By Oginyi Nkechinyere
Youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State on Monday said Ebubeagu, the South-East Security outfit was formed to ensure the protection of lives and property of the people of the region and not to witch-hunt political enemies.
The APC youths also faulted the claims of PDP Federal lawmakers from Ebonyi State led by the state former governor, Senator Sam Egwu, that the security outfit was being used to track down perceived political opponents in the state.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Abakiliki, the state capital, Ebonyi APC leader, Comrade Ogochukwu Elem, said those opposed to the operations of Ebubeagu in the state should be investigated for the current state of insecurity in the state.
They condemned attacks on Governor Umahi by the PDP lawmakers and, demanded for an apology from the lawmakers within 48 hours.
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He urged the lawmakers to be patriotic in reacting to security issues in the state as the unity of Ebonyi state is not negotiable. Adding that the Ebubeagu outfit was for the good interest of all Ebonyians and southeast in general.
“We are deeply appalled by the brazenness of this clique of a renegade in the National Assembly working assiduously to truncate the existing peace in Ebonyi State. They need not be told that the unity and progress of Ebonyi State are not negotiable.
“Therefore, the activities of the PDP National Assembly Members are nothing but an idle mind and irresponsible alarmists hoping to profit from a fictional state of anarchy.
“Every right-thinking Nigerian is abreast with the challenging security situation in the country. Since the outburst of insecurity Nationwide, the PDP National Assembly Members in Ebonyi rather than show love to the devasted persons around their villages demonstrated a very high level of unpatriotic, irresponsible, and insensitivity to the plights of the people.
“They have never shown any concern as leaders who were elected by the people, not even a bag of any kind of food came from them as a palliative to commiserate with the people who were mercilessly maimed, brutalized, and killed.
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“Let it be known to Dr. Sam Egwu led National Assembly PDP Caucus that Ebubeagu, is a collective initiative of the South East Governor’s Forum to checkmate crimes and criminalities across the States of the southeast geopolitical Zone. It is a replica of the South West Amotekun.
“Suffice to say that Ebubagu has come to stay in Ebonyi State and southeast geopolitical Zone and its operational mechanism has been severally applauded by major stakeholders, Security experts, and the PDP itself.
“Those who are opposed to the formation and operational mechanism of Ebubeagu should be properly investigated to know their respective roles in the funding of criminal elements against the State.
“Perhaps, because of the naivety of the PDP National Assembly Members towards the overall welfare of Ebonyi State, they did not know that all the personnel of Ebubeagu in Ebonyi State has undergone series of training and all members are well documented. The record is domiciled in the Ministry of Internal Security for verification.
“At this juncture, we call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies to urgently consider probing the rots in the use of constituency project funds in Ebonyi State to bring equilibrium and moderation to public finances.
“Let it be known to all, that all those who masquerade today as champions of PDP especially in the National Assembly have deeply benefitted from the Governor but because the Governor resisted their questionable desperation to acquire power at the expense of the popular appeal of Ebonyi people, they resorted to blackmail and character assassination just to distract attention.
“We find it very sad and utterly deplorable that the PDP NASS Members resorted to shameless wolf-crying, peddling of arrant falsehood and denigration of the elected government of their fatherland in furtherance of their selfish quest for continued political relevance.
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“Governor Umahi’s silence over the ceaseless attacks on him by the PDP in the State has further portrayed him as a patriotic leader whose determination to ensure the safety of everyone irrespective of tribe, religion, and cultural belief is immeasurable.
“He has demonstrated his commitment to National unity, therefore associating him with such primitive and undemocratic practices is a calculated attempt to defame the image of the governor in a bid to attract political relevance.
“The PDP and her NASS Members in the State should understand that no one achieves fame through loquaciousness and demeaning the image of his benefactor.
“We call on them to refrain from such attitude and tender unreserved apologies to Governor David Umahi, the government and people of Ebonyi State within 48 hours of this address, or else we shall publish all the funds released by the federal government to them for constituency projects to enable Ebonyians to juxtapose those projects (if any) with the appropriated fund”.
