Group Rebukes Former Ebonyi SSG Prof Bernard Odoh

By Dipo Olowookere

The resignation of Prof Bernard Odoh as the Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government has generated mixed reactions with some analysts claiming his exit would greatly affect the second term ambition of Governor Dave Umahi.

However, an aide to the Governor, Lady Monica Chidinma Eze, who doubles as President of David Umahi Nweze Akubaraoha Ebonyi Transformation Agenda (DUNAETA), said there is nothing to worry about.

She described as unfortunate and unnecessary the noise being generated by the development, saying Mr Odoh “doesn’t deserve such attention.”

Leader of the Abakaliki-based group said, “This is a man who contested a senatorial post in an opposing political platform, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and failed woefully and Governor Umahi, in demonstration of his magnanimity, appointed such a character to the sensitive and key office of the SSG.”

Lady Eze described Mr Odoh as a “modern Judas Iscariot, for having the audacity and impetus to attempt to disparage the person and personality of Governor Umahi in his good for nothing letter instead of being grateful to the Governor for resituating and reviving his political fortunes after failing woefully in his senatorial bid.”

Speaking in a statement, Lady Eze congratulated the new SSG, Dr Hygenius Nwokwu, who she described as a better and thorough politician whose inputs towards the PDP success during the 2015 general elections need not be overemphasized.

According to her, Dr Nwokwu’s wealth of experience is what is needed at this period to revive and oil the once dormant office of the SSG during the inglorious era of Prof Odoh.

“We as an organization is convinced that Dr Nwokwu will bring to bear his past enviable experiences to regenerate the engine room of this administration based on his previous appointments as Commissioner for Education, Commissioner for Rural Development and Commissioner in the Ebonyi Civil Service Commission and as a Permanent Member in Ebonyi Secondary Education Board (SEB),” she highlighted.

DUNAETA is a group formed to ensure the re-election of Governor Umahi in the 2019 general elections and leader of the organisation said in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness, Governor Umahi must be allowed to complete his eight-year tenure, describing the gang up to truncate this move as “the highest injustice against the Southern senatorial zone of Ebonyi State after that both the Northern zone of the State through Senator Sam Egwu and the Central Senatorial zone through Chief Martins Elechi were all allowed to complete their two terms bid.”