‘We never received funding’ — south-east security committee chairman resigns

Abel Umahi, chairman of the south-east security committee, has resigned his appointment.

Umahi, a retired major general who was appointed as chairman of the committee in August 2019 by the south-east governors’ forum, tendered his resignation in a letter dated June 4, 2021.

The letter was addressed to David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi and chairman of the forum.

In the letter, Umahi alleged that since its inception, the committee had never been funded and neither was an office space provided for it to run its affairs, despite carrying out its duties.

“Since this security committee was formed, we deliberated and agreed on ways to raise security consciousness down to the community level in Igbo land, mode of operations, logistics and some types of equipment required, such as drones, vehicles, etc. We also crafted the Concept of SE Security,” the letter reads in part.

“Additionally, I chaired a 21-man Committee set up to draft a legal framework for the SE Security outfit. The committee was composed of members of the SE Security committee, the Attorney Generals of the five South-East States and some prominent Igbo sons and daughters. The 21-man Legal Framework Committee was funded to completion by the Governor of Ebonyi State.

“On 11th April 2021, SE Governors announced the formation of EBUBEAGU at Owerri. Subsequently, the draft legal framework produced by the 21-man Committee was reviewed by SE Security Committee members and the Attorney Generals of the five SE States to suit South East Ebubeagu Security outfit.

“The SE Security Committee thoroughly prepared and submitted the modalities, including the structure, for the take-off of EBUBEAGU to the Governors’ Forum during the security of South East Governors’ Forum, attended by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and some other Igbo leaders presented a request that Ebubeagu should be jointly rolled out as a matter of urgency and also funded by the Government of the five SE States. From inception to date, SE Security Committee was never funded at all in any capacity and not even an office space was provided.

“At this juncture that EBUBEAGU will soon come fully on-stream, I respectfully request that Your Excellencies kindly permit me to resign my appointment as the chairman, SE Security Committee.

“In the spirit of my love to serve Ndigbo, I can assure you that I will always be available to advise on the success of EBUBEAGU at no cost, just as I served as the Chairman of South East Security Committee from 31 August 2019 till date at no cost directly or indirectly to the five South East State Governments, groups and individual.”

Ebube Agu was set up in April by south-east governors as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.