UNEASY CALM IN EBONYI
taste of his letter unsettled many, who felt that it was a betrayal of trust and a show of ingratitude.
Among those who condemned his resignation was a forum of political stakeholders from Odoh’s populous Ezza Clan, who dissociated itself from the controversial letter of resignation. The forum assembled on April 3, at the state township stadium, from where it embarked on a march along the streets of Abakaliki, the state capital chanting solidarity songs for the governor. They were eventually received by the governor in the government house, where members of the forum expressed resentment against the attitude of the former SSG and assured the governor of massive supports in the forthcoming general elections.
The forum also issued a communiqué which read: “the resignation of Odoh does not in any way reflect the position of the entire Ezza Ezekunna concerning the administration of our hard working governor. That the position of the SSG held by Odoh was graciously given to Ezza nation on trust by Governor Umahi and as such, Odoh at the point of his resignation should have consulted widely before resigning knowing fully well that he was holding the position on trust for Ezza Nation”.
“We dissociate ourselves from the action of Odoh and call on all Ezza sons and daughters to remain calm as we are doing everything possible to restore the trust and confidence the governor has in Ezza nation. We once again pledge our unalloyed support to the administration of His Excellency, David Umahi and reiterate our earlier stance that no Ezza man should vie for the position of governor in 2019”.
Many people felt that the SSG overreacted having served the administration for close to three years without any complain, even when sources noted that the governor had been kind to him and his family in many circumstances.
Others also speculated that Odoh has governorship ambition, or may have been re awakened by his senatorial ambition and perhaps not sure of that he would be able to achieve his ambition if he chose to remain in Umahi’s administration.