. But my loyalty is first to the people, not to the governor. Let the governor allow us to operate.This is democracy. Even under the military, it wasn’t this way in Ebonyi state”.
On why he is in the race to Ebonyi Government House, the APGA candidate said, ‘I am running because I have the exposure, training and competence to provide governance that will improve the lives of our people. Ebonyi people understand what they need and know who can best address their needs”.
Furthermore, Prof. Odoh, said the police statement that declared him and nine others wanted over the murder of the raditional ruler of Umuezeokaoha community in the Ezza North Local Government Area of the state, HRH (Eze) Igboke Ewa, was strange.
This was as he alleged that the real reason the police brought him into its wanted list was to scuttle his chances of winning the governorship election in the state.
He denied the allegation, reiterating that the late traditional ruler was his father and supporter, saying it was ludicrous for anybody to link him to the dastardly incident.
Prof. Odoh disclosed that he has already obtained an Order from the High Court, Owerri in No: HOW/194/2023 dated 3rd day of March 2023 restraining the police and other security agencies from harassing or arresting him until the matter brought before the court is determined by the court.
He further revealed that the IGP and other security agencies have been served with the court order accordingly, adding that the IGP upon being served the said order stopped all actions in the matter in respect to the Court.
He, however, regretted that the CP Ebonyi State who is under the IGP continued to take further action in the matter contrary to the order of Court.
He alleged the CP has withdrawn the policemen attached to him, leaving him without any police protection.
The APGA gubernatorial candidate noted that the Department of State Services has assured him that they will send their men to protect him.
It would be recalled that hoodlums, last week, reportedly killed the traditional ruler of Umuezeokaoha community in the Ezza North Local Government Area of the state, HRH (Eze) Igboke Ewa, for supporting ‘a particular’ political party.
Odoh hails from this same community.
The Ebonyi State Government fingered him in the monarch’s death, leading to the Ebonyi State Police Command, declaring him and nine of his supporters wanted on Monday.
