By CHARLES IWUOHA

Ebonyi State Governor at the weekend reiterated that he was still sad over the outcome of the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar respectively.

Umahi who spoke in Abakaliki when he received members of the Ebonyi State Founding Fathers, the Governor expressed displeasure over the roles of the people of South-East during the primaries, explaining that their roles raised a question mark on the sincerity of their agitation for a President of South-east extraction.

Addressing the founding fathers, led by the former Deputy Governor of old Imo State, Chief Francis Orji, Umahi noted that the people of the Southeast zone couldn’t demonstrate the clamour of the South East Presidency.

The Governor was quoted by his spokesman, Mr Francis Nwaze, as saying: “My heart is saddened by the outcome of the APC and PDP presidential primaries because when we were saying that we are clamouring for Southeast president and it was time to demonstrate it, the Southeast people couldn’t demonstrate it, so, it caused a lot of doubts on the sincerity of Southeast on their quest but if not for anything else, I have achieved a state with proven character and content, we must be very proud of ourselves and we know that in God’s time, it will come to pass.

“My defection to All Progressives Congress, APC, was in the interest of the state and Southeast in general but it was misjudged because if our people had taken my reasons seriously, probably, we would have been differently treated, especially in the party that we have invested so much in since 1999. But at the end of the day, I became a prophet because all I predicted came to pass.”

Umahi expressed satisfaction with the roles of the Ebonyi State Delegates during the just concluded All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primary, explaining that it ws an indication that Ebonyians were people of character and content.

He further informed the Founding Fathers of his wish for an elaborate celebration of his last democracy day as the Governor of the state by October.

“Let me inform you that we are going to have an elaborate celebration of Ebonyi at 26 years in October, that should be my last, by God’s grace, and the Founding Fathers will play a cardinal role during the celebration.

“In the rotation of the Governor position in the state, if the North has gone, the Central has gone and the South, it is equitably correct for it to go back to the North. So, within my nine to 10 months as the governor, I want the Founding Fathers to discover their feet and play their roles. The Founding Fathers are expected to come in between the line to even resolve communities’ bad bloods.

“The Founding Fathers should up their game in the making of the next Governor of the state. When it was decision time on who becomes the next governor, some people believed that it should be retained in Ebonyi South, you were there when I publicly declared that nobody from the South is expected to contest for the position of the next governor and so, I have to set up a Committee.

“The Committee went round and came back and said that the next rotation should start from the North and I stood by that. I expect that the Founding Fathers will play another significant role in maintaining equity, justice, and fairness.

“I expect you all to be vocal about equity, fairness, and justice for the peace of the state. What is just is for the North to start the second circle, after the North, the central, and then the South. So, I charge you to begin to draw the charter of equity now.

“People will say that it is a charter of equity written in the heart, but we are alive, and I will support you to do justice to that. I have demonstrated equity, fairness, and justice to the task, leverage on that, and be vocal about it. I will not want the South or Central to make the mistake that will hunt them tomorrow.”

The Leader of the delegation, Chief Orji, extolled Governor Umahi for his excellent performance in the recently concluded APC presidential primary, declaring that he won in their hearts and assured him of their continuous support for his government.

Orji said: “We are aware that Your Excellency asked for the Number One seat in this country, the Presidency, you moved on – campaigned very vigorously in every part of Nigeria – Northcentral, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, South-south, and Southeast.

“We watched with very kin interest and our Governor was not seen to have performed below other candidates who canvassed for votes. We stayed glued to our televisions when some people were called upon, they came and stepped down, but our Governor came out, very bravely, and sought for the votes of the Delegates to become the Number One person in the country.

“This was the intention of our founding fathers that Ebonyi people should be able to step up among other comity of states in Nigeria and proudly raise their hand. Ebonyi is the salt of the nation and anything without salt loses its taste.

“Your Excellency, you performed wonderfully well despite that you did not clinch the ticket, but you won in our hearts. What it means is that the time is yet to come for you to realize that ambition.

“We equally express our happiness for the character of our delegates from Ebonyi State, they never sold their votes, they never disappointed, they did not go for the money. You have carried Ebonyi people very well and we are proud of you. Your Excellency, we have confidence in you, our support is not in doubt.”

The Secretary of the Founding Fathers Forum, Dr. Boniface Chima, commended the Governor for his transformational strides in the state, describing it as an act of God and a proof of prudent management of scare resources.

“We equally thank you for all the things you have been doing, all the projects, we don’t know how the money comes but we have the projects despite the financial backdrop of the country.

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