* Warns against discriminating Ebonyians in Anambra

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, South East Governors Forum, Mr. David Umahi, has condemned the renaming of a street initially named after Abakaliki, by his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Willie Obiano.

In doing so, Obiano had explained that renaming the street was necessary, so that its name can depict the flurry of night activities which the street has become synonymous with.

But Umahi, in a press release signed on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Emmanuel Uzor, condemned the change in name, saying that it was a way of marginalising Ebonyi, or even making Anambra feel superior to his state.

The release quoted Umahi as being alarmed by the action of Anambra State Government, while calling for the immediate reversal of the action by his Anambra counterpart, Obiano.

“While we condemn in its entirety, the action, if it is true, Umahi has put everything in place to ensure that His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano reverses the action of bringing back the Abakaliki street, a name gazetted a long time ago in the spirit of oneness in Igboland.

“There should be no part of Igboland that should be discriminated against. 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 bloc.

“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,” the statement said.

Uzor said the Ebonyi State government would not want to rush into conclusion over the change of name, which it gathered was done because Abakaliki was seen as the capital of a backward state. He reminded anyone taking any action against an Abakaliki man based on the former toga and personality that Abakaliki had since inception of the administration of Governor David Umahi, Ebonyi has become the fastest developing capital and the most beautiful state capital in Nigeria with great potential to overtake other states in the nearest future.

Umahi frowned on every opportunity by other states especially Anambra to look down on Abakaliki man and called on Ndigbo to eschew discrimination and see every Igbo man as a brother irrespective of where he or she comes from.