By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) on Friday distanced itself from the purported petition written by the Former Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area, Mr. Ogbonnia Okoh Enyim, against Governor David Umahi.

Ebonyi State ALGON noted that due process and proper documentations has always been followed in their delivery of development oriented projects to the people of the state.

The State Chairman of ALGON, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku, in a statement she personally signed described as unfortunate lone cry in the wilderness by the former Local Government Chairman of Afikpo North LGA, Hon. Ogbonnia Oko-Enyim ipetition to the Economic and financial crimes Commission (EFCC) .

Mr Oko Enyim had written a petition to EFCC titled, “A CASE OF BREACH OF PUBLIC TRUST, FRAUDULENT CONVERSION OF MONIES MEANT FOR 13 LGAs IN EBONYI STATE, MASSIVE EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND STEALING, AGAINST DAVID UMAHI, THE GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE AND AUSTIN UMAHI, FORMER PDP NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN SOUTH EAST”.

However, the Ebonyi ALGON Boss, who is also the Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area, maintained that there is a provision of the Constitution that encourage states and local government areas to carryout projects jointly which has constantly been emphasized on every Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) meeting by the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development.

According to her, a Joint Project Account was opened for the purpose of the joint projects wherein some LGAs that have joint projects are expected to pay in their money, adding that all States/Local Governments joint projects were documented and are verifiable too.

She disclosed that ordinarily, ALGON would have allowed it to purported write up to slide and not bothered to reply “to such concocted falsehood fabricated by Mr. OKoh Enyim to dent the image and distract the wonder working and development oriented Governor of the state, Engr. David Umahi, and the highly respected former National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Deacon Austin Umahi.”

Princess Iyoku further disclosed that after all the statutory deductions of Staff salary, UBEB Salary and Pensions, Salaries of Traditional Rulers from the allocations of Afikpo North LGA, the Council was constantly on deficit.

The Ebonyi ALGON Chairman further maintained that all the monthly allocations of the 13 LGAs in the State comes directly from the Federal Government of Nigeria, adding that the state Governor has no control whatsoever in the management of monthly allocations.

“All the Council Chairmen in Ebonyi State are members of the Joint Account Committee with the Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development as the Chairman.

“To that effect of the joint projects, a State and Local Government Joint Project Account was opened wherein some LGAs that have joint projects are expected to pay in their money. Besides, all State/Local Government joint projects are documented and are verifiable too.

“One therefore wonders where all these allegations by Hon. Ogbonnia Oko-Enyim are coming from.

“From the inception of Governor Umahi’s administration in Ebonyi State, Council Chairmen are strongly advised to ensure prudent management of the allocations and also, to embark on people oriented projects.

“We therefore disassociate ourselves totally with such frivolities, pettiness and infantile petitions of Hon. Ogbonnia Oko-Enyim and urge him to go and make peace with his people because politics is not a do-or-die affair,” Princess Iyioku said.

The Ebonyi State ALGON Chairman noted that the major catalyst and attribute of every negative and irresponsible human is the possession of a heart of ungratefulness.

“When a man falls from grace to grass, with all his life filled with shame, his only left weapon is to start throwing stones at the Successful and great,” she said.

She described the former Afikpo North Local Government Chairman, Mr. Oko Enyim, as perfect example of an ungratefully failed empire seeking whom he may drag down with, adding that having benefited greatly from the State Governor, he ought to have gone silently to hide his face in shame.