Ebonyi Gov celebrates after receiving certificate of return, slams suspension on protocol officers

The governor of Ebonyi state David Umahi on Tuesday suspended his protocol officers for one month without payment.

He excluded the Director of Protocol (D.O.P) Austin Udude and the newly recruited staffers.

Umahi who made the pronouncement  while celebrating collection of  his certificate of return at the Banquet Hall Ebonyi state government house Abakaliki said the suspension was because of their incompetency.

He said: “this big men in front did not eat today (Tuesday) because Udude the D.O.P was not around. He went for an errand, so my wife and other ladies in front did not eat. Normally the ladies are being led to the table followed by other in front seat.

“Therefore all the protocol officers, both those in my wife’s office, the deputy Governor, wife of the deputy will proceed on one month suspension without salary, excluding  Udude and the new in-takes.”

Earlier, while receiving the certificate of return at the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) office in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, Umahi vowed to prosecute all those involved in electoral violence and other electoral malpractices.

The Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state Mr Andy Ezeani lamented that only 33% or 480,000 voters out of 1.5 mi;;ion registered voters voted during the governorship election.

He called on the state government to step up voter sensitisation in partnership with INEC to ensure that by next election, at least 50 percent of registered voters will take part in electing the next governor.

Leave a Reply