The people of Isuokoma community of Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State have raised the alarm alleging plot by Governor Dave Umahi to eliminate their kinsman and PDP guber candidate Chief Ifeanyi Odii.
In a statement made available to newsmen, leaders of the community expressed worry of what they termed “persistent unveiled verbal attacks and threats to the life of our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, by the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi.
“Governor Umahi has, in various forms and forums, glaringly demonstrated crass hatred and animosity against Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, following his aspiration and subsequent nomination as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial standard bearer in the 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi State.
“We had ignored and taken with a pinch of salt the unprovoked dehumanizing jibes aimed at Dr. Odii by Engr. Umahi. We continually dismissed Governor Umahi’s aspersions on the personality of Chief Odii as the ranting and whining of an uncomfortable player in a tough contest.
“There is no doubt that the recent outburst of Governor Umahi against security chiefs and agencies in Ebonyi State, in which he threatened to block and attack the convoys of opposition candidates in the State, was clearly targeted at our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
“We are aware that Engr. Umahi has, in his characteristic manner, commanded the security agencies in the State to withdraw the security personnel attached to opposition candidates.
“We see this as the Governor’s desperate attempt to clear his way to have an easy ride to kill our son, High Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii. This latest show of acrimony jolted us to consciousness to give the Governor’s machination and treachery the deserved serious attention, consideration and publicity.
“It is no longer news that Governor Dave Umahi formed the Ebubeagu militia which he has utilized as a political tool to cow opposition to submission in order to perpetuate his unpopular political influence in Ebonyi State.
“From the build up to Governor Umahi’s first tenure in office as Governor till now, murder is a recurrent decimal in Ebonyi State. Many people were gruesomely murdered in 2022 in Isuokoma, including the Palace Secretary, Chief Odii Nwachima; the President-General of Isuokoma Town Uninion, Dr. Ifeanyi Anthony Orji; Alhaji Iyioji, an Islamic cleric from Isuokoma; Chief Augustine Nwadibia, the owner of Galaxy Hotel at Nkwoagu Isu market; among others. Mr. Henry Ezeani, one of the security aides to High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, was also murdered in the bloody attack at Galaxy Hotel Nkwoagu Isu. The king of Isu community, HRH Ambrose Ogbu, and Mrs. Juliana Uzor were also kidnapped in 2022 and they are still missing many months after their abduction.
“The sobering but revealing reality is that these murders and cases of kidnapping happened in Isuokoma when it became clear that our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii was waxing strong enough to clinch the governorship ticket of the PDP.
“It is also worrisome that the Engr. Umahi-led government of Ebonyi State has not made any effort to investigate the murders and cases of Kidnapping in Isuokoma in 2022, especially the murder of Dr. Ifeanyi Anthony Orji, who was the President-General of Isuokoma Town Union, and HRH Ambrose Ogbu, the king of Isu Community. This is disturbing.
“We are aware that when three persons were recently murdered at Ekoli Edda, Governor Umahi quickly instituted a commission of inquiry to investigate the murders. The Governor also mobilized the security agencies that arrested the alleged masterminds of the Ekoli Edda murders, including the Ebonyi State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a House of Representatives candidate of the Governor’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Why is the case of Isuokoma different?
“It is important to note that Isuokoma gave Engr. Dave Umahi the highest support in terms of funding and votes, when he contested the governorship elections in 2015 and 2019. It was our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, that led the mobilization of support for Engr. Dave Umahi’s governorship bid across the length and breadth of Ebonyi State. Why can’t Governor Umahi reciprocate our kindness to him?
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) gives every eligible citizen of Nigeria the opportunity for political participation. Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii has the constitutional right to contest the governorship of Ebonyi State.
“The political space in Nigeria is wide and large enough for anybody to roll, without inflicting pains on other persons. It will be primitive and gross crudity for Governor Umahi to see the governorship ambition of Chief Odii as a reason to subject Isuokoma to untold hardship.
“It is worthy of note that Governor Umahi is from Uburu, a neighbouring community to Isuokoma. Isuokoma and Uburu have treated each other with kindness right from time immemorial. Governor Dave Umahi has benefitted maximally from this historical fact, especially in terms of political gains, given the huge voting strength of Isuokoma. Unfortunately, Governor Umahi’s anti Isu posturing is seriously threatening the good neighbourliness between Isu and Uburu.
“We, therefore, call on Uburu community to urgently call their son, Engr. Dave Umahi, to order.
“Governor Dave Umahi’s attacks on High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii smack of political desperation, hypocrisy and jealousy. We have never negotiated and do not intend to negotiate with Governor Umahi to support Chief Odii’s governorship ambition. Engr. Umahi is free to constitutionally pursue his political ambition and support any candidate of his choice within the ambit of the law.
“He should, therefore, allow Dr. Odii to legitimately pursue his political ambition. Enough of this hatred! We can no longer condone it. We cannot keep quiet to allow Governor Umahi to destroy our illustrious son, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, who is the leading candidate in the 2023 governorship race in Ebonyi State. This is a desperate attempt to consign Isuokoma to the political waste bin.
“We, therefore, call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director General of State Security Services, Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Director of State Security and other security agencies to speedily come to our rescue to save High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii and the entire people of Isuokoma from the destructive tendencies of Governor David Nweze Umahi. We have lived in fear for too long; the fear of Governor Umahi and his political bulldogs! Save us now!”
Those who signed the petition include Mr. John Nnanna Njoku, President-General of Isuokoma, Mr. Sunday Igne, Youth President of Isuokoma, Chief Tony Anoke, Diaspora Leader of Isuokoma, Chief Augustine Chigbo Okoro, Coordinator of Isuokoma West Africa and Barr. Obasi Livinus Onu, Abakaliki Branch Chairman of Isu Okoma.
