BORDER CLOSURE: GOV. UMAHI GOES TOUGH, SUSPENDS POLITICAL APPOINTEES FOR NEGLIGENCE

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has ordered the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Samuel Okoronkwo as well as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry to proceed on one month working suspension without salary.

Chief Umahi gave the order due to failure by the Local Government Authorities and Community Leaders in Ivo and Ohaozara Local Government Areas to secure their boundary areas at night.

Governor Umahi who made unscheduled visit to both boundary areas on Saturday night explained that he arrested fifty passengers on board ten commercial buses from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Aba.

Chief Umahi observed that the vehicles were allowed to come into Ebonyi after those at the boundary areas collected bribe from them, noting that the culprits were also arrested and sent to with holding centre in Abakaliki.

He blamed the development on lack of commitment by the Ministry of Local Government and gave the Commissioner three days to account for Fifteen million Naira released to each Local Government Chairman in the State.

He also suspended all Development Centre Coordinators in Ivo and Ohaozara Local Government Areas as well as placed all political appointees including Traditional Rulers from the two affected areas on half salary till adequate security was restored in the border areas.

Governor Umahi said he would consider recruiting boys to secure the borders from one hundred and forty Autonomous communities in the State and streamline his appointments accordingly.

AMECHI ODO