Polls: Gov Umahi Warns Political Leaders Against Inflammatory Statement

From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi has cautioned every political leaders against making inciting statements that would trigger demonstration. Umahi gave the warning during his Tuesday broadcast at the Governor lodge, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki. The state governor who was speaking at the heels of the responses coming from the candidates and leaders of the opposition parties following the outcomes of the Saturday's polls in the State. "Let me appeal to the political leaders and candidates to stop making incitive statements, to stop inciting the people by importing them to start demonstrations. "We know those who are doing this and the state will hold them responsible. This time around, if you have problems with the elections just like I have in some polling units in the south, north and central, what we have done is compile the polling units, and made our reports to the security agencies and INEC; not taking the law into our hands or start inciting people to begin demonstrations," Umahi said. He emphasized the need for every political leader and candidates in the state to observe some restraints especially in desisting from promoting inciting statements just because of their ill feelings about the outcomes of the Saturday's polls. "Every political leader should exercise some restraints because if you put up a fire, you wouldn't know how far the fire will go. There is also a provision in the electoral act which states that results will be reviewed by the INEC, the security agencies and the court are there. There are a lot of legitimate means to lay our complaints more than inciting our people to begin demonstrations which may lead them into killings and chaos," he observed. Umahi also urged the security agencies in Ebonyi to play the highest sense of neutrality in partisan politics, as the state waits for the 11th march polls. The Ebonyi State governor who is also the Chairman of the South East Governors' Forum, urged the people in the region and other parts of the country, to remain calm as he had reached out to the relevant leaders to ensure the security of their lives and property. "Let me assure the people of the South East Zone that we, the Governors of the South East have spoken and that we urge everyone living within the South East region to go about their normal businesses while allowing the umpires to sort out what may be grievances of the parties. Be assured that I have reached out as the Chairman of the Southeast Governors' Forum, and I have been assured by the police that our people are safe. I will continue to monitor and be in touch with the security chiefs at both National and state levels. " The Governor used the opportunity to condemn the murder of the Chairman of the Ezza Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Eze Igboke Ewa by the suspected hoodlums in the state. The governor directed the whole Security agencies in the State to move into Ezza North for a rescue mission, saying that the Monarch was reportedly shot dead by people suspected to be political thugs for not supporting a particular Political Party during the Saturday polls in their area.