Non-indigenes residing in Ebonyi State have warned critics in the state to steer clear, saying that they cannot be deceived by falsehood and propaganda being peddled by opposition elements, as the 2019 general elections draw near.

The non-indigenes, under the umbrella of Urban Forum, which had earlier endorsed the incumbent Governor, David Umahi as their sole candidate in the 2019 election, said that the security and accommodation they currently enjoy could not be risked.

Leader of the forum, Chief Charles Akpu-Enika, in a press conference in Abakaliki, yesterday said that since the emergence of the current administration, incidents of land grabbing and intimidation has stopped because of the disposition of the governor,

“Anybody coming to deceive us will be resisted. We won’t allow those who call themselves opposition deceive us. They are those who are against us.

“What we have in Ebonyi is minor opposition. It is a collection of those opposed to the interest of none indigenes, those even against the development of the state, imagine the opposition against the construction of the Ring Road.

“We cannot be deceived by those who parade as opposition, the APCs and their co-travellers. Most of them are those who wanted the non-indigenes sacked from this state. They are those who prosecuted demolition of the house of the non-indigenes. We now feel at home, with conducive environment for business and socialisation. We are now proud to tell anybody that we are living in Ebonyi State. See how he has re-constructed the state capital,” he stated.

Akpu-Enika, an Anambra State-born Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development explained that about seven Hausas and six Yoruba people were appointed as Technical Assistants to the Governor; a thing he said had never been done before now.

“By the grace of God, all the non-indigenes in Ebonyi State had on 1, April 2017 endorse Governor as their sole candidate, even unopposed.

The immediate past governor said he won’t develop capital because it is habituated by non-indigenes. We target to give governor Umahi, at least one hundred thousand votes under the platform of Urban Forum, and we have other associations under the forum.

“We have witnessed empowerment of widows, empowerment of youth and these are done without segregation as to where you come from. We have witnessed restoration of peace Ezillo and Ezza/Ezillo, now tell me why or what any person can advance as reason why we should not even beg Umahi to continue the good works.”

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