The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has strongly condemned the recent dastardly attacks on several communities in Ebonyi state, even as it cautioned the perpetrators to give peace a chance.

The group described as “traumatic” for citizens and residents of Ebonyi state following reported cases of attacks on individuals and public facilities by some unknown gunmen.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday by its President Amb. Pascal Oluchchukwu, the group lamented the recent attacks came at a time when scores of lives had been lost to communal unrests and attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, saying “it is saddening that Ebonyi is yet another target for attacks by some unknown gunmen who are on Guerilla war with not just the Nigerian State but the South Eastern part of the country in particular.

“We, the Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora, AESID downrightly condemn in strongest terms the recent arson at the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, the killing of some soldiers at a checkpoint near Amasiri in Afikpo North LGA and the robbing of a commercial bank in Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state all in the past few days.

“It is our firm view that the growing ugly scenario is worse for our people who are yet battling with too many internal communal crises and conflicts.

“While we caution the perpetrators of these evil acts to desist forthwith for the sake of peace and development of our dear state, we also heap the blames at the door-steps of the leaders, particularly the Governor who is the Chief Security of the State for not acting swiftly and as promptly as had been expected of him.”

While cautioning the perpetrators and calling for total peace, AESID demanded explanation from the state governor on how the monthly security vote is being used.

“Governor Umahi, who incidentally leads the South-east Governors Forum appear to us from his unguarded utterances to have incited the fast-spreading attacks on Ebonyi and Ebonyians by these unknown gunmen.

“Else, how can we exonerate him from the blames when on his several appearances on national Televisions he has made unsubstantiated claims and assertions, boastful statements and threatened fire against some interest groups in the region even when wisdom demands otherwise? As a leader, Umahi in our overall estimation of his management of the ailing security architecture in the State has at best shown himself grossly incompetent, selfish and always bent on politicizing every issue in this very regard.

“Again, AESID would wish to know what Governor Umahi has been spending the Monthly security votes he receives from the centre on. Our people have already been through a lot in the areas of accountability in governance under his watch and it is our urge that he rises to the occasion in protecting the lives and property of our people.

“Violence is an ill wind that blows no one no good and we sincerely urge these unknown and desperate characters to desist from launching further onslaughts against the peaceful Ebonyi public!”

…Raises the alarm over plot to declare Oluchchukwu wanted

Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has asked Governor Dave Umahi, to tackle the insecurity situation in the state instead of the plot to arrest for trial the association’s President, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu.

The Ebonyi indigenous group said it is in possession of a audio clip where the state government had asked the security operative to declare Mr. Oluchchukwu wanted and effect his arrest for trial over a published open letter in a national daily regarding the killings in Effium, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.

In a statement released to newsmen Thursday in Abuja, AESID said sane minds had expected the state government to rejoind the said open letter with its own facts or counter proves rather than descend so low to harass security agencies to declare the leader of the group wanted.

“As a governance and accountability platform, we in AESID believe that the interest of truth and justice would be best served by truths and nothing but sincerity of purpose especially in managing the lingering Effium war and other communal unrests troubling the very soul of our dear state, not the resort to open or clandestine threats to the lives of Ebonyi citizens like our President willfull elected to not only ask questions and engage leaders in a democracy but even shoulder lots of the burden the government has elected to ignore.

We urge the security agencies in Ebonyi state to please jettison the rather hasty and irrational reactions cum conclusions of the government but rather focus their strengths and energy in bringing all those causing these delibitating unrests in Effium and indeed, our dear state in general to book.

We take this stand because we have known our President, Paschal Oluchukwu well enough and his track records are there for all to see.

“Ambassador Paschal is only deeply concerned just like the rest of ordinary Ebonyians that our once very peaceful Ebonyi has turned into a killing field while the government gallivants and prevaricates without seeking open-minded and credible solutions to these myriads of violence and insecurity in our land.”

While demanding for explanation within 24 hours on the allegation of bias in the lingering Effium carnages raised in the open letter, the group said such was necessary for the governor to clear his name and help in restoring peace in Effium and other parts of the state.

“Meantime, it is pertinent at this closing juncture to draw the attention of the Nigerian security apparatchik who were all duly copied the said Open letter to this latest threats and gimmicks of Governor Umahi to silence those calling for accountability in democratic setting.

“The Nigerian government and the whole world should hold Umahi and his agents responsible, should any harm befall our dear capacity President, his family and or relatives including his businesses home and abroad, for we believe at all times that the primary purpose of government is the protection of lives and property of citizens.”

Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) has called on all the security agencies to urgently mop up all the illegal arms and ammunition in the hands of unauthorised persons, especially political thugs in the state.

The association revealed that it has gotten information on how some top politicians have shared illegal weapons for some political thugs to cause mayhem in the state.

In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja by the AESID President, Paschal Oluchukwu, urged the security agencies to step their game in protecting innocent citizens and opposition elements in Ebonyi state.

“We urge the new IGP to kindly investigate these allegations and not only recover such arms from such unauthorized citizens but also adequately protect the lives snd businesses of opposition leaders and members and indeed, all those opposition political parties in Ebonyi from the planned onslaught against them.

“We therefore urge the security agencies in the state to act professionally and protect all citizens of the state from the common internal and external aggressors cum attackers. For as we have always maintained, Ebonyi will yet exist beyond the over 700 days that Governor Umahi has to stay put in the Government House, Abakaliki.

“The Governor and his so-called ruling party should therefore learn to live, and let live and learn how to face governance and accountability to the people, not playing politics with every matter, no matter how delicate or life threatening there may be.”

The group said it condemn the recent view expressed on a national Television by a Commissioner for Border and Internal Security, Stanley Okoro, where he alleged blamed the worsening insecurity in the state on the opposition leaders.

“Like the proverbial bad carpenter who often blames the nails and never the hammer for all his woes, Okoro Emegha was only concerned about absolving his paymaster from the blames of insecurity in Ebonyi and setting up leaders of opposition for violent attacks from the agencies of government.

“AESID outrightly condemns this posture of a government that has only given Ebonyians the pains and agonies of blood-letting attacks since it claimed to have connected the state to the centre.”