By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
Governor Francis Nwifuru has approved the arrest of some commissioners and contractors allegedly sabotaging his government’s projects in Ebonyi State.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the governor declared wanted for the arrest of both the supervising commissioners and contractors who were given a contract to build 140 Housing Units for the Izzo and Amaze communities – the displaced people during the Ezilo and Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu LGA of the state.
The Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, Dr Ilang Donatus, who disclosed this in Abakaliki said the state government embarked on the arrest because it felt that the contractors had breached the terms and conditions of the contract.
“The governor is not happy with the pace of the work, which ought to have been completed. The government has decided to clamp down on the Contractors and Commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects.
“As you can see, our Governor is a Man with a passionate heart, he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis. He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered the arrest of all the commissioners who are supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing Units.
“The commissioners arrested today were: Professor Omari Omaka, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbuewu, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe, Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, Commissioner for Project Monitoring, Felix Igboke and the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi,” he informed.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilisation in Ebonyi Central, and the member of the Executive Council Committee on Izzo and Amaze Housing PrMrst, Mrs Maria Okohu described the non-completion of those projects by the contractors and the failure of some of the commissioners to strictly supervise them as directed by the government as an act of sabotage.
Other members of the Executive Council Committee were the Commissioner for Inter-Party Affairs, Okorie Philip Ogbonnaya, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Valentine Okike-Uzor, and the Special Assistant to the Governor On Internal Security, Ezza South LGA, Okum Godwin.
Nigerian Pilot also gathered that the Nigeria Police have issued invitation letters to some of the commissioners and contractors who were not yet arrested by the security operatives at the time of the filing of this report.
