Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has cautioned against do or die politics ahead of 2019 general election.
Umahi, also Chairman, South East, Governors Forum stated this in a New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Uzor on Monday in Abakiliki.
He advised Nigerians to be more positive about the country and urged politicians to play by the rules as the country gets ready for the 2019 general election.
The governor acknowledged that Nigeria went through turbulent times in 2018 and called for a renewed belief in the country.
“As Nigerians approach the poll to elect their leaders in the New Year, one thing should be paramount to approach every election with every sense of brotherliness as elections are not wars,” Umahi.
He further advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to remain neutral in the conduct of the coming election.
He, however, maintained that the future of the country would be determined by the conduct of the 2019 general election.
Tag: David Umahi
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2019: Gov. Umahi cautions against do or die politics
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Ebonyi: 2 women, 31 others battle Umahi for governorship seat
Two women, Perpetual Ogbuekwu and Grace Uduma-Eze, and thirty-one other gubernatorial candidates will slug it out with incumbent Governor David Umahi in the 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi state.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this according to notices published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC) at its Head office in Abakaliki, capital of the State.
While Grace Uduma-Eze, from Afikpo North, represents the Independent Democratic Party (IDP), Perpetual Ogbuekwu, 31 years with Bachelor degree in education, from Ezza South, 2013 BEd EBSU, represents Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) party.
However, popular among the contestants, is Engr. Umahi, who is seeking for second tenure in office on the Peoples’Democratic Party (PDP) platform, and Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including a former commissioner of education. Chief Chibueze Ndubuisi Onwe.
The credentials of Gov. Umahi which were pasted yesterday at INEC, proved that he scored 5 Credits (C) which were in English Language, Statistics, Physics, Economics and Biology and 3 Alpha in Maths, Add Maths and Chemistry at Government College, Afikpo in 1982.
According to the record, the PDP guber candidate was born on 25th, July, 1963, obtained second class honours, bachelor degree in Engineering in 1987 from Anambra State University of Science and Technology, Enugu and did his NYSC from 6th December, 1987 to 5th December,1988.
On the other side, Sen. Ogbuoji of the APC proved that he was born on 29th Sept. 1954 and had made credits and Alpha in the eight subjects in his O level from Government College Umuahia in 1975.
He read animal science with second class degree from the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1981 after which he did his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 3rd August, 1981 to 2nd August, 1982.
While that of SDP candidate, spent nearly 8 years to obtain third class honour degree from Enugu state University of Science and Technology from 1996-2004.
Onwe, from the records at INEC proved that he attended his secondary school from Holy Ghost secondary school, Abakaliki where he failed to credit any subject he undertook including English and Maths in 1992 SSCE.
Other credentials which Onwe who was said to be born in.1972 and was submitted to INEC indicated that he was called to bar in 13 Nov. 2007.
Our correspondent who went round some areas in Abakaliki observed that commission has pasted names of voters in some polling units.
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Gov. Umahi warns against selective anti-corruption fight
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, on Sunday, warned against a selective method of fighting corruption, if the government was desirous of a successful anti-corruption fight.
According to him, if the government desires to achieve overwhelming result in its fight against corruption, it must adopt inclusive approach rather than selective method.
The governor made this remark at a media chat to mark the occasion of the 2018 Democracy Day at the Government House, Abakaliki.
He added that such approach should also be devoid of any political undertone for the the efforts to have a wide public acceptability.
The governor said Nigerians should laud the Federal Government for its determined effort in tackling the ugly monster in the country.
He noted that it was imperative for the Nigerian Government to reduce corruption to its barest minimum in in order for the country to regain its pride of place among the comity of nations.
The governor, however, opined that proactive measure rather reactive measure, would give the nation the much desired result in its quest to reducing corruption to its barest minimum.
“I recommend proactive measure for the fight against corruption. President Muhammadu Buhari’s ant-corruption fight is laudable; he means well and he is a man of integrity.
“I support the call that those who had embezzled our money should be able to give account of it and we must have the fear of God in whatever we do,” Umahi said.
On his administration’s achievement, Umahi noted that various ministries, departments and agencies in the state had performed optimally.
