AS EBONYI ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS MINORITY LEADER, STATE GOVERNMENT DIRECTS EEDC TO WITH- HOLD ELECTRICTY SUPPLY TO AFIKPO UNTIL THE PEOPLE REPLACES PROPERTIES DAMAGED BY THEIR DEMONSTRATING YOUTH

The youths of Afikpo North Local Government Area of

Ebonyi State, on 17th August 2015 Monday morning, amidst heavy downpour, came
out enmasse to demonstrate over the indefinite power
outage/black-outage in the land, which has lasted almost
one year.
The youths were seen marching under the heavy rain and

chanting to express their annoyance, as they moved
towards the office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution
Company(EEDC) in Afikpo.
 The demonstration which led to traffic hold-up
at some axis in Afikpo in addition to the closure of markets
and other businesses within the town for the whole day.
Later on, Ebonyi State Government directed the Enugu Electricity
Distribution Company(EEDC), whose properties were
destroyed by some aggrieved youths who demonstrated
over the long and indifite power outage in Afikpo, not to
restore light to the area until the people replace all
government and EEDC properties damaged by the youths.

This directive was given by the state Commissioner for
Power, Chief Emmanuel Uguru, while having a meeting with the
(EEDC)officials , who visited his office in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The Commissioner frowned at the height of damages
recorded as a result of the youths' demonstration
on Monday and therefore blamed the youths of Afikpo North
for taking laws into their hands, noting that the state
government would not condone act of lawlessness and destruction
of private or government properties in the state.
Mr.Uguru used the avenue to thank the management of the
EEDC for improving the supply of electricity to some parts
of the state and also requested that the company should
hasten the provision of Pre-paid Meters to the state, inorder
to check estimated billing of their customers.
The Commissioner also urged Ebonyians to conduct
themselves well by channeling their problems to the
appropriate quarters whenever they feel offended.
It could be recalled that the people of Afikpo area have exprienced
complete power outage and blackout for almost a year now,
leading their youths to demonstration.

In another development Ebonyi State House of Assembly, on Wednesday 19th August during plenary session suspended
the Minority Leader of the House and member representing
Afikpo North-East Constituency, Honourable Maria Ude
Nwachi, for allegedly masterminding last Monday's Youths
demonstration against the Enugu Electricity Distribution
Compamy(EEDC) in Afikpo North Local Government Area of
the state,which according to the House, led to the burning of
three vehicles of the EEDC.

The motion for the suspension was moved by Onu Nwonye representing Ohaozara West
Constituency and seconded by Victor Chukwu represting
Ezza North-West Constituency.
The Minority Leader, Maria Nwachi was
accused of aiding voilence and holding road users to
ransome for several hours by blocking Afikpo-Abakaliki
Highway.
The Speaker of the House, Honourable Francis Nwifuru,
after listening to the motion, regretted the actions of Maria
Ude Nwachi, maintaining that the suspension will serve as a
deterrent to any member that would want to discredit the
intergrity of the honourable Assembly. The suspension is to last for fourteen (14)days