The title of the publication was designed to portray the Executive Governor,Engr David Nweze Umahi in bad light over an incidence where his life was in obvious danger.
His Excellency was approaching the State capital, Abakaliki when he encountered a barrier set up by unknown persons at Onicha Local Government. According to unconfirmed reports, the barrier may have been set up to curb traffick flow towards the venue of a wake keep ceremony.
His Excellency had observed the very slow response of the community in dismantling the barricade for the Governor's further movement. Suffice it to say that , the Governor was in the very know that such was a usual practice in Igbo land.
In the long wait, miscreants approached one of the Governor's security vehichles and made away with a firearm to the amazement of security details.
In displeasure, the Governor who was irked by disrespect and dishonor extended to the Office of the Ebonyi State Governor condenmed such act of brigandage and criminality calling for the prosecution of the culprits and with no references to the good people of Ebonyi State.
It is unfortunate that the online publication chose the title 'Umahi to Ebonyians: Block my convoy again, get killed' in flagrant disregard to essential professional codes of Journalism practice.
His Excellency, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE will never address Ebonyi people in such a language, more so in a circumstance of misconduct creditable to a few disgruntled criminals within a community.
The Ebonyi State Government urges the editorial board of the online publication to uphold the highest standards in the filing of reports prior to circulation in the social media.
The Ebonyi State Government and the Office of the Governor has been inundated with calls for the contextual clarification of the online report and ceases this opportunity to assure the good people of Ebonyi State that the Governor was simply worries that ordinary law abiding citizens may be in more danger if an elected Governor was subjected to the inhuman treatment from some criminal youths.
His Excellency, Engr. David Nweze Umahi further reiterates his calls to security agencies to apprehend all those who were involved in the forceful withdrawal of firearms belonging to security details attached to the Governor for onward prosecution.
Furthermore, the Ebonyi State Government wishes to emphasise that in line with extant regulations, the Executive Governor is protected by the Nigerian State and attacks or threat to the safety and security of life of the Governor will be resisted by members of security agencies deployed to ensure his safety.
Note must be made that the entire security detail of an elected Governor is controlled by the Aide de Camp who may discretionally apply brute force or otherwise at the face of threat to life of the Governor. This is applicable to all elected Governors of States in Nigeria.
As was not reported by the online publication, no amount of brute force was applied by the security details even at the face of such a maximum criminality of forceful siezure of firearms deployed to protect an elected Governor.
The Ebonyi State Government will continue to encourage all citizens and law abiding members of the general public to continue to support and cooperate with His Excellency, Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi in the task of eliminating all forms of criminality and brigandage within Ebonyi State.
Members of the public with useful information regarding ugly and unauthorised gatherings of cultists and criminals are encouraged to contact the Nigerian Police for the safety of all.
Francis Nwaze
Special Assistant to the Governor on
New Media
7th October, 2019
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