Ebonyi governor condemns alleged renaming of ‘Abakaliki street’ in Awka
- Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has condemned the alleged renaming of Abakaliki street in Anambra
- He noted that Ebonyi state has received the highest discrimination, even from among her brother states
- Umahi said his vision is for an Igbo nation where all persons will have homes and become citizens, irrespective of their state of origin
The governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, has condemned the alleged renaming of Abakaliki street in Awka, the capital of Anambra, to ‘Club Street’ by the state government.
Umahi made his feelings on the matter known in a statement released by his chief press secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, Vanguard reports.
Legit.ng gathers that Umahi, who is also the chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, stated that he would get in touch with his Anambra counterpart, Willie Obiano; and urged people to remain calm.
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He noted that even though Obiano has every constitutional right to rename any structure, but that what should come to mind when doing so, should be the unity and perpetuation of legacies and sustenance of the sacred thing that holds the country together as a people.
The statement read:"While he condemns in its entirety, the action, Umahi has put everything in place to ensure that Chief Willie Obiano reverses the action of bringing back the Abakaliki street, a name gazetted long time ago in the spirit of oneness in Igbo land.
“There should be no part of Igbo land that should be discriminated upon. Ebonyi state has received the highest discrimination even from among her brother states; and this is not healthy, especially as we fight to unite our people and form a formidable economic and political blocs.
“The governor has put a call through to his brother governor, Chief Willie Obiano on how best to resolve the conflict of interest especially as regards the social media claims that the street was taken away from Abakaliki people because they are not qualified to answer such name of a major street in Awka.
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“While we don’t want to rush into conclusions as regards the rumour making the rounds describing Abakaliki as a backward state; may we remind whoever that is taking any action against Abakaliki man based on the former toga and personality that Abakaliki had, that since inception of the administration of Governor David Umahi, Abakaliki has become the fastest developing state and the most beautiful state capital in Nigeria with great potential to overtake other states in the nearest future.
“Therefore, renaming a street originally named after Abakaliki because of the stigmatization and the spirit of Wawa does not arise, as Abakaliki has grown to become more developed than the city in question.”
Umahi called on Anambrarians to stop discriminating against Ebonyi people, as he pointed out that most states in the region - especially Anambra - always seize every opportunity to look down on the Abakaliki man.
He urged every Igbo man to see another person of Igbo extraction as his brother, and stated that his vision is for an Igbo nation where all persons will have homes and become citizens, irrespective of their state of origin.
The governor added: “For us in Ebonyi state, we have Awka, Onitsha, Neni, Nri, Agulu, Nando, Oraeri, Oraifite and many other streets; and these streets are very strategic in Abakaliki and yet, no government has ever tried to rename them, rather, these streets which have been in bad shape have all been asphalted and illuminated with street light, and we expect our brothers in other states to maintain our legacy and pride by allowing all the streets named after Abakaliki or Ebonyi State to remain so.
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“Finally, Governor David Umahi will meet with Governor Willie Obiano to discuss and get the real reason behind the alleged reversal of Abakaliki street, on the ground that the street has grown beyond the Abakaliki status.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that an Anambra state resident narrated how Upper Iweka Onitsha road had been transformed with nicely built roads and street lights.
The individual, a Facebook user identified as Ikechukwu Ebenyi, in a post shared on his page, spoke about how the Anambra State Government changed one of the most dangerous places in the country.
According to Ebenyi, the former governor of Anambra state Peter Obi started the project, while his successor the current governor, Willie Obiano, who took over and completed it.
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Source: Legit.ng
