. Says Party has been unfair to South East’
.Presidential ambition made Umahi to defect–WIKE
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Tuesday finally defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), insisting that the PDP has been unfair to the people of the south East geo-political zone of the country.
Addressing a crowded Press Media briefing at the Government House Abakaliki. Umahi debunks insinuations in some quartets that his defection to APC was sequel to his denial of Presidential ticket from the party.
Umahi frowned at critics who alluded that his defection was personal purposes and to buttress his Presidential ambition.
“Nobody promised me anything in APC, I moved because of injustice, I have no regret about it, I am satisfied being a Business man, I lead a protest today it will be on record”
“I am satisfied being a Governor for two tenure, I will protest and nothing will stop me. the Movement will cause PDP to know that no man is an Island”
“In 2023 I will be quitting politics, I am satisfied, I will be bold that I have fought a good fight, I promise I will never castigate PDP as I never castigated APC when I was in PDP”
“I never sought for PDP Presidential ticket, it is mischievous to say that was why I was leaving the party because of that”
The Governor emphasised that he offered the movement as a protest to injustice metres out to the people of the south east zone since 1999 by the party.
“One of the Founding members of the PDP Dr Alex Ekwueme is from South-East, It is absurd that from 1999 south east has never been considered for Presidential ticket of the party”
Umahi reiterated that prominent personalities and Leaders including former President Olusegun Obasanjo have advocated for the PDP zoning it’s Presidential ticket to the south east .
On whether he has been able to reach out to other Governors of the south east zone, Umahi maintained that it takes only one person to lead a crusade.
“It is sacrifice. PDP can collapse in South-East if they fail to heed to advice, without justice and equity this country can never move forward”
The State Chief Executive reiterated that the All Progressive Congress (APC) was amenable working with the south east zone.
“There is nobody in the south east that does not support this Movement, ”
“Speaking against the backdrop of the Statement credited to the National Publicity Secretary of PDP Kola Olagbodiyan that it was premature to talk of zoning Presidential ticket. Umahi maintained that in 2015 the Party zoned the 2019 Presidential ticket then.
He emphasised that Igbo Presidency will strengthen the unity and oneness of the country.
“Igbos have investments at every nooks and crannies of the country,,”
PDP reacts says Umahi left for personal reasons
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says that the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, left our party for personal reasons, which Nigerians will come to know at the fullness of time.
Our party thanks Governor Umahi for services rendered to the people of Ebonyi state, as the State Chairman of Ebonyi PDP (2003 to 2007); deputy governor of Ebonyi state (2007 to 2015) and two term governor of Ebonyi (2015 till date), all elected on the platform of the PDP.
As we wish Governor Umahi all the best in his adventure, we call on the members of our party to remain calm and committed to the ideals of our party as no individual is bigger than the PDP.
Presidential ambition made Umahi to defect–WIKE
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi quest to be All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate in 2023 and not alleged injustice meted on the South-East by the Peoples Democratic Party, has been identified for his defection.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who made this assertion, said committed members of the PDP were not surprised that Governor Umahi on Tuesday formally defected to the APC, which he has for a while been fraternising with.
Wike said ordinarily he would not have been perturbed by Umahi’s decision to defect to the APC, but, he felt offended by his attempt to justify his decision on the purported injustice meted on the South-East by the PDP.
He accused Umahi of being unfair to the PDP which gave him governorship ticket in 2015 against all odds, and repeated same feat in 2019.
He noted that while Umahi has a right to move to the APC, but for him to attempt to blackmail the PDP and paint it in a bad light was mischievous and unacceptable.
“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 you have 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,” he stated.
Wike, who demanded that Umahi should retract the statement that the PDP has not been fair to the South-East, argued that under the PDP, the South East has produced Senate Presidents; National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
He said it was erroneous for the governor to accuse PDP of injustice, when he had unilaterally imposed his younger brother as South-East zonal Vice Chairman of the PDP.
“In life, power is sweet, but conscience is important. It is most offensive and insulting for a man to lie against his party because of power,” he added.
The governor said though APC has not yet told Nigerians where it will zone its presidential ticket, Umahi 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.
“My reaction to Governor Umahi’s defection is not that he has no right to defect, but to say he is defecting because of injustice meted to the South East that is insulting to the South East,” he noted.
Wike urged the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the PDP to take decisive steps to ensure that PDP does not die in Ebonyi State, according to a statement by Mr. Kelvin Ebiri Special Assistant (Media) Rivers State Governor
