Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State
‘Ebonyi will follow due process in handing over university to Catholic Church’ – Umahi
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Handing over of the King David Umahi University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Catholic Church will follow due process, the Ebonyi State Governor has stated.
Governor David Umahi stated this in a press statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, on Monday, while reacting to a publication credited to a group known as Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) which accused him of, among other things, illegally donating the institution to the Catholic Church.
National President of the group, Paschal Oluchukwu also accused Governor Umahi of turning Presbyterians against the members of the Catholic Church in the state.
However, Umahi who described the group as ‘a ghost association,’ urged the general public to disregard it, even as he clarified that the University had no link with the Presbyterian church as claimed by the group.
He said the procedures for the official handover of the institution to the Catholic Church would be followed.
Umahi had while speaking at the ordination and Episcopal installation of the new bishop of Abakaliki Catholic diocese, Bishop P.N Chukwu, last Thursday, announced the handover of the newly established University located Uburu at Ohaozara LGA to the Catholic Church.
According to Umahi, the decision was to enhance academic excellence and effective management as evidenced in other Institutions already being managed by the Catholic Church in the State.
“First, the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu is a brand new one-of its kind University conceived and constructed by the administration of Engineer David Umahi.
“Second, the University in no way had link(s) with the Presbyterian Church or any other religious denomination before its handover to the Catholic Church.
“Third, if one can build, then he can hand over that which he has built to whoever he willingly chooses. Therefore, Governor Umahi is not by any means causing animosity between the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church, rather it is the Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) if, at all it exists, that is trying to cause bad blood between the sister denominations.
“What Governor Umahi deserves for this bold step is plaudit and not sarcasm knowing that the decision was taken to fast track educational Development of the State.
“If the group hiding under the cloak of Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora are not up for mischief, they should have at least commended the Governor for proving wrong the naysayers who had speculated that the Governor will privatize the institution to himself.
“This shows that the Governor is truly sincere in his quest to ensure effective management of the Institution.
“Let it be known by the general public that the procedure for official handover of the institution will be followed, which include acceptance by the church, coming to terms and conditions of the handover which is between the state government and the Church and approval of the State House of Assembly.
“The General Public are advised to disregard the allegations by the ghost Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora which only exist in the mindset of never do wells whose stock-in-trade is unjustifiable and serial accusations of Ebonyi State Government,” the statement read in part.
