Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, said executive order 3 which prohibits the use of school premises, marketplaces and motor parks for political rallies was not targeted at opposition political parties.
Umahi who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Mr Chooks Oko while reacting to the allegation of human rights abuses levelled against Ebonyi State government by a coalition of Human Rights groups, explained that the order affected all the political parties including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“There was never a time the State Government, under the leadership of our peace-loving Governor, Engr. David Umahi, CON, interfered or intends to interfere with the campaigns of other Political Parties in the State. As the Chief Security Officer of the State, the Governor has the responsibility to ensure the safety of the lives of citizens, as well as that of both public and private property in the State.
“There has previously been an avalanche of evidence where public properties: Schools, markets, Parks and other institutional open spaces and structures have been destroyed or badly defaced by unruly political party supporters during their gatherings.
“School children have been put into undue danger and panic. Such a development, coupled with the need to restore sanity in the midst of the already fake news-induced tension in the State birthed Executive Order 03 of 2022 which is principally aimed at safeguarding the lives of all citizens, including all political parties and their supporters.
“It is quite important that the public be made to understand that the Executive Order does not exclude nor targeted any political party in the State, no matter what name it is called: APC, PDP, APGA, LP, NNPP, AA, etc. All must comply.
“Moreso, the Executive Order also came as a proactive response to imminent security breaches. It never banned completely the use of such public spaces for gatherings, but simply prescribed that intending users should follow certain set-out procedures in order to have access to such premises, including applying for approval from the Ministry in charge of such the facility and a refundable deposit of a specified sum of money as indemnity against any untoward occurrence in the course of usage.