He said his administration had focused mainly on people’s oriented programmes, especially in the area of empowerment, and the payment of hospital bills for indigent persons in the state among others.
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2019: Umahi throws Ebonyi House of Assembly contests open
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has said that his administration and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would favour no candidate during the 2019 general elections’ for House of Assembly.
Umahi made the assertion on Monday at Ezillo, Ishiellu Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebony during a solidarity rally in his honour.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governor had earlier at several fora, canvassed for the re-election of all the House members.
Umahi, however, noted that the only exceptions were the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker with all the contestants required to organise rallies in their constituencies to test their popularities.
“We are appealing to the ‘divine mandate’ his (political structure) for peaceful primaries because we are not going to stop anybody from contesting.
“Continuity will, however, benefit Ebonyi people but we are not going to impose unpopular candidates on the people during the elections.
“I will attend the rallies you are going to organise individually because it is not only the delegates that will elect you during the primaries,’’ he said.
Umahi said that his vote during the election would be tied to those of the House of Assembly contestants and the masses needed not to be disfranchised in the process.
“We will support any contestant that mobilises the greatest number of people because I don’t want to take risks during the election.
“You should therefore, go back to the field and mobilise the people and not go to sleep because the governor has endorsed you,’’ he said.
He said the elders of the state would sit and decide on the National Assembly positions to avoid possible crises.
“We will not allow the other parties to benefit from our situation but ensure that all matters concerning the positions are resolved amicably without rancour.
“I thank the people of Ishiellu for the reception and commend them for maintaining the peace we instituted in the area, especially at the Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo communities,’’ he said.
Chief Austin Umahi, the PDP South-East Zonal Vice-Chairman, commended the people for supporting the governor and urged them to massively vote for him in the 2019 elections.
Umahi, who is the governor’s elder brother, noted that the best support for the governor was for the people to massively register in the ongoing voters registration exercise.
“Ebonyi is a PDP state as other political parties exist on the pages of newspapers, magazines and the social media,’’ he said.
Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the PDP Chairman in Ebonyi, also assured that the party would not endorse any candidate but allow all contestants to freely pursue their ambitions.
Mr Henry Eze, Chairman of the council, said the reception was to thank the governor for his numerous favours to the people in areas of infrastructure, empowerment and political appointments among others.
NAN reports that stakeholders pledged their solidarity to the governor as he was given the chieftaincy title of “Achinagbara Oha’’ meaning the seed that spreads to all by the council’s traditional rulers.
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Gov. Umahi orders arrest of policeman over alleged killing of Okada rider
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has ordered the immediate arrest of the policeman attached to the Anti Kidnap Squad (AK) of the Police Command in the state, who allegedly killed a commercial motorcycle operator, popularly known as Okada in Abakaliki.
Umahi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Uzor on Thursday in Abakaliki, also condemned the killing.
He described the incident as “barbaric and callous” and said that justice would be done in the matter.
He said that the incident had further called for more dedication, commitment and professional training for the nation’s security personnel to stop further killings of innocent Nigerians in the line of duty.
The governor assured that he would take up the matter with the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the policeman who allegedly killed the motorcyclist was punished in line with the rules of engagement.
He warned that his administration would not tolerate any form of mindless killing of innocent citizens or extra judicial killing by security agencies in the state.
He, therefore, ordered the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Titus Lamorde, to arrest the suspected killer-cop and other members of the squad in order to face the full weight of the law.
Umahi expressed his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and promised to visit the family when full information concerning his family was made available.
He called on the public to remain calm and not to take the laws into their hands as the situation was under control.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victim who was in his early 20s and whose identity was unknown, was allegedly shot dead at about 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday by a policeman attached to the AK Unit of the command on Water Works road, Abakaliki.
Meanwhile, the command’s Spokesperson, Mrs Lovett Odah, confirmed the incident but maintained that details were still sketchy.
“We will brief the press as soon we get full and accurate information on the incident, our men are still carrying out preliminary investigations into the alleged killing, “Odah said.
Policemen have condoned off some parts of Water Works Road, scene of the incident, firing teargas to disperse angry protesters to restore order.