EBONYI PDP CRISIS: ELECHI KINSMAN COMMISSIONER RESIGNS

The political woes of Ebonyi State governor, Chief Martin Elechi heightened Monday morning with the resignation of his Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies, Elder Fred Udeogu.



Apart from being Elechi’s kinsman, Udeogu was one of the greatest supporters of the embattled governor.

In a letter dated 19th January, 2014, Udeogu blamed the resignation on his inability to belong to two political parties.

“I have considered the prevailing political circumstances in the state and since my opinion is not needed in sorting out the problems at hand, I considered it morally wise to resign.

“I feel I can’t belong to two political parties at the same time as that would call to question my integrity,” noted Udeogu, a highly respected politician in the state.

Aged 51, Udeogu cut his political teeth in 1991 when he was elected member of the Enugu State House of Assembly.

He has served as chairman, Ikwo-east Local Government Area.

In 2003, Governor Sam Egwu appointed Udeogu Commissioner for Lands. In 2007, Elechi appointed Udeogu Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies, a portfolio he held until this morning.

Efforts to get the governor’s spokesman, Dr. Onyekachi Eni comment on the resignation proved futile.

Septuagenarian Elechi recently lost a political battle to install the immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu his successor.

Pointblanknews.com gathered that Udeogu was one of the few serving members of the Elechi cabinet who advised the governor to back his deputy, Dave Umahi, for the position.

Udeogu’s position on Umahi had reportedly pitted him against Elechi, who saw the move as political betrayal by his kinsman.

“With Udeogu overt support for Umahi, his resignation was only a matter of time. I guess he will now have all the time and freedom to work for Umahi and the PDP,” noted a top party officer.

Last Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan and top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stormed Ebonyi State in continuation of the party’s presidential campaign.

Since Chukwu’s defeat by Umahi, Elechi had been reportedly romancing Labour Party (LP). Jonathan’s visit plunged the governor in an awkward position as he physically witnessed the formal handing over of the PDP flag to Umahi.