Governor Ugwuanyi Is Deputy Chief Of Staff To Wike – Prof Odinkalu

By Adesina Soyooye

Professor Chidi Odinkalu has slammed Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for abandoning his State, and, instead working as an Aide to his colleague-Governor, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

Odinkalu, a Human Rights Lawyer, and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, lamented that while Ugwuanyi concentrates on his “new job” as Wike’s Deputy Chief of Staff, the people of the State are abandoned to criminal gangs.

Ugwuanyi is one of the G-5 Governors led by Wike. The five Governors are at loggerheads with the leadership of their Party and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. They include, aside from Wike and Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State, and Seyi Makinde, Oyo State.

Since their leader, Wike, lost to Atiku in the Party’s Presidential Primaries, and also lost the Vice Presidential slot to Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, they have distanced themselves from the activities of the Party, and in more than words, are working against its victory at the Federal level in 2023.

To perfect that, in the past few months, they have hardly been in their States and have been junketting across Europe and across one another’s State.

However, while Ugwuanyi joins in this “business”, insecurity has, in an unprecedented manner, taken over his State. In recent times, armed gangs, cultists, kidnappers have been wreaking havoc in the State on everyday basis, almost, and blood flows.

Atimes, whole Communities have been held hostage and many killed randomly.

On Saturday, gunmen went on a shooting, killing and burning spree, in a bid to enforce the five-day  sit-at-home order declared by Finland-based Simon Ekpa in South-east States

In the past two days, for example, reports say not less than 10 people have been gruesomely murdered in Enugu.

In November, especially in the Agu-Amede Community, Eha-Amufu, Isi- Uzo, Local Government Area, about 10 people were reportedly killed in a single attack, and properties worth millions of Naira, destroyed.

Commenting on the sad situation on Saturday, Professor Odinkalu tweeted:

“Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has abandoned the state to cultists, criminal gangs, and killers while he relocates to work as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Wike in Rivers State. Enugu people have a choice to make.”

Enugu, regarded as the Capital of the South-east, like other South-East State, is gradually becoming one of the unsafest States in the Southern part of the Country.

Augustine Odoh, a Community Leader, was quoted by SaharaReporters to have said in all the attacks, there was no Government presence to help the people. Security Agencies were also absent.

He said: “Our people cannot confront them with bare hands. They come in their numbers with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, shooting and destroying houses for hours unchallenged.”