A Chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Ebonyi State, Mazi Alex Okemiri has
urged political leaders in Ebonyi State to kick-start the process of
shopping for a candidate that will replace Governor Dave Umahi in 2019.
Okemiri who described Umahi’s two years in government as “a total failure
and disservice to the good people of Ebonyi State”, accused the governor
of initiating cosmetic and white elephant projects to the detriment of
welfare of the masses.
The Ohanaeze chieftain stated that “Ebonyi State Government has more value
and regard for traffic lights than on the citizens.
“The Government uses over N60m to service traffic lights monthly but
spends nothing to empower the people.”
He claimed that instead of helping businesses to grow, the government was
killing them with multiple taxation and was also operating as a family
business.
According to Okemiri, “businesses are being stifled in Ebonyi; they are
shutting down in droves. Multiple taxation has become the bane of doing
business in Ebonyi.
“No wonder investors are now running away. Even petty traders are not left
out. A woman with N500 worth of vegetable is being forced to cough out
N150, leaving her with a balance of N350 to take care of her family. This
is unacceptable.
“As it stands today in Ebonyi, it has become the more you look, nothing
you see. There is no important project going on in our dear State, yet
some people go around making questionable endorsements.
“Poverty indices in Ebonyi is over 80 percent and this has pushed our
people into become laughing stock across the country. A visit to any state
across the country will show that our people have nothing doing except to
work as okada riders, maids, and other menial jobs to eke out a living.
“To this end, we are saying that enough is enough; this government should
get ready to vacate in 2019. There will be vacancy in Ebonyi government
House in 2019. We call on various stakeholders, religious leaders,
political and traditional leaders to commence a meticulous search for
Umahi’s replacement in 2019.
“Effort should be made to get a candidate who will carry everybody along
and not one who will turn the State into family business. There is no
better way to describe a government without direction.”