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Tag: Umahi

  • PDP reacts to Umahi’s defection to APC

    PDP reacts to Umahi’s defection to APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said that Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi left the party for personal reasons, which Nigerians will come to know at the appropriate time.

    The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, appreciated Umahi for services rendered to the people of Ebonyi.

    This, according to Ologbondiyan, includes when Umahi served as the State Chairman of Ebonyi PDP (2003 to 2007); deputy governor of the state (2007 to 2015) and two term governor of Ebonyi (2015 till date), all elected on the platform of the PDP.

    Ologbondiyan while wishing Umahi the best in his adventure called on the PDP members to remain calm and committed to the ideals of the party, saying no individual is bigger than the PDP.

    The governor on Thursday confirming his defection from the PDP to the All Progressive Congress (APC), said he would not regret the decision no matter its outcome.

  • 2023: Umahi dumped PDP for APC in bid to become Nigeria’s president – Wike

    2023: Umahi dumped PDP for APC in bid to become Nigeria’s president – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said his Ebonyi counterpart, David Umahi’s desire to be All Progressives Congress, APC’s presidential candidate was why he dumped Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    Wike said Umahi’s allegation that there was injustice in South-East’s PDP was not true, adding that “committed members of PDP were not surprised that Governor Umahi, on Tuesday, formally defected to APC, which he has for a while been fraternising with.”

    Governor Wike, said he felt offended by his (Umahi’s) attempt to justify his decision on the purported injustice meted on the South East by the PDP.

    In a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Assistant (Media) on Tuesday, Wike accused Umahi of being unfair to PDP, which gave him governorship ticket in 2015 against all odds, and repeated the same feat in 2019.”

    Wike said while Umahi has a right to move to APC, to attempt to blackmail PDP and paint it in a bad light was mischievous and unacceptable.

    However, while APC welcomed Umahi “home”, Umahi said there was no discussion in APC where he was promised any position in the cause of his defection, adding that his movement was a protest for the injustice being done to the South-East by the PDP.”

    But Wike, faulting the premises of Umahi’s defection, said: “My friend, Umahi, wants to be president. There is no problem about that.

    “You have a right to be President. Nobody can stop you. You are educated. You have been a governor for two terms, so you are qualified to say I want to be president of Nigeria.

    “But that does not mean that because you want to blackmail your party, and tell lies to the people you are leaving the party because of the injustice meted against the South-East; that is not correct.”

    Governor Wike, who demanded that Umahi should retract the statement that the PDP has not been fair to the South-East, argued that under PDP, the South-East has produced Senate Presidents; National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Secretary to the Federal Government.

    He said it was erroneous for his Ebonyi counterpart to accuse PDP of injustice when he had unilaterally imposed his younger brother as South-East zonal Vice Chairman of the PDP.

    The governor said though APC has not yet told Nigerians where it will zone its presidential ticket, Umahi’s presumptuous move might be too hasty and will ruin him politically.

    According to him, assuming the APC decides to zone its presidential ticket to the South-East, where the party has no formidable base, what is the guarantee that Umahi will secure the ticket?

  • 2023: “I want to be a martyr, sacrificed to achieve Igbo Presidency” – Umahi

    2023: “I want to be a martyr, sacrificed to achieve Igbo Presidency” – Umahi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has said he wants to be a martyr who will be sacrificed to achieve the much-sought Igbo presidency.

    Umahi made the declaration on Tuesday in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen, noting that only martyrs make sacrifices for the peoples’ interest in difficult times.

    The governor, who confirmed that he is defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC), said he will not regret the decision no matter its outcome.

    “I have to lead the protest against the marginalisation of the Igbos by the PDP and I don’t have to consult anybody to lead such a protest.

    “I don’t want the PDP to collapse in the south east but it can collapse itself in the zone if it does not heed to the peoples’ advice to entrench justice, fairness and equity.

    “The PDP should be bold to declare its stand on zoning of the presidency to the south east and if it cannot, should tell us why we are not capable of holding such a position but will come for our votes during elections,” he said.

    Umahi said that the decision to leave PDP was not about leadership but about patriotism, justice, fairness and the overall interest of the people.

    “I am not vying for any position in the APC so anybody who does not like me over the defection will be fighting the air.

    “I will instead play the fatherly role of guiding anyone who wants to vie for any position because it is a waste of time for any governor to seek replacing himself.

    “When you are looking for everybody to be loyal to you in politics, you might not get to your destination because destinations are not straight but full of obstacles,” he said.

    Umahi said that he will not be disturbed if the APC fails to zone the presidency to the south east but will depend on God to determine the matter.

    “The APC, however, appears to be amenable towards working with the south east even though the south east never supported it the way it supported the PDP since 1999.

