Ebonyi Does Not Have Undistributed Palliatives – Umahi
After reported breaking of ware houses by hoodlums in some states of the federation in search of Covid-19 palliatives donated by federal government to states, Ebonyi state governor, David Nweze Umahi, on Tuesday, said the state does not have unshared COVID-19 palliatives.
Umahi spoke in Abakaliki during a state wide broadcast on the invasion of hoodlums, which has crippled business and other economic activities in the state.
Hoodlums, on Monday, invaded the state, set the Central Police Station, CPS, Onu Ebonyi, Abakaliki, ablaze and allegedly killed some police officers on duty, as well as traders from international market, who were hit by stray bullets.
Report have it that the suspected hoodlums were led by two dismissed police officers from the command, who were also gunned down by the police while exchanging bullets with them.
The governor explained that the state spent billions buying palliatives, which were shared polling units by polling units, irrespective of political alliances. He said: “We have shared all palliatives we bought for our people. You are aware that we spent billions buying palliatives, which we shared to you, polling unit by polling unit, irrespective of political alliances. We reached over 600,000 Ebonyians, including those in Lagos and Abuja, the little one left now is for our Ebonyi state university students, who were not in session.
“School has resumed; they have started carrying their items, the only items left are being taken now by students, and they are 50 bags of just 10kg rice, 200 bags of 20kg rice, 1,500 cartons of tin tomatoes, 2000 gallons of oil, 2000 cartons of noodles and these items for the students put together is not up to what we gave to polling units.
“We do not have any palliatives unshared. We have gone ahead with both the state and local government to make provision for the second phase of palliative slated for December”.
While sympathizing with victims of the CPS attack, he assured that the state would compensate all families whose loved ones were either injured or killed during by the invasion. He pleaded with the suspected hoodlums killing people in the name of IPOB to withdraw peacefully to their houses and allow peace to rain in the state.
He added: ”Let me apologise to you all for the crippling of our state activities by criminals and hoodlums, who came to loot and kill our people yesterday, Monday, 26th October, 2020. I offer my sincere condolences to security agents and traders, who lost their lives yesterday, when these criminals entered the state.
“On Tuesday, the 20th of October, 2020, those who invaded our state and destroyed our infrastructure came from outside. Yesterday, Monday, 26th October, 2020, those who came are Ebonyians from a particular village and a local government in the name of IPOB.
“We know these people; we know their fathers. Same people that abducted some policemen, who were on peace mission in their community sometime last year; even though the policemen were later released by my intervention. I have offered details here, so that you understand that we know you very well, and you are responsible for the killing and looting in your state, using the cover of IPOB. I refuse to buy into this, as a criminal is a criminal and criminality is criminality.
“I, therefore, appreciate our security agencies for their maturity and listening ear to me yesterday, not to retaliate. However, it is unconventional for people to invade a police station, burn the police station, kill the police people and take their guns. It is uncommon for you to attack the army, who were protecting you, strategic government assets too and yet, they remain unprovoked. Security agencies in the state have asked me to please plead with you to stop attacking them and burning their stations.
“Let me assure Ebonyians that more security agencies were deployed from outside the state last night and they have been deployed to protect you. Social-economic activities in Ebonyi state must return; now, go about your normal businesses in peace.
”To our children, who are hiding under IPOB to kill us, we do not deserve it; our government has done its best to give you good governance. Where we have failed as human beings, I here again, offer my apologies with a firm offer and promise to make amends with your inputs. Today, I plead with these young hoodlums killing us in the name of IPOB to withdraw peacefully to their houses. Security agencies must please, give them peace to do so. They must be allowed free access to return to their communities.”
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