Ex-Ebonyi governor rejects N29m car, blasts at his successor

– Martin Elechi, the former govenor of Ebonyi state has rejected N29m SUV from his successor David Umahi

– The ex-governor has also rebuked Mr Umahi for the denigrating campaign against him and his term in office

–  The Save Ebonyi Network group has condemned the gift of cars, describing it as a waste of public funds

Martin Elechi, the former governor of Ebonyi state, has rejected Toyota V8 SUV presented to him as a gift by his successor David Umahi.

Premium Times reports that the state government, with the approval of the State’s House of Assembly, had purchased four SUVs for former governors of the state at the cost of N29 million each.

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Among the beneficiaries were Mr Elechi, ex-governor Sam Egwu, old Abia state former governor Ogbonnaya Onu and a former Senate president Pius Anyim.

The car gifts were meant to show the respect and “recognition of their role in promotion of democracy in Ebonyi state and for meritorious services in that regard.”

However, Mr. Elechi doubted that the present local government honestly wished to honour his achievements in the office and rejected the car.

The ex-governor stressed that Umahi started the defamatory campaign against him and expressed his perplexity with the fact that the same government refused to pay his entitlements and severance package but found money to buy the car for him.

His statement reads in part: “Let me remind you that for the past twelve (12) months, I have not been paid my salaries and second term severance allowance. These are my entitlements under the law of Ebonyi State; they are not a favour. But of what use is this practice of sending seasonal gifts to a man who is being hounded and denied of his lawful official entitlements?

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I have no doubt that I made an impressive impact in Ebonyi State in manpower development with institutional reforms, attitudinal change philosophy, and infrastructural development. Your Excellency will also recall that when I brought you on board in 2011 as my Deputy, we made you the Chairman of the Executive Council Committee on Inspection. You never criticized or condemned the need, quality, or pricing of any project.

But with your assumption of office on 29th May, 2015, every one of my projects had become a subject of public ridicule, outrage and outright condemnation. The only exception is probably the ultra-modern digital radio and television complex which I conceived of and completed from scratch to finish.

It is not condemned or criticized because it is an organ by which I am regularly vilified and rubbished. The permanent secretaries I appointed and/or trained have been swept out of office for no known reason. Ebonyi State is today the only state being governed without permanent secretaries.”

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As if the bad verdict on projects is not enough, there is the saga of malicious and false petitions against me and two of my children to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)… This is courtesy of Your Excellency’s ingenuity with your team players. 

Why have I chosen to go down memory lane even though the issues raised above are only a tip of the iceberg? With so much calumny, character defamation and outpouring of invectives and unabated fresh petitions swelling up to the anti-graft agency on weekly basis, why am I considered worthy to receive a State’s honour?

Where and what are those “Meritorious services” that justify my consideration for a gift of car, when I am being hounded day and night with my children? Is this not the height of contradictions? As if the bad verdict on projects is not enough, there is the saga of malicious and false petitions against me and two of my children to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)… This is courtesy of Your Excellency’s ingenuity with your team players.

Why have I chosen to go down memory lane even though the issues raised above are only a tip of the iceberg? With so much calumny, character defamation and outpouring of invectives and unabated fresh petitions swelling up to the anti-graft agency on weekly basis, why am I considered worthy to receive a State’s honour? Where and what are those.”

More details at Premium Times.

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