Stop sale of Ebonyi government properties in Lagos, ex- Commissioner charges Gov. Umahi

The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has been called upon to set up a panel of inquiry to probe allegations that the state’s properties across the country, especially in Lagos, are being sold off to unknown persons by those suspected to be officials of government.

The call was made by Abia Onyike, a former Commissioner for Information in the state, in a statement which stressed that “Ebonyians would not tolerate any underhand maneuvers by selfish leaders and covetous government officials who may have the urge to convert the properties of the state government to their personal ownership and usage.”

He insisted that Gov. Umahi must not sweep under the carpet the allegations made by some concerned citizens of the state, especially the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes in Diaspora, “that Ebonyi State Government Buildings and Landed properties located in Lagos have been surreptitiously sold off to or taken over by unknown persons, with the active connivance or conspiracy of top government officials of Ebonyi state.”

Onyike said the panel to be constituted should make an inventory of all the properties of the state scattered all over Nigeria, especially in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Aba for proper documentation and accountability, warning that the people would not “forgive any group of pretentious leaders who want to use false pretence to appropriate Ebonyi government properties to themselves as such an act would be the height of betrayal of public trust.”

Full text of the statement reads:

Following the recent outcry and disclosures made some Concerned Citizens of Ebonyi State, alleging that Ebonyi State Government Buildings and Landed properties located in Lagos have been surreptitiously sold off to or taken over by unknown persons, with the active connivance or conspiracy of top government officials of Ebonyi state, and having confirmed the authenticity of the allegations from some Ebonyi indigenes resident in Lagos, I wish to react and state as follows:

1. That as a concerned citizen of Ebonyi state and as one of those who fought for the creation of the state, it is incumbent on me and other agitated Patriots, to always rise to the occasion as circumstances may demand, to defend the collective/common interests of all Ebonyians, especially on issues and matters relating to our common patrimony.

2. That I commend the alertness of the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes in Diaspora and their sincere/patriotic alarm raised over the dubious attempt or act of selling off or taking over of the said landed properties and buildings, located in Lagos and belonging to the people and government of Ebonyi, without due process.

3. I personally condemn any effort by any person or group of persons, acting individually or collectively or in conjunction with Ebonyi State Government to sell off or buy off the said properties which belong to Ebonyi State Government, with the use of proxies or agents. Such acts are criminal and unacceptable to the citizens of Ebonyi state who are the real owners of the properties in question.

4. I hereby call on the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi to respond to these serious allegations about the possible involvement of officials of Ebonyi State government in the sale of the landed properties and houses or any other properties belonging to Ebonyi state government in any other part of Nigeria.
5. Gov. Umahi should not sweep this matter under the carpet. He must address the issue squarely. Ebonyians at home and in the Diaspora would like to know what is happening or has happened to Ebonyi State Government properties in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Aba and other places.

6. Ebonyians would not tolerate any underhand maneuvers by selfish leaders and covetous government officials who may have the urge to convert the properties of the state government to their personal ownership and usage. Infact, the State government should set up a panel of inquiry to probe into the status of Ebonyi state properties scattered all over Nigeria, with a view to carrying out inventory of such properties for proper documentation and accountability.

7.Ebonyians will not forgive any group of pretentious leaders who want to use false pretence to appropriate Ebonyi government properties to themselves as such an act would be the height of betrayal of public trust. It would amount to a great measure of treachery against Ebonyi people, who have been subjected to unbearable levels of deprivation and denials, in the name of developing the state, under the incumbent administration of Gov. David Umahi.

Abia Onyike,
Former Commissioner for Information,
Ebonyi State.