A former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, has accused the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, of hatching a plan against his life and other prominent leaders in the state.
Barely a fortnight ago, Umahi had defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
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But his controversial defection to APC had plunged Ebonyi State into a political crisis amid accusations and counter accusations.
Umahi, had last week Friday after the state security council meeting, accused Mr Anyim; senators Sam Egwu and Obinma Ogba, and PDP acting Vice Chairman for South-east, Ali Odefa, of plotting to use members of IPOB to unleash mayhem in the state.
But in an open letter to the President, Muhammadu Buhari; Inspector-General of Police; Director-General, Department of State Services; and the Chief of Defence Staff on Monday, Anyim said Umahi was raising dust to “divert the attention of the public before he strikes.”
Describing Gov. Umahi as a leader under a curse, the former Senate President noted that the present allegation against him and other PDP leaders in the state was an attempt to hide the sinister motive of the governor to kill him and other prominent leaders in the state.
He said: “It is clear that Gov. Umahi may have been told that he needed to kill a high profile person in order to achieve his mad ambition.
“Ebonyians should be wise to know that Umahi is under a spell and those he is prepared to use for the killing should know that after using them, he will also plan to kill them to cover his track.”
Anyim said that the only offense he and other political leaders in PDP committed is that they refused to follow Gov. Umahi in his “political adventure” to defect to APC.
He revealed that he had turned down the governor’s entreaties for him to defect to APC.
“The only offence we committed is that we refused to follow Gov. Umahi in his political adventure.
“We do not know when belonging to parties of one’s choice has become an offence against a Governor or means fighting a Governor.
“In his delusion, he believed his own lies that he is the only man who matters in Ebonyi State.
“He did not consult with anybody notable before consummating his defection to APC.
“After his defection, no person of note followed him.
“Unable to contain and manage the unsavory reactions from the public, he ran to my home in the company of some high-profile people on the 20th of November 2020, and pleaded with me to defect to APC, saying that if I do, others will follow suit.
“I pointed out to him that his approach has made it almost impossible for anybody to defect.
“He pleaded with me that if I cannot defect now, I should not attend any PDP meetings, and I said no, I must attend PDP meetings as long as I am in PDP.
“He realized that he could not persuade anybody when he saw the crème of Ebonyi Elders and citizen that gathered for the inauguration of PDP Caretaker Committee.
“He could no longer sleep and declared war on every one who has refused to defect with him,” Anyim said.
Umahi’s camp has not responded to this accusation as at the time of filing this report but effort is being made to get a response from his team.
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