The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi says tact, and not heaping verbal abuse on President Muhammadu Buhari, governors and other leaders, will help the South-East realise its demands from the Federal Government.
He spoke on Saturday at the grand finale of the state’s 7-day prayer and fasting at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
Condemning the incessant attacks on police formations in the state and the South-East, Umahi called on those fomenting trouble to desist from such acts.
Umahi stated that while there were merits in their agitations, their demands could not be achieved through hurlings insults at everyone else.
The governor said that peaceful co-existence would engender national development.
He said that his administration remained committed to empowering more than 3,000 youths of Ebonyi origin whether within or outside the state, including repentant bandits.
“We are fully fortified by God. There are no checkpoints again in Ebonyi. We cannot overemphasize the benefits of prayers.
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“We have set up peace and reconciliation committee. I believe in a united Nigeria. I don’t believe any section is better than any other. Let us surrender to our leaders. There are lots of merits in the agitation. We can’t achieve it by abusing the President, Governors and other leaders.
“Why are we killing security agencies and burning police stations. Our people are the ones burning police stations and killing security agencies. Most of the security agents being killed are from the South East. We have brought war to ourselves.
“Nobody has the capacity to come and kill us here. We are the only region that is at war with itself. And we pretend. We are the architecture of our problems. When war starts, the situation will become different. No place will be the same. No herdsmen will make attempt to kill us again.
“Herdsmen must conform to the culture of the people. Never again to such killing. Let them not try it again. That rubbish must stop. This madness in this country must stop. We must not be ashamed to borrow fighter jets from other African countries.
“This nonsense must stop. There’s no patriotism. Nobody is demanding the accountability of the ones we have stayed. The situation calls for repentance. This situation must not continue. No foundation was laid for the future generations.
“How can we allow foreign herders to be coming into Nigeria. This thing must stop. Leaders defend bandits in the North and nobody is calling them to order. We know our problem. Nobody will love us more than ourselves. The empowerment of 3000 youths will be in May/June.
“I’m not increasing any salary. There should be no strike by the judiciary or legislature. I will like to engage the opposition parties.
“I’m ready to meet with NGOs and other unions, farmers and traders which will culminate into a large town hall meeting at the stadium.”
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