    “We would be 24 years with the PDP by 2023 and Ebonyi, under my administration, will testify the numerous feats we have attained with the support of my friend and father, President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

    He said that his defection has created a political gathering and mass movement, unprecedented in Ebonyi history with both PDP and APC faithful coming together to pursue a common cause.

    “I will have no regrets if our agitations are not met in APC as it will be on record that a governor was sacrificed for the betterment of his people on what is rightfully, their due.

    “We will still protest if we are still unfairly treated in the APC because protest is the beauty of democracy and if it doesn’t work now, it can work in future,” he said.

  • Umahi’s defection to APC will happen ‘few hours from now’ – Uzodinma

    Umahi’s defection to APC will happen ‘few hours from now’ – Uzodinma

    Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma on Monday said more South-East governors from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are expected in the ruling All Progressives Congress in due course.

    He also said the defection of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to the governing party is a done deal.

    Addressing newsmen after a brief consultation with the Chairman of the Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja said more state governors from the geo-political zone are on the waiting list to jump ship to the fold of the ruling party soon.

    Uzodinma attributed the much touted defection of Umahi to the concerted efforts by APC leaders to make an in-road into the South East geopolitical zone.

    According to him, “if you recall when I addressed you here couple of months ago, I told you that the moment I resume office in Imo State as the governor, that the impression and the perception of our party in South East will change and the resultant effect will be that more credible individuals and governors will even join the party.

    “Today I am being vindicated because we are hearing it and I’m sure few hours from now we get a confirmation that one of our best will be joining the party and is the Governor of Ebonyi State.

    “Of course, I will be very glad and it will be my joy to welcome a governor and more governors, not only him, we are still talking more governors to join.”

    He further said that “APC is the ruling party and for the interest of national integration and cohesion, Imo and South East indeed, need to become part and parcel of the ruling party to make the Nigerian project a complete project.”

    On his visit to the party’s headquarters, the Governor said, “I had a private audience with the National Chairman and some members of the NWC (Caretaker Committee) and also to be able to touch base with our preparedness for the upcoming bye-election.

    “Of course you know any moment from now there will be a senatorial bye-election in Imo State, Imo North Senatorial District and I think our party is prepared, in Imo too we are prepared. APC is the party to beat in Imo state.

    “The most important thing is APC to win the election. The party has internal mechanism of confirming who the candidate is. The Supreme Court has said it; the Electoral Act has said it. Every party has the right and it is only the party that sponsors a candidate.

    “Of course we have our candidate, there are some few legal issues going on. I don’t want to go into that now because the matter is pending in court, it is subjudice but at the end of the day we have a candidate.”

  • Umahi’s defection: You are inheriting our problem, Hon Teejay Yusuf tells APC

    Umahi’s defection: You are inheriting our problem, Hon Teejay Yusuf tells APC

    With Ebonyi state Governor, Dave Umahi, the All Progressives Congress is inheriting a burden of deceitfulness, dictatorial tendencies and perpetually questionable loyalty which was being managed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Hon Teejay Yusuf who represents Ijumu/Kabba-Bunu Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives made this declaration in a statement he issued on Saturday.

    The top ranking lawmker said”At last, the yoke of deep character flaws, puzzling over commitment to self at the expense of party and troubling anti-people tendencies that we coped with is about to be cast off the PDP,” Honourable Yusuf said.

    The legislator criticised leaders of his own party, the PDP for allowing Gov Umahi a second term even after his character flaws and dictatorial tendencies had started manifesting, adding that Umahi’s romance with APC likely began since 2015.

    Commending members of the Ebonyi state House of Assembly who have chosen to steadfastly desist from joining what he described as ‘Umahi’s political misadventure’, Hon Yusuf emphasized that no serious political party will entertain the delusion of seeing carpet-crossing Ebonyi state Governor, Dave Umahi as its presidential candidate.

    According to the legislator, it is wrong for Umahi to try project his vaunting personal political ambition as an Igbo cause, especially when APC has not declared any intention to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the South East zone.

    “A deceitful man carrying around a perpetually bruised ego is the worst element to consider for presidential candidature in the worst political party that ever existed.

    “Umahi’ s dictatorial tendencies got unmasked in Ebonyi state where the governor could order an arrest for simply observing a loved one’s wake-keep and then try to ban journalists for life, just because they reported happenings in the state.

    “Even after benefiting so much from a political party that continuously tolerated his known tendencies for so long, Umahi had the guts to tell the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Tuesday that he was leaving the party.

    “In a move that the International Press Centre (IPC) described as “executive lawlessness”, Umahi did a state-wide live broadcast where he stated that he was banning for life, the state correspondent of ‘The Sun’ newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and his Vanguard counterpart, Peter Okutu, from entering the Ebonyi Government House or any other government facility within the state.

