Nigeria’s problems are its leaders - Umahi

Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi says Nigerian leaders are responsible for all the crises being faced in the country.

“All over the country the problem we have been having is our leaders,” Mr Umahi said on Friday while receiving the report of a judicial panel set up to investigate the violent clashes in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

Earlier in the year, a bitter intra-communal crisis between the Effium and Ezza-Effium clans of Ohaukwu LGA saw wanton destruction of lives and properties.

Mr Umahi blamed leaders in the warring areas for the escalation of violence which mainly affects the indigents.

“We are leaders and we do not think deeply about God bringing us to lead the people and to know that in crisis of this nature, it is the less privileged, the old and widow that are killed,” he said.

In a brief remark during the presentation of the report, Mr Umahi said that government would meticulously study it for full implementation of the recommendations.

He also restated government’s commitment to the resettlement of victims of the crisis, whose houses and other valuables were destroyed during the crisis.

The governor subsequently handed over the report to his deputy, Dr Eric Kelechi-Igwe.

He urged him to raise a small committee, comprising legal experts drawn from the southern zone of the state, to study the report for effective implementation.

Earlier, Justice Elekwe Omaka, thanked the governor for the trust reposed in the panel to do the job.

Mr Omaka said the panel, inaugurated on February 8, worked in accordance with the mandate given to it and in line with the terms of reference.

He said the panel commenced public hearing on February 17 and received a total of 70 hard copies of written memoranda, while at least 40 persons gave oral testimony to the panel.