Elechi didn’t beg Umahi–Ebonyi govt

Ebonyi State Government has refuted reports that Governor Martin Elechi begged the Governor-elect of the state, Dave Umahi, for forgiveness.

In a press statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onyekachi Eni, the government said the report was false and not a true reflection of what occurred.

It stated that apart from the fact that such an event did not happen, Elechi had no reason to beg Umahi, who he said had been his political protégé over the years.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a report claiming that Governor Martin Elechi has begged Umahi for forgiveness. Regarding the contact between Elechi and Umahi after the governorship election, we wish to state that Umahi visited the governor on April 13 at the Government House in Abakaliki.

“At the meeting, Governor Elechi expressed reservations about the governorship and House of Assembly elections which he said were characterised by violence. He, however, sued for peace in the interest of peace in the state.

“The governorship candidate of Labour Party, Edward Nkwegu, who was present at the meeting spoke in the same vein. He also congratulated Umahi on his victory and pledged to cooperate with him to ensure peace.

“We are, therefore, at a loss as to where people got the fiction that the relationship between Elechi and Umahi got strained by political differences in the last six months.”

Given that elections have been won and lost as pronounced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the times call for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to ensure the reign of peace.”