Days after falling short of clinching the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor David Umahi has come out to issue strong statements as he lampooned leaders from the region.
This as the governor chided the stakeholders, delegates from the South East as well as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor for abandoning the region in the struggle for the presidency of Igbo extraction.
Umahi while addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters who staged a heroic welcome for him on arrival to Ebonyi State after the Presidential Primary, declared that he no longer has interest in the ‘South-East’ agenda.
He also passed vote of no confidence on Obiozor, declaring that he would no longer recognize him as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Prior to the build-up to the presidential primary across the political parties in Nigeria, clamour for the presidency to be zone to South-East took center stage. Several groups including Ohanaeze, Afenifere, others endorsed South-East to produce the next president to allow for equity and fairness.
This made Umahi, Nwajiuba Chukwuemeka Uwaezuoke, Ogbonnaya Onu, among others purchased the N100m nomination and expression of interest forms of the APC. However, during the primary election, none of the aspirants from the region emerged as the presidential candidate. They were defeated by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who polled 1, 271 votes.
The region also lost the presidential ticket of the PDP to serial candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
Reacting to the defeat, Umahi lamented that Obiozor failed to stand for the South East region when it mattered most, saying, “it is a very big shame, I have no confidence in him and he is no longer my President.”
He also slammed delegates from other South East States who he said sold their votes to willing buyers instead of standing in defense of the calls for the Igbo Presidency.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the political actors from the South East zone for not justifying the agitations against the marginalization of Ndigbo during the just concluded Presidential Primary.
He said, “First, let me say to Ebonyi people, you are wonderful people, the Presidential election was a great eyeopener to every son and daughter of Ebonyi State and with your support, we fought very gallantly.
“I had series of meetings with the party’s chairmen in the five states of the zone, in the company of its national vice chairman. I implored on the delegates that the issue was not about me but the mood of the Igbos in the nation.
“I implored that they should vote for any South East aspirant so that when the votes are counted, we would not be missing.
“We would have made a strong statement in the process, that the Igbos are eminently qualified with due capacity to lead the country,
“There was no sort of lobbying I did not receive, but I maintained that it was about bringing the marginalisation of the Igbos to the fore.
“The setting of the Nation is well skewed against any contest for Igbo man, while every Zones has about eight States or more and South East has only five, how do you expect an Igbo man to win a contest under this kind of arrangement?
“Prof. Obiozor could not stand for Igbos when it mattered so much; it is a very big shame, I have no confidence in him and he is no longer my President.
“In the comity of South East, Ebonyi people are not regarded, I continue to say that Ebonyi will never be Biafra.
“I weep for our Leaders; we are now regarded as people that will sell anything for the sake of money, it is about equity, justice, and fairness upon which I continue to shout for the unity of this country.”
Umahi said he was no longer interested in South East agenda, but Ebonyi agenda only, assuring that he would fight publicly, anyone that fights against the interest of Ebonyi people.
“I am the Governor of Ebonyi State, the only agenda I have for South East now is Ebonyi Agenda, I continue to say that he who sells his brother, even the buyer will not trust him.
“Anyone that fights against the interest of Ebonyi people in the South East, I will fight the person Publicly, Ndigbo, get your PVC and bond together, you have seen that nobody wants you anymore, we have the fighting spirit and the spirit of our founding Fathers have been rekindled to fight for us.
“When Honourable people are needed in South East, they will come to Ebonyi State, everything is not money,” he added.hi
