As mixed reactions continue to trail the rescheduling of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has described the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as a hero.
Umahi hinged his description on the basis that the INEC boss had refused to be swayed by any party or individual to thwart the electoral process to favour pecuniary interests
According to Umahi, the INEC had done all that needed to be done to make the coming elections a success and urged all workers in the Commission, both regular and ad-hoc, to discharge their duties diligently in line with provisions of the electoral laws.
At a press conference addressed by the Governor at the Government House, Abakaliki on Thursday, he maintained that the onus was on all stakeholders to complement the efforts of the commission by conducting themselves under good conscience and relevant legal provisions.
Umahi, commenting on the security situation in Ebonyi State, vehemently condemned the isolated cases of violence witnessed recently in Ikwo and Izzi local government areas of the State and commended the security agencies for the high level of neutrality and responsibility displayed so far in the State.
He reassured all victims of the crises, including the injured, those whose houses were burnt and the family of the deceased that Government would not only ensure that the culprits are brought to book but that all the destroyed buildings were reconstructed.
He warned against reprisal attacks, stressing that government would ensure that the victims were adequately compensated.
Umahi, who alleged that there were security reports about plan by some imported political thugs to bomb some local government INEC offices in the State to stall the election in Ebonyi State, urged citizens to resist any attempt by anyone to cause electoral violence in the State.
Umahi said: “For me, the INEC chairman has so far done very well for not allowing himself to be used to advance any particular political party interest.
“For me, the INEC chairman is a hero.
“There is nothing that the INEC needed to do that they have not done.
“The onus is now on our people to conduct themselves in line with good conscience and legal provisions.
“If you are an INEC worker, discharge your duties diligently according to the electoral laws.
“I have told Ebonyians to demobilize any INEC officer who works to manipulate the outcome of the election.
“My major concern is that we have free and a fair election on Saturday.
“There were few things we noticed on 15th February that were not in the character of Ebonyi people.
“Inserting objects in the private parts of the vice chairman of Ikwo.
“Justice may be delayed, but the law must take its full course.
“Yesterday, I visited Izzi and saw the faces of defenceless father and mother whose son was killed, and their houses burnt down.
“All those who participated in the killing of that young man and burning of houses will never go scot-free.
“Politicians are behind the killings and burning down of houses.
“My promise to all the victims, the young man that was killed and the injured six others, all those behind it must be brought to book.
“I appeal there should be no reprisal attacks.
“I have ordered that anybody that wants to kill our people should be shot at sight.
“People must be allowed to exercise their right and vote for whom they want to vote for.
“I promised that if there is not reprisal attack, after the election, I will start the process of building the burnt houses.
“Lives of Ebonyians are very important to us than positions and election and anyone that takes the lives of another, such will follow them to their fifth generation.
“Ebonyians must be alert and demobilize anybody that is parading thugs with police escort.
“Let me also warn INEC.
“I learnt that certain political party wants to cancel election.
“That they will go from polling booth to another killing people.
“Let me also remind everybody involved in the election that the electoral act allows to bring to book anybody that erred.
“If you fail to work by the rules, after the election, you will answer the breaches.
“The opposition are not happy because the security agencies in the State has refused to collaborate with them to be killing our people.”
Governor Umahi further joined in calling on fuel marketers to reduce the pump price of fuel from N145 to N140 and the National Union of Road Transport Workers to reduce transport fares within the election period.
This, according to him, was to enable voters travel at minimal cost to discharge their civic responsibilities.