    “Mr. Agwu’ s only offence was that he did a report on the Lassa Fever outbreak in Ebonyi state, and Mr Okutu reported on an alleged crisis in Ohaukwu local government area.

    “Indeed, how many other governors threaten journalists with “koboko” (horse whip) and how many governors’ actions has the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) described as an unfortunate and sad reminder of the rule by force under military regimes?

    “Why should a governor order the indiscriminate shooting of those who elected him, if anyone of them dares hinder his convoy’s passing on the road?

    “Although he bowed to pressure and withdrew his rather dictatorial pronouncements, Governor Umahi’s capacity to tolerate people’s genuine exercise of democratic rights remains questionable.

    “Someone with such character deficits can never be an asset but a liability to facilitate his party’s defeat; nobody in PDP should bemoan losing Umahi and his baggage of political misadventure to any other party”, Hon Teejay Yusuf stated.

  • Photos: PDP leaders hold ‘crucial meeting’ with Ebonyi governor over alleged defection to APC

    Photos: PDP leaders hold ‘crucial meeting’ with Ebonyi governor over alleged defection to APC

    Sequel to news making the roundabout on his proposed defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State Governor Engineer Dave Umahi was on Tuesday engaged in a crucial meeting by the PDP leaders in Abuja.

    The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) moved to stop the governor from leaving the party.

    The party spokesman, Kola Ologbondiya, released pictures from the meeting and wrote: “State of the nation: @OfficialPDPNig just held a crucial meeting with Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, to deliberate on national issues.”

    The governor was seen in the pictures smiling and holding hands with the National Chairman Uche Secondus and other NWC members.

    Sources in the state maintained that the defection is on course.

    It was gathered that two very close aides of the governor met with the 64 development centre coordinators in the state where modalities for the defection were discussed.

    Sources at the meeting said no date was fixed for the defection but that it is imminent.

    The sources said the two aides, who are members of the governor’s kitchen cabinet as well as the State Executive Council, told the coordinators that there was no going back on the defection.

    The coordinators also pledged their support and that of their supporters in their domains to the governor in whatever step he takes.

    Also, the 13 local government chairmen who were present at the meeting reiterated their support and readiness to defect with the governor.

    “Wherever the governor and our leader goes, we will go with him. We are very loyal and committed to the project,” one of those at the meeting said.

    One of the coordinators posted an APC flag on his social media handle after the meeting and wrote: “APC, here I come, and I come in peace.”

    The source said the governor’s recent engagements as the Southeast Governors Forum chairman, especially on issues around #EndSARS, may have delayed the yet-to-be-announced defection decision.

    It was also learnt that 16 of the 24 members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly have so far agreed to jump ship with the governor.

    The APC in the state at the weekend said the governor’s defection was a done deal and only a matter of time.

  • Ebonyi Commissioner speaks on Gov Umahi’s defection to APC

    Ebonyi Commissioner speaks on Gov Umahi’s defection to APC

    Mr Uchenna Orji, Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and Orientation has said that only Gov Dave Umahi would decide if he would leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or not.

    Orji made the disclosure in Abakaliki on Sunday while reacting to the statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the governor had concluded plans to defect to the party.

    The commissioner said ‘it was better to get to the bridge first before thinking on how to cross it’.

    “What is important is that we enjoy good governance in Ebonyi but it will be better to hear from the horse’s mouth because I am not the horse” he said.

    According to reports, Sen. Julius Ucha, an APC Leader in Ebonyi on Sunday declared that Gov. Umahi is actually on his way to join the party from the PDP.

    Ucha, the Former Senator representing Ebonyi Central zone at the National Assembly and presently a member of the National Assembly Service Commission, disclosed this during the party’s stakeholders meeting in Abakaliki.

    The former Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly and an APC Gubernatorial Candidate said the matter had been concluded at the appropriate quarters and was no longer a joke.

    “This will ensure that for the first time, APC will be in control of governance in the state and will make the governors of other south east states to declare for the party.

    “I told President Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to the state in 2017 that governors are very powerful individuals who could not be ignored in any way.

    “We should continue praying that nothing stops this move because the world’s greatest wireless connection is prayer,” he said.

    He urged the party faithful to unite in actualising the objective noting factionalisation will be detrimental to the cause.

    “The struggle for party leadership does not make sense as I have been struggling since I left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

    “The struggles in most cases have been in vain and I will not continue to struggle or be interested in factions.

    “Party faithful should also ensure they register in the forthcoming party’s registration exercise because ‘overtaking’ is allowed in party affairs,” he said.

    Sen. Anthony Agbo, former Senator representing Ebonyi North zone at the National Assembly also declared that APC in the state had made a ‘big catch’ with the governor’s intending move to the party.

