The immediate-past governor of Ebonyi State and serving Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has maintained that he had no plan to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure with Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, ahead of the party congresses in the State.
Senator Umahi noted that Governor Nwifuru remains the undisputable leader of the APC and has the final say on the running of the party and its structure in the state.
Senator Umahi made the disclosure at Amuro Mgbom Primary School in Afikpo local government area of the State during the flag-off ceremony for the construction of Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Super Highway.
He said those insinuating that he was in disagreement with Governor Nwifuru over the structure of the party in the state were doing so for selfish political reasons.
“Some hungry persons have been trying to cause crisis in this state. But I am not available. I have been badly used in the past, but not anymore. I am not available again.
“I was governor for eight years in this state, and I controlled all the structures without interference from any quarter. Yet, some people think that after leaving office, I will come back to contest structure with my successor.
“I can’t do that. I am too busy for that. The governor is the leader of the party in the State, and his words are final as far as party structure is concerned.
“When you will be conducting your congresses and convention, I would be in Dubai; you won’t see me here,” Umahi stated.
The former governor also debunked another falsehood to the effect that Governor Nwifuru signed agreement with the party to do just one term in office, saying such insinuation only existed in the imagination of the purveyors.
“There is no such agreement anywhere. I supported him to become governor without any condition. His eight years is sacrosanct. That is already taken for granted. Now, we are even looking beyond the next eight years, as there is no opposition in Ebonyi.
“As David, I fought wars for eight years. But he is very lucky. No opposition anywhere under him. Those who could have opposed him have all joined us. So he is the luckiest governor Ebonyi has produced,” Umahi added.
He commended the Ebonyi State governor for uniting the state, and urged him to ignore his critics while focusing on his developmental strides.
He argued that those criticising him now would later praise him when he leaves office. “When I was governor, they were shouting hunger, hunger everywhere. They said I was doing nothing. But now, they say I was a good governor. But they criticised me bitterly when I was in office.
“So I urge you to remain focused, and continue to work for the state. You have my support and the support of the good people of Ebonyi State,” Umahi told Nwifuru.
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