In Ebonyi, Umahi’s N2m palliative tears Muslim community apart

  

A 2 million naira palliative given to Ebonyi Muslim community by Governor David Umahi has reportedly generated ripples as the people petitioned the chairman of Muslim Pilgrim Board, Abbass Egwu.

The coronavirus committee on palliatives in the state last  Friday rolled out the palliatives to residents of the state including the Muslim community.

On 18th may, the community members and leaders of Muslim communities in Abakaliki allegedly petitioned the state government saying that out of the two million naira cash and five hundred bags of 5kg rice for the Muslims in Ebonyi state, Abbass only shared 700,000 and pocketed 1.3milion naira.

A letter to the state Governor Umahi by Ebonyi State Muslim Community (ESMUCO)  tagged “ Criminal Diversion of Covid-19 Palliatives Given to the Muslim community/ Hausa Community of Ebonyi State by one Engr. Abbass Egwu” signed by Alahaji Danjuma Gambo, Sarkin, Hausa Community, Ebonyi state, Alhaji Salisu Yunusa, leader, Hausa Community Ezzamgbo and Alhaji Ibrahim Ogbonnia Amah, of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, the group called on the state government and  security operatives to investigate the distribution of the palliatives by Abbass and the money diverted to his pocket.

They noted that the Muslim pilgrim board chairman is not the leader of Muslim Community in Ebonyi state.

“ We wish to state for the record that the said Egwu is not the leader of the Ebonyi State Muslim/  Hausa Community. He is a government appointee whose tenure in office shall expire in a couple of years, though he has been arrogating to himself the status of the leader of the Ebonyi State Muslim/ Hausa Community to which he is not and can never be.

“On this Covid-19 palliatives, we are aware that the governor approved the sum of N2,000,000 only and 500 bags of 5kg rice for us, we state that the said impostor called Egwu collected the money and bags of rice without our consent and knowledge. He, in the comfort of his home, shared the money and rice as it suits his greed.

“In all, he shared the sum of 700,000 only and some bags of rice. He greedily pocketed the sum of N1, 300,000 only for himself to satisfy his unquenchable greed. We decry this act of sabotage on the good works of your government as well as robbing us of our legitimate entitlement from your government”.

In a telephone interview, the accused chairman of Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Egwu denied the allegation. 

He maintained that the money was judiciously shared to the eight central mosques scatted across the state.

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