A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Enugu state, Prince Emma Efoke has described the statement credited to Reverend Father Ike Odigbo as an attempt to cause panic in the state.
Prince Efoke said that instead of causing panic, the cleric should commend the Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for being proactive in his approach to the isolated security challenges facing the state.
Read his statement
RE: ALLEGED INSECURITY IN ENUGU STATE
My attention has been drawn to a statement issued by Fr. Ike Odigbo over an alleged state of insecurity in Enugu State.
That statement, to say the least, is nothing short of scare mongering meant to cause panic in Enugu State.
It is on record that the Enugu State’s Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has been quite proactive in responding to isolated cases of security challenges in the State, particularly in respect of the unfortunate murder of Fr Paul Offu.
It would be recalled that immediately after that incident, the Governor called an emergency security meeting to deal with the situation.
In addition, to that, the Governor immediately set in motion, in conjunction with the Air Force, the establishment of Air surveillance to aid in securing the State.
Instead of commending his Excellency, the Governor for being proactive, the statement of Fr. Odigbo was made in bad taste to paint a false sense of insecurity in the State.
One needs to commend the traditional rulers in the State for acknowledging the positive security steps taken by the State Governor.
We cannot pretend that different parts of the country, particularly the South West, have been worst hit by serial acts of insecurity. It is therefore disingenuous to single out Enugu State, which to all intents and purposes, has been relatively peaceful.
It’s so disheartening that in that lengthened statement of Rev. Fr. Ike Odigbo , he never mentioned anything good done by the government of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Well, what do we expect from someone who is not in Enugu state, but preferred to listen to hearsay and make inciting conclusion from abroad where he is supposed to concentrate in his priesthood training? I believe one should shade off certain attitudes as he advances in life and exposure. It’s on record that Umulumgbe parish experienced same controversies during his 5 to 6 year stay as the parish priest.
Honestly, it’s not in my character to join issues with men of God but there is this saying that “an adult won’t be at home and she-goat will give birth on the rope”.
It’s noteworthy that the efforts of Hon. Ugwuanyi in his seriousness in handling the security situation of Enugu state moved him to be the first to implement the decision of the South East Governor’s Forum to recruit Forest Guard with the approval of 1700 across the 17 LGA of Enugu state.
He ensures the empowerment of security agencies in discharging their duties. His priority in the area of security, necessitated the planed measure by the Northern leaders in Enugu state to shut down all their Livestock and Perishable Goods Market and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Enugu state to embark on sensitization tour between Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday August 15, 2019 to weed out infiltrators if any.
Therefore, I differ to stand on the side of truth. Though we haven’t gotten to the point expected in the area of security in the country, but Enugu State government is on track and in no distant time, we shall get there if given our total support and quota.
