I did not call Buhari on Military— Ugwuanyi

Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has denied making calls to President Muhammadu Buhari, just as he lauded the President’s order that    the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Abayomi Olonisakin and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase should as as matter of urgency go after the suspected herdsmen.

 According to him, reports in online media that he made such a call to the President was not only baseless, but unfounded. In a statement by the Commissioner of Information, Dr. Godwin Udeghele and made available to Vanguard, yesterday, in Abuja, the governor urged the public to disregard such reports which he said cannot be substantiated” The statement read in part: “The attention of the Enugu State Government has been drawn to reports in online media and facebook that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was responsible for a call to President Muhammadu Buhari who refused to draft Military men to the state following killing of unarmed Nigerians in Uzo-Uwani Council of Enugu State, by persons suspected to be armed herdsmen.

 “The Government of Enugu wants to put it categorically clear that such a statement was never made and there was no time a call was made to the president or any one in the presidency.” “The government describes such media reports as baseless and unfounded which must be disregarded by the public as the need for such a call did not arise. “We are happy that President Muhammadu Buhari through his Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed has finally announced that as matter of urgency, the service chiefs should    go after the suspected herdsmen. “President Buhari said yesterday that he has also asked the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police to secure all the communities under attacks by suspected  herdsmen and go after the groups terrorising innocent people all over the country.

 “The Enugu state government is particularly happy that the President has asked that those behind the dastardly act be fished out and it is a welcome development as that had been the prayer of the state government. “Recall that on the receipt of a call by the chairman of Uzo-Uwani Council by  7pm  on Sunday, April 24, the Governor immediately summoned an Emergency security Council meeting by  10pm  and in attendance were the Garrison Commander who represented the GOC; the State Commissioner of Poiice, the State Director, DSS and others during which far reaching decisions were taken and they mobilized the same night and the troops were already at Uzo-Uwani. “Our prayer is that the action of the federal government would finally lay to rest these actions of suspected Herdsmen. “We urge the public to disregard the media reports as they cannot be substantiated. “The government of Enugu state wish to call on the people of the state to remain calm and go    about their normal businesses.”

Source: Vanguard