A SOCIO-CULTURAL group, the Ebonyi Patriots Coalition (EPC), has expressed dismay at the spiraling acts of politically motivated violence and intimidation in Ebonyi State, even as it condemned the use of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to destabilise the state.
The group noted that a culture of tension, panic and apprehension has overtaken the state in the build-up to the general election, regretting that desperate politicians have resorted to underhand methods to achieve their narrow goals of winning the election by hook or crook.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. George Elebe Nwankwo, EPC noted with pain that the state has witnessed unusual belligerence due to the forthcoming election, stressing that the use of operatives of the EFCC to destabilise activities of government, is adding a dangerous dimension to the already charged situation.
The group recalled that EFCC had in a recent publication sounded a note of warning to politicians to desist from trying to use the commission as a tool for political warfare, explaining that some frivolous petitions on which some operatives of the commission were working on are obviously precipitated by the political power struggle in the state.
“It is our candid view that the insistence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) to produce the next governor of Ebonyi State is responsible for the frequent harassment and intimidation of some government functionaries.
“In recent weeks, the EFCC has played host to officials of Ebonyi State government, including council chairmen based on the instigation of very powerful persons in Abuja. We are amazed that despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s declarations that he would not use EFCC or any federal agencies to witch-hunt political rivals, the reverse is happening in Ebonyi State,” he said
The group, which expressed doubts that the President is in the know of the antics of some of his aides, pleaded with various political actors and candidates for the election to put the interest of the state and welfare of the citizens at heart, reminding them that “life must continue after election.
It condemned recent attacks at Ikwo, Afikpo South and Ohaozara local councils of the state, which led to wanton destruction of property and loss of lives, saying that the spate of violent outbursts could engender high rate of voter apathy during the elections.
