Following the alleged corrupt practices leveled against the Governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi and his Deputy, Chief Dave Umahi, the Campaign for Democracy, CD, South East zone has called for investigations into the corrupt allegations.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Onitsha , the South East Chairman of CD, Dede Uzor A Uzor said the alleged corruption and irregularities in award and execution of contracts leveled against Elechi should be investigated and punished.
“We are very disturbed at the monumental corrupt allegations leveled against Governor Elechi, the oldest governor in Nigeria who supposed to be leading by example and CD wants to call on anti graft agencies to investigate the alleged award of contract for the dualization of a section of Enugu/Abakailki Expressway to the company allegedly owned by his deputy, Chief Dave Umahi to the tune of N7 billion without any evidence”
“It is also very worrisome that Ebonyi state with its backwardness could be extorted and dragged into perpetual indebtedness by the present administration by borrowing N20 billion from the capital market while the state government has failed to execute the projects initiated by it. Most worrisome is the alleged award of contract for the reconstruction of Ogbaga road to Governor’s alleged contract firm, M&J initially awarded to the governor by his predecessor, Sam Egwu which he (Elechi) allegedly re-awarded to himself to the tune of N2 billion” he said
Dede Uzor further called for the immediate removal of Governor Elechi’s name from the list of eminent Nigerians for National honour, adding “time has come when Nigeria should stop celebrating corruption, if Elechi as old as he is could be fingered on such corrupt practices, what our democracy lives for? We therefore call on President Goodluck Jonathan to remove his name from the list”
However, in a swift reaction, the Ebonyi state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Chukwuma Nwandugo dismissed the allegations leveled against Governor Elechi on poor execution of projects especially roads in the state, describing the call for the removal of Elechi’s name from National honour’s list as unfortunate.
It will be recalled that a Magazine had published alleged scandalous projects being awarded and executed by the Governor in Ebonyi state.
