Ebonyi Govt, LP Senatorial Candidate Bicker Over 10th Senate Presidency

Ebonyi State government and the Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South senatorial zone, Hon Linus Okorie, have differed over claims by Okorie that Governor David Umahi and senator-elect of Ebonyi South senatorial district is not qualified to be 10th Senate president.

In a statement signed by Hon Okorie and made available to LEADERSHIP, he said that Governor David Umahi was not qualified and competent to occupy the office of the President of the Senate.

Hon Okorie maintained that Umahi’s intention for the Senate Presidency was not only incongruous, deceptive and a caricature, but definitely “dead on arrival.”

He added that Umahi had craftily drafted Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike into the project, stressing that no senator-elect or politician would accord any seriousness to the ambition.

“First, Umahi has no mandate with which to pursue his imaginary ambition, as I am resolute in reclaiming my legitimate mandate at the election tribunal; the process of which is ongoing.

“Second, and of grave importance, the extant rules of the Senate and its subsisting precedents are clear on the primacy of cognate legislative experience for any aspirant to the exalted office; who on assumption also doubles as the Chairman of the National Assembly.

“It is important that as Ndigbo, we urgently revert to our old ways of putting our best foot forward. The Southeast cannot and should never allow self-serving political demagogues to usurp our opportunities, and we must take this seriously, especially in the Nigeria political turf that becomes more complex and dexterous by the daily.

“Let me reassure those eminently qualified Senators of Southeast extraction, especially Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and Sen. Osita Izunaso, that irrespective of political party differences, I wholeheartedly support their quest for the emergence of a Senate President from the Southeast, and I will continue to do so,” he said.

But in a swift reaction, the special assistant to the Ebonyi State governor on media and strategy, Mr Chooks Okoh said that Governor Umahi is in the Senate to stay adding that hundred litigations from Hon Okorie cannot shake the mandate freely given to him by the people who remain grateful for all he has done for them.

Okoh noted that Hon Okorie is an attention seeker who deludes himself that he belongs to where he knows he does not. “Had he any substance, one could begin to look at what he is saying. He is to be ignored as he is in no place to determine what happens outside his house.

“Umahi believes strongly in God and his ability to dispense power and favour to whom he deems fit. Petty jealous and bitter-hearted people pour hot coals on their heads in a bid to play God,” he said.

He stated that Umahi as a former party chairman, deputy governor and governor for eight years can handle any position of authority very well.