Ebonyi State Governor Umahi
Ebonyi governor denies receiving N6bn from FG for ranching
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has refuted reports claiming he collected money from the Federal Government for the establishment of ranching in the state.
Umahi was reacting to a statement credited to the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu while responding to questions on Channels Television on Wednesday night that Ebonyi State was among the States in the Federation that had received the sum of 6 billion naira each for ranching.
In a statement titled “Ebonyi State Maintain Its Stance That There Is No Land For Ranching In The State”, which was signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, on Thursday, the Governor said the State Government never at any time received any money for ranching in the State and would not receive any money for the same purpose as there was no available land for ranching in the State.
Umahi further noted that should any Ebonyian opt to engage in personal ranching, Ebonyians should see such venture as a personal decision of such person who must use his/her land for the purpose.
“We have received the news making the rounds that Ebonyi State is among the States in the Federation that has received the sum of 6 billion naira each for ranching as attributed to the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu while responding to questions on Channels Television on Wednesday night and we wish to clarify as follows:
“That Ebonyi State Government never at any time received any money for ranching in the State and will not receive any money for the same purpose as there is no available land for ranching in the state.
“That should any Ebonyian opt to engage in personal ranching, Ebonyians should see such venture as a personal decision of such person who must use his/her land for the purpose.
“This is because Ebonyi State Government has continued to maintain that there is no land for ranching in the state and it is not about reneging from the decision,” full text of the statement reads.
Reacting to the allegation, the Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said “the PDP Ebonyi State is in shock that such a large sum of money was given to the State and no one knew about it and we are now wondering if it was meant for the development of a private ranch owned by those who received the money?”
“We call on the government to immediately make full disclosure on this ranching fund given for public good. We need to ensure that cattle are no longer seen in the public and in the farms of our people – this will settle the clashes that have taken lives needlessly,” the Party added in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Barrister Silas Onu.
