Gov Nwifuru’s Aide Blames External Interference on Ano Stone Dealers Crisis
The Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on Internal Security Ivo Local Government Area, Hon Ike Cletus yesterday said that external Interference during the Ano Stone Dealers Association election crisis that led to burning of cars, motorcycle and destruction of people’s properties.
In an interview with journalists in his country home in Amaeke Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of the State, Hon Ike noted that undue interference by some stakeholders of the local government in a trade union election caused the breakdown of law and order.
It would be recalled that several motorcycles, cars and other properties were destroyed during the election while several others who were injured are either still in the hospital or have been discahrged.
According to him: “The reason there was that high level of destruction during the election is not far fetched. This is a Trade union organization, stone dealers association and not a political party. They want to have there election and there was an interest which didn’t allow them to freely conduct the election, but rather, the interest is to impose a caretaker committee on them against their wish, so on the process of trying to resist it, there were destruction of properties.
“Immediately I got wind of the crisis as SA Internal Security of the local government, I had to establish contact with the people to ensure that normalcy returns to the area. I have all the data and report of all that happened.
“As SA Internal Security of the local government, on the day of the election, I wasn’t invited but other government functionaries from the State capital were invited. That they didn’t invite me didn’t stop me from intervening when the crisis erupted. I had to call many of them to order and the intervention yielded fruit.
Hon Ike expressed the regret that months after he made application for an office space at the headquarters of the local government as directed by the State Governor has not approved adding that the refusal to approve the office space has made him to operate from his country home in the community.
“I read in the social media the unfounded allegation that I don’t visit Ivo Local Government among other allegations, I can only describe the allegations as baseless and complete falsehood.
“As all of you can witness, am here relaxing with you people in my country home in Amaeke Ishiagu. And I have been here since yesterday and I am not hurrying to go back.
“Moreso, my job is intelligence gathering and am very sure am doing it perfectly well. Most times am the one that usually call on security agencies and other stakeholders of the local government to inform them of security incidences in the LGA for necessary action.
“For us we don’t have the powers to arrest but only intelligence gathering which I always work in collaboration with security agencies. So if anybody is accusing me of not sleeping in the local government, the person is not being truthful.
“I am supposed to be operating from Isiaka the headquarters of Ivo Local Government but up till now, the application I made to the local government Chairman for an office space has not been granted up till now, so that’s why am operating from my home in the village.
The SA Internal Security also debunked the allegation that he attempted instigating crisis during the Ishiagu Community Development Union ICDU Election adding that during the election, he only came to the venue of the election as SA on Internal Security Ivo LGA and to observed the process of the election.
“There was several meeting before the election and no one invited me for any of the meeting. The Governor directed us to ensure that there was total peace during and after the election, so how will I be the one to instigate crisis when the Governor has already given us a directive.
“Let it be known that I am only 100% loyal to the Governor and let it be known that I am not working under the local government Chairman, I am SA on Internal Security to the Governor and I have the mandate to report directly to the Governor.
He noted that he has set up an intelligence gathering team in all the villages in the local government adding that all the intelligence report from the team are sent to the security agencies for actions. I can tell you that some of those intelligence also led to the peace we are currently enjoying in Ivo Local Government today. Ends.
