GOV UMAHI SPITS FIRE, VOWS TO DRAG FORMER SSG, BEN ODOH TO COURT

OTU OBIAHU

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi has vowed to drag the former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyichukwu Odoh to court.

Governor Umahi made this known in Abakaliki during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Hyginus Nwokwu, to replace Prof. Bernard Odoh.

Prof. Ben Odoh had on Monday 2nd April, 2018, tendered his resignation letter to Gov. Umahi over alleged government’s inconsistent policies, plight of government workers, oppression of the Exco members, among others. But the governor in a reaction said the letter was revoked and Odoh had been sacked, as he maintained that the letter was written on a public holiday.

The governor further stated that he would take time to review Odoh’s resignation letter and then probe the allegations made against him in the letter by the ex-SSG.

It was also gathered that the governor had determined to bring up an alleged murder case against the former SSG.
Umahi said, “I will find out if he breached his oath of office through the contents of the letter and challenge him in court to prove all the allegations he made.
“I know that no civil servant is being owed in the state for instance and we ranked among the states in the South East zone that prioritised our worker’s welfare”.

Governor Umahi noted that he will not be distracted by Odoh’s action, which he described as betrayal, adding that those who wanted to tow the line of betrayal were free to do so.

He added, “When I received the heaviest dose of betrayal in 2015, I had no Executive Council, House of Assembly and even SSG to say the least but presently these organs are in place.
“I am sure to have at least five faithful followers in an EXCO of 60 and will therefore not retreat or surrender”.

He congratulated the new appointee and noted that it was a decision that has made a lot of people happy.

“Nwokwu is the Deputy Director of our divine mandate platform and though he was denied of choice appointments and elevations in the past, he never complained.
“I did not know that he is as popular as this and this is an opportunity for all of us to work together,” he said.

Nwokwu in his reaction, said that he accepted the appointment wholeheartedly and pledged to discharge his duties with dedication.
“A man who does not belong to a set-up is a weed, no matter how genuine he might appear.
“When the weed is cleared, the soil would receive more nutrients and we should therefore not allow saboteurs to be part of our generals,” he said.

From the view of things that had unfolded and that are yet to unfold since Prof. Odoh’s resignation letter was submitted, most Ebonyians believe that the ‘Crushing and Grinding Machinery’ of the governor is now switched on.