Umahi ‘Disrupts’ Dr Ogbonnaya Onu’s Coronation, Denies Any Rift

Ebonyi State Governor Engr David Umahi, Tuesday, said he chased the people out of the venue of the coronation of the minister for science and technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, at Uburu in Ohaozara LGA of the state because it was a construction site.
Our correspondent reports that Dr Onu was selected by the monarchs of Uburu Adu kingdom to be conferred with the highest traditional title of Onyiba. Unconfirmed reports said there was a ploy to truncate the event by the state government.
Umahi, who clarified the matter when he hosted the minister of mines and steel development, Dr Uche Ogah, in Abakalili, said he had no rift with Onu.
According to him, “I never had an issue with Dr Onu. Some people have bastardized news that people are no longer interested in. When I left the PDP, I said we have been so unfairly treated because the development of individuals is not development of the region.

“Some people are very much interested in fake news. It was Dr Onu that actually has issues with the former ambassadors, traditional rulers and so many youths there. I was passing on a project inspection and had to get in there and ask everyone to vacate the premises because that is the place I’m constructing. I have to save lives first. They were all hired to do that. I still have to accompany him to his residence. Why will one of you now write that I was having issues with Onu?”
Dr Oga was in the state ahead of the taking over of the landed property donated by the Ebonyi State government for the establishment of a solid minerals processing plant for the Southeast zone located at Egu-Ogwu village, Uburu, Ebonyi State.

Oga, who commended the state government for donating the land, denied boycotting the exercise the previous week because of an alleged disagreement with Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

He said, “I can tell you, without your support, most of the projects done in the Southeast wouldn’t have been possible. The establishment, when functional, will bring about efficiency in mining and mineral processing operations in the country. I appeal to the state government to strengthen their partnerships to ensure the realization of the targets.”

Responding, Gov Umahi thanked the federal government for choosing Ebonyi State for Artisanal Small Scale Mineral processing Centre for the Southeast. He however regretted the absence of fertiliser processing plants in the Southeast and Southsouth region of the country.