Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and former Governor Sam Egwu on Wednesday publicly narrated how they outwitted the immediate past governor, Martin Elechi, and his allies, to emerge victorious in the April 11 and March 28, 2015 elections respectively.

They said during a thanksgiving service by Egwu, who is the current Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, in Umuebe in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, that they formed a prayer quartet and handed over their struggle to God.

While Egwu, who was the first to disclose this, described Umahi as the arrowhead of the struggle, the Ebonyi Governor said Egwu’s wife, Eunice, was their consultant.

The Senator disclosed that a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and the incumbent deputy governor of the state, Kelechi Igwe, were the other two members of the quartet.

He told the large gathering which included Anyim and members of the Ebonyi State Executive Council that they found out that Elechi was opposed to his candidature and that of Umahi because he wanted his in-laws to occupy the two positions.

The Senator said: “I remember a particular day, myself, Pius Anyim, David Umahi, and Kelechi Igwe sat down in the dining room of the former SGF (Anyim) and we prayed about our mission.

“We asked God to support us in the mission we had embarked upon. We knew it was difficult, very, very difficult, but we committed it into the hands of God. Four of us prayed that we were going by the grace of God to contest the elections; we prayed that Engr. David Umahi becomes the governor of Ebonyi State; myself to be the senator and Kelechi Igwe to be the deputy governor.

“Of course, Senator Anyim said he was not going for any position, but he would solidly be behind us.”

Egwu, who thanked God for answering their prayers, hailed Governor Umahi and

Senator Anyim, whom he described as the force behind his victory and the face of the struggle in Abuja. He called on political office seekers to always seek God’s endorsement.

Umahi, in his remarks, also narrated the struggle with former governor Elechi, even after he (Elechi) was advised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to allow Egwu and himself to contest the elections.

He disclosed that after their prayers in Anyim’s home, they became stronger and more determined to contest the elections.

The governor said: “We can’t thank you enough, our dear Senator Anyim; we can’t thank you enough. You got all the important personalities to help us; you also brought the funds needed alongside with your friends.

“At a time, we were more interested in former governor Egwu going to Senate than myself going for governorship position.”

He praised Eunice Egwu for lending her support to the struggle, adding that she was their main political consultant.

Senator Anyim said he was elated because their prayer for Umahi to become the governor of Ebonyi State and for Egwu to become a Senator was answered by God.

•Photo shows Senator Sam Egwu.

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