    “This also implies that the party in the south east has made a big catch and the party in Nigeria- making possibly, the biggest catch with the intended move.

    “We, the APC leaders, are presently making the move public as the governor has excelled in infrastructural transformation among other sectors of governance.

    Recall that the state’s political sphere has been dominated by the reports of Umahi’s defection to the APC but the governor recently said that he was still a member of the PDP.

  • Lekki shootings: Umahi apologises on behalf of Nigerian leaders

    Lekki shootings: Umahi apologises on behalf of Nigerian leaders

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has appealed to youths to forgive the country’s leaders, noting that the leaders had learnt valuable lessons from the prevailing disturbing situation.

    Umahi, who made the appeal on Friday during an address to the people of the state, insisted that the country needed to move forward after the killings and destruction of valuable properties.

    The governor urged the youths to particularly, forgive the “unwarranted’’ and regrettable’ shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos, as the south-east leaders were pained over the incident.

    “Our hearts go to the families of the deceased, and we enjoin the Federal and Lagos State Governments to quicken investigation into the incident.

    “It was an act of the devil and the infrastructure being destroyed across the country are for you as leaders of the future.

    “You need to be alive to actualise this future because some of you will be presidents, governors, lawmakers, and ministers among others.

    “No one lives on earth forever, so, we seek your forgiveness so that we will go back to the drawing board,” he said.

    He urged state governments to draw youths closer to their administrations to enable them to have a say in the scheme of things.

    “Youths should be brought closer to issues of budgeting, dynamics, and difficulties of governance among others to enable us to have a better society.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Insecurity: Umahi rules out sabotage, advises Buhari to retain service chiefs

    Insecurity: Umahi rules out sabotage, advises Buhari to retain service chiefs

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on Friday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to retain the current armed force service chiefs against the backdrop of calls from several quarters to replace them.

    Umahi gave the advice while laying the foundation stone of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Abakaliki.

    The governor said that instead of replacing the service chiefs, the president should increase military funding and other logistics as well as enhance programmes that would make them work optimally.

    “The president should also increase his meetings with them and enhance mechanisms that will make the civil populace co-operate and provide them with relevant information.

    “It is difficult for people to do anything without information and at this stage of our security situation, whosoever that is coming to replace them will start ‘learning the ropes,” he said.

    Umahi said that Nigerians “like change a lot which makes everyone desire to taste every seat.”

    “This is not what we need at this crucial time of our security challenges as every decision taken by the present service chiefs are not taken by them alone, but with other senior officers.

    “No man wants to die, so there is no way the army can sabotage itself.

    “It was unfortunate that my colleague (Borno Governor) was ambushed, but I commend the army for the way it handled the matter professionally and with humility,” he said.

    Umahi pledged the state government’s co-operation to ensure the completion of the hospital and commended the army for its friendly disposition to the Ebonyi civilian populace.

  • Only God can decide my next political move after 2023 – Umahi

    Only God can decide my next political move after 2023 – Umahi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Wednesday said that only God will decide his next destination after leaving office as the state’s governor in 2023.
    Umahi made the declaration in Abakaliki while reacting to speculations making the rounds that he was eying the federal level with the aim of replicating his infrastructural strides at the national level.
    Umahi had inspected some on-going projects across the state including the new Ebonyi Airport, the International Shopping Mall and the new EXCO Chamber, after which a newsman threw in the question.
    The governor said that he had done a lot of work since assuming the mantle of leadership of the state and ‘will want to rest’ after leaving office.
    “I have worked so hard from my youth, even harder for the government but it is up to God to decide whether to rest or not at the end of my tenure.
    “God is on my mind. Where He wants me to go, I will go and what He wants me to do, I will do.
    “I keep saying that leadership is about the fear of God, passion to work for the people and the realisation that this is a transitional camp which we will all leave sooner or later,” he said.
    Umahi said that he embarked on monumental projects to enhance the people’s wellbeing and correct the wrong notion about the state which made people to ‘look down’ on it.
    “We want to punish people who underrate us by embarking on these monumental projects that they cannot see elsewhere.
    “When you have the passion to help people, God will be with you and give you the divine wisdom to actualise all your goals.
    “God sees the hearts of men and it is not what men say, we politicians say, that matter but the heart which God sees.
    “God will bring somebody who will take care of these projects after I leave office and ensure that they are judiciously channeled toward helping the people,” he said.
    He said that the projects had not been stalled by lack of funds even for one day because he had the biblical favour of ‘when men are saying cast-down, God is saying cast-up’.
    “When God sends you on a mission, He gives you the vision to accomplish it and you cannot even have a vision if you don’t have passion.
    “God gave us the experience as we have done this job (construction) for more than 30 years in the private sector, complemented by God’s grace and wisdom,” he said.