Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Nweze Umahi has arrested some members of the state’s task force enforcing interstate lockdown for bribe taking.
The governor noted with displeasure the unbecoming attitudes of some Political Office Holders, Task Force members, Traditional Rulers, and Town Union Leaders towards the enforcement processes and laid down rules in our fight against Coronavirus Pandemic in the State
Illustratively, the Governor was on routine monitoring visit to Afikpo North and Ivo Local Local Government Areas on Saturday, 9th May 2020 between the hours of 6.30 pm and 12 mid night and noticed compromises by the Public Office Holders, Covid-19 Task Force, Traditional Rulers and Town Union Leaders at the borders and entry points, thereby giving way for the passengers from Epicentre States to come into Ebonyi State unchecked.
The Governor personaly intercepted over ten passenger vehicles with over 50 passengers coming from Abia, Rivers and Lagos States.
In a statement by Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji (Commissioner for Information and State Orientation and Ag Commissioner Human Capital Development and Monitoring), the few Taskforce members seen on the road took bribes and allowed the passengers to pass.
The Governor therefore had no option than to arrest those taking bribe at those borders and they are currently cooling -off at the COVID-19 Holding Centre in Abakaliki.
While in Ohaozara Local Government Area, the Governor observed that the Taskforce did a good job at the borders in the day but at night no one was seen on duty except the Army and a few youths in one location.
In another development, the Governor observed that Security shades are yet to be constructed at the borders in the said Local Government Areas contrary to his directive.
Consequently, the Governor has directed as follows:
1) The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development is to immediately account to the Governor before Wednesday morning , 13th May 2020, the monies released to each of the Local Government Councils for the Anti-Coronavirus Programme
2) The Governor is considering reviewing all appointments to ensure the retaintion of only those persons who have the capacity and will to sustain this fight to save our people from the scourge of Coronavirus Pandemic.
3) The Governor is perplexed by the attitudes of some Security Officials whose checks points are used to pass people into Ebonyi State despite all our efforts to motivate them in their professional duties especially in the face of this Pandemic.
4) All political appointees especially State Executive Council members are directed to move and secure their communities and ensure there are no more leakages at their borders.
5) All Development Centre Coordinators in Afikpo north and Ivo Local Government Areas are hereby suspended from office effective, Sunday, 10th May ,2020. They are to handover to member-one in their respective Development Centres including their official vehicles .
6) All political appointees from those two Local Government Areas are to remain on half salary until normalcy is returned, including all Traditional Rulers from Afikpo North and Ivo Local Government Areas.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary are to serve one month working suspension without salaries ,and if there is no improvement in the running of the Local Government Areas, they will be removed.
7) The Chairman and leadership of Ebonyi State Association of Town Unions is hereby suspended. The Governor will dissolve all town unions this month if the situation of border leakage does not improve.
8) Any state health worker that fails to be on his or her duty post from this Sunday, 10th of May 2020 shall lose his or her job.
9) The Governor sincerely appreciates some of the Council Chairmen, Development Centre Coordinators and Anti- Coronavirus Committee members that have made a difference in this fight against the deadly virus. In the days ahead he shall do more to secure the lives of our people.
10) The Governor therefore enjoins us all to take this fight against COVID-19- seriously to keep our people safe, while assuring the good of people of Ebonyi State of his commitment to victory over this Coronavirus Pandemic