By Kenneth Onuoha
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Sunday, November 29, 2020, disclosed that the state government borrowed a sum of N800 million, to offset the payment of November salaries to civil servants in the state.
Umahi made the disclosure at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Abakaliki, the state capital, while hosting the All Progressives Congress (APC), stakeholders.
He blamed the political class for the prevailing economic downturn in the country.
“The backwardness of the state is caused by leaders. we do not tell our followers the truth; leaders who only take care of themselves”
“This is end times as predicted in the Bible, the situation in Nigeria is totally because of bad leadership. Ebonyi State Government borrowed the sum of N800 million to pay salary of November 2020.
“I want to challenge people holding political positions to help the downtrodden members of the society; we must brace up.”
He asked some leaders from the state who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to shun acts that could lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.
“Many politicians have been defecting from one political party to the other, why is Ebonyi Representatives in the National Assembly making my own case an issue? ”
He said that his administration cannot be distracted even in the face of provocation, emphasising that all projects embarked upon by his administration would be completed before the end of his tenure.
Umahi attributed the disagreement between him and members of the National Assembly from Ebonyi State to his refusal to yield to their demands of producing the next governor of the state come 2023.
In a communique made available to newsmen at the end of the meeting , the APC stalwarts in the state reiterated their resolve to back the governor’s recent defection to APC.
The APC leaders urged members of the National Assembly from the state to join Governor Umahi in his new party in order to put the state on the path of speedy development.
In attendance at the meeting were the state Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, local government chairmen, members of the state executive council, coordinators, liaison officers, management committee members and the federal lawmaker representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, Comrade Chinedu Ogah among others.