The federal lawmaker representing Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha federal consistency, at the House of representatives, Mr. Linus Okorie yesterday clashed with the governor of Ebonyi state, chief David Umahi over the wanton destruction of the billboard of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
The squabble started when the governor was allegedly quoted to have accused Okorie of masterminding the Atiku/ Obi billboard destruction in Ebonyi and in turn wants to accuse another person.
The governor was quoted to have made the comment while swearing in new members of his cabinet at the exco-chambers in Government House, Abakaliki.
According to him: “I read about a support group that the billboard belonging to Atiku Abubakar was destroyed, and I know the character behind the installation of the billboard because he is not getting enough attention. He has to destroy the billboard as a way to get the necessary attention.
“And for me, it is ingenuity. I have told my people that instead of sitting down and doing nothing. It is better to destroy something and start fixing it back. So, the guy has no work. He should know that Ebonyi state is united under Divine Mandate.
“So, the guy out of ingenuity and evil genius destroyed it. Nobody is destroying Atiku billboard in this state, nobody is destroying the President’s billboard. We are law-abiding people,” he said.
But Okorie, who is also the state Coordinator of Friends of Atiku (FOA) while reacting to the governors statement, insisted that the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will floor his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari in Ebonyi state.
“I was convinced that the governor was misquoted when I read a line where he was quoted as saying that I destroyed the billboards, just to draw attention to myself and my activities in the State. This is most uncharitable and unexpected from the occupant of the exalted office of a governor and who knows me too well and fully aware that I don’t need such cheap tricks to be popular in a State I have been a major stakeholder and player in the past 20 years. Neither do I need to destroy my own campaign materials to gain the governor’s attention when indeed my role in his 2015 governorship ascension are well known to all Ebonyians and remain indelible.
“I am deeply concerned that the governor did not condemn the unwarranted destructive attack on the campaign office of the Presidential candidate of his party, but instead chose to use the opportunity of the incident to launch such an obnoxious attack on me. May it not be that the further attacks said to be planned against the office are still afoot.
” I am, however, satisfied that the governor has finally spoken on the matter and publicly commented on the candidacy of our Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. I now passionately appeal to him and all stakeholders of our party, the PDP in the State, to join the Friends of Atiku in intensifying efforts to deliver our candidate come February 16, 2019. I am also looking forward to seeing the governor’s Divine Mandate campaign vehicles and materials branded with the images of Atiku and Obi.
“What is most gratifying is that Ebonyians are determined to massively vote the Atiku/Obi ticket irrespective of any intrigues and high wire politicking,” he stated.
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