The executive council chairman of the Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Ekuma Nkama Chima, has berated a youth organisation, Umuekumenyi Equity Youth Front, for kicking against the nomination of the former state governor, Sen. David Umahi, as a minister.
Recall that Umahi was nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and has been screened by the National Assembly.
The youth group had, in a statement signed by its president, Prince Nelson Igboke, and secretary-general, Comrade Nwekeoyo Darlington, rejected Umahi’s appointment as minister.
The youths had petitioned Tinubu, asking him to withdraw Umahi’s nomination and give the same to prominent sons of Umuekumenyi, which comprises Ebonyi Central and North senatorial zones. They said Umuekwumenyi had not produced a minister in the last 12 years, adding that Ebonyi South had enjoyed the appointments in the period.
But, Chima, who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki while responding to the petition, described them as jobless youths who want to destabilize the relative peace, unity and progress existing between the three senatorial zones of the state.
“We don’t want these few jobless youths, who are under something, because I strongly believe that Umuekumenyi can’t oppose the former governor, Senator David Umahi’s appointment as minister.
“Few people who, maybe, are the haters of Umahi has decided to come in the disguise of ‘Umuekumenyi Equity Youth Front’ with this kind of movement to oppose him (Umahi). I don’t actually believe that they are from Umuekumenyi. Before now, we don’t base appointments on whether you are from Ebonyi North, Central or South senatorial zone. The position we rotate is governorship position and not on ministerial appointments,” he stated.
He applauded the cordial relationship between the state governor, Francis Nwifuru and Umahi, warning that people should desist from trying to cause a breach of peace and unity in the state. He thanked Nwifuru for increasing civil servants’ salaries and restoring peace and order to communities facing violent clashes.
