The Executive Chairman of Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Prince Chima Ekumankama has denied sponsoring machinery to attack the Amasiri community, which is currently having a land dispute with his people.
The Chairman made the refusal to the
social media report accusing him of paying and sponsoring machinery to invade the Amasiri community, unleashing mayhem on the people in the lingering communal crisis between them and their neighbouring Idima Edda community.
It would be recalled that a viral post has been circulating on different social media platforms, calling on the people of the Amasiri Community to be on alert following the speculation of a possible attack by the machinery.
The post read: “Let all Amasiri NFSS Armsquard be on alert this night all over places, information reaching us that LGA chairman Edda paid machinery that will come in and fight us this night so be alert thanks”.
Prince Ekumankama in a press statement described the post as the figment of the imagination of the writers and a calculated attempt to drag him into the crisis but maintained that he has invested both his time, energy and resources to ensure that the crisis is brought to an end.
The council boss pointed out that the post is not only a heinous lie but a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage his reputation, endanger his life and security, and incite tension and unrest.
“I could have ignored the intentional cocktail of lies and blatant falsehood contained in the statement, but for the malicious intent the article purports, let me unequivocally state that the story is false and a maliciously fabricated blackmail.
I, Prince Chima Ekumankama am a peace-loving person who abhors violence and will never support any shedding of blood. Since the recent attack erupted between the people of Idima Edda Community and Ndukwe Amasiri Community, I have been making frantic efforts to take necessary steps to stop the killings.
“The people know that I Prince Chima Ekumankama am a peacemaker and do not engage in anything that can be bloodletting. This statement is not only a heinous lie but a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and security, and incite unrest.”
“Let me remind those propagating this falsehood to know that there’s no alternative to peace
Ekumankama urged members of the public to discountenance the falsehood and dismiss the vile propaganda adding that the State Government is committed towards ensuring that a lasting solution is brought between the two communities.