Who is the Ebonyi Armed Robber?

By Lucky Agbo Just last week, the Ebonyi state governor, Chief Martin Elechi, on the occasion of solidarity rally for President GoodlucK Jonathan's second

term bid inferred that but for his choice candidate for the

governorship slot, the other aspirants are armed robbers. That was in

an event at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, broadcast live on radio

and television stations. We, the concerned Ebonyi Youth Organisation (EYO), a coalition of

youth bodies for the Ebonyi 2015 governorship aspirants have since

the remark been thrown aback, recalling what our dear State has been

going through with a view to ascertaining who has of a truth robbed

our state. The recount has put to question certain acts and schemes that had all

along been left asleep. 1.We are at a loss as to how the Ofurekpe water scheme embarked upon

by the Governor Elechi-led administration at its inception in 2007

flew from the estimated cost of one billion naira (NIb) to N7.8b. Even

as one could accept that there could be cases of variations, how could

it be that even with such differentials, there is no hope of drinking

water from the scheme till the end of this administration as nothing

again is being done on the project to justify such expenditure of the

Ebonyi people's fund? The Governor had on the floor of the 24-member

Ebonyi State House of Assembly apologised for his failed promise that

our people would drink water from the scheme last year. Is someone

taking his people for a ride? 2. A multi-million naira rice parboiling machine meant for the

none-functional billion naira rice mills is still missing without any

admissible account but deceit that the machine was on the high seas

towards Nigeria. Can the ship arrive before May 29th 2015?

3.For what reason was the Abakaliki/Enugu expressway which the

federal government awarded to the renowned SETRACO construction firm

has a section of it terminated and re-awarded by a state government

that cries of porosity of funds. Now the project has been abandoned.

Is anybody playing games? 4.The NIGERCEM, Nkalagu, the foremost cement manufacturing firm in

the south East geo-political zone of Nigeria was at least operational

during the previous administration of Dr. Sam OminyinEgwu but went

moribund shortly after Chief Elechi took over as the governor of the

state. Those who laboured to rehabilitate the firm have been

unreservedly frustrated and traditional rulers who welcomed them have

been dethroned by the incumbent administration. What could be the

reasons for these but the intransient economic and political interests

of the government whose allies and siblings are believed to be the

Directors and benefactors of the death of the NIGERCEM?

5.M&J Construction firm has Handled about half of the contracts

awarded to local contactors since the inception of this

administration. A reveal of who own the company would explain why

shoddy jobs could have been granted certificates of completion and the

poor tax payers' money released to them. 6. Worst still, the demand of N15billion from the Nigerrian Stock

Exchange by the Elechi-led administratiin has thrown spanners into the

wheels of the state polity degenerating to alleged impeachments and

counter impeachment in the state House of Assembly, merely because

some persons including the Speaker of the House have call on the

executive arm of the government to explain how the first Bond of N16.5

billion was spent without any evident success in the execution of the

projects it was tied to. Does anybody want to further mortgage the

state? 7.Obviously, answers to these few questions would tell us who is

robbing Ebonyi State as the quest to contest elections to serve a

people has remained a constitute, not armed robbery in any part of the

world. God shall save us and bless us with the leaders we need.

Agbo writes from Abakaliki The post Who is the Ebonyi Armed Robber? appeared first on Pointblank News .