UCHENNA EBUCHU WARNS CRIMINALS TO STEER CLEAR OF UMUAGOM-UGBA-AFARATA COMMUNITY

The newly elected Chairman of Umuagom-Ugba-Afarata Ibeku Development Union, Hon. Uchenna Ebuchu has extended the olive branch to his opponent in the keenly contested election.

Speaking with newsmen in his residence in Umuahia, Ebuchu expressed readiness to work with his opponent to take the clan to a new heights.

He called on the aggrieved parties to bury the hatched and come together to bring peace and development to the community.

Recall that the election generated a lot of controversy, that indicted the Executive Mayor of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Smart Ihuoma, as having influenced the outcome of the election.

Reacting to this, Uchenna Ebuchu dismissed the allegation as false and malicious. He further explained why the election was held within the premises of the council headquarters.

“They just want to take advantage of our pragmatic Mayor who is kind and is taking care of the local government. The man has no hand in the election”.

“There was a court order and he was served, the DPO CPS Area Command was served to allow Umuagom to have their election since it is within their jurisdiction”.

“Our hall is located here in Ugba, which is where the election was scheduled to hold. But due to the order that came, our Prime Minister gave the town crier instruction to go round and inform people for the election proper. Even the other people, they were informed and they did the same thing. There was a massive turn out. You know the hall is inside the market and we opted to use option A4, as a result, the place could not accommodate us, because of the long line”.

“We then decided to go to “Ọdida Anyanwụ “, the place where the council headquarters is located. It has been our ancient ground for large traditional gatherings. That was how we moved there. The Mayor has no hand it. The other people just used that as a ground to reject the out come of the election”.

“Everything went according to what is written in the constitution and it was free and fair. My people said they have seen my capacity, they have seen my antecedents and they elected me. They did not elec me to go and start doing anyhow, they elected me to serve them”.

He further rolled out his plans for the clan which includes among other things, to immediately create peace and reconciliation committee to pacify everyone in the community to achieve a lasting peace.

“I have a lot to do, because before my emergence, I have already drawn my line, first of all, I want immediate create peace and reconciliation committee. Because for some years now, we have not been having the atmosphere for peace, and there’s no way we can progress without peace”.

“I want to use this opportunity to officially say that I’m going to appoint committee that will look into peace in the community”.

“Secondly, I want to start what I call the Umuagom Health Foundation, where our parents and the aged people who need urgent medical attention will be taken care of and I want to do that immediately”.

He also plans to initiate youth employment scheme to keep the young ones positively engaged in order to reduce crime and criminality in the area.

Hon. Ebuchu read the riot act to those formenting trouble in the area, asking them to relocate as the new leadership of the community would not give room for such.