South East governors have dispelled the trending report that the forum was against the nomination of former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State, who is the Chairman of the forum, told newsmen in Abakaliki on Tuesday that the governors and leaders of the zone were only worried because the decision that led to the nomination of Obi was taken outside the zone and without the input of the zone’s leaders.

He said that the development detracted from the respect due to the governors and leaders of the zone.

Umahi also wondered why nobody from Ebonyi State made the list of the initial nominees considered by the presidential candidate for his running mate, lamenting that the act smacked of marginalisation of the state.

He described Obi as a good friend, adding that the former Anambra governor was highly qualified to be the vice president of the nation judging from his track records, character, and competencies.

The Ebonyi governor, who was just appointed the South East Coordinator of Atiku/Obi Campaign Organisation, said he had no interest in the position, stressing that his current preoccupation was completing his second term and developing Ebonyi State.

“We have never said that Obi is not good for us; we have nothing against Obi, but we want – when decisions that concern us are being taken we want – to be part of that decision.

“Number two, the five names submitted, of course no governor in South-East wants to be vice president; everybody wants to finish his tenure.

“The five names for VP should have been five names from the five South-East states, but there was no name from Ebonyi and Imo states. I am a fighter of marginalisation of Ebonyi people.”

“If we are going to vote, we must be treated with equity. These are the issues; two names came from Anambra, one from Enugu, and one from Abia. So, what is wrong in having someone from Ebonyi and then one from Imo?

“These are the issues, but they are not as terrible as is being looked at. I know that my people put me on social media talking so many things about me, but it doesn’t move me.

“We must sit down with the presidential candidate and say look, if we work together, we must be part of the decision making.

“I am not talking about myself; I am talking about the leadership of the South-East.

“If six people can come from other regions to take decision and there is nobody from the South-East, and our people think it is right, so be it.

“Nobody is against Obi. The leaders of Ndigbo are saying that when decisions are taken and you invite people from other regions, invite people from the South-East.

“They never issued any statement and anybody from the South-East that is saying that my stand is not good is not a human being, because tomorrow is bigger than today.

“If Atiku had just announced his running mate without other people from other regions seeing the list and making inputs or choices, we wouldn’t have been bothered because nobody chooses a VP for anybody, it is like a wife.

“So, but if other people were there, at least one person from the South-East should have been there.

“Two, in particular, Ebonyi State shouldn’t have been neglected even if we will not make the list because the choice is for the man.

“You remember that one of the reasons that an Ebonyi man is not too comfortable with the issue of region is that we are afraid of further marginalisation. So, these are the issues.

“Obi is my friend. You would have seen our pictures on the social media. Yes, he is my good friend and we have worked together very, very well, and he said something to me and said look, ‘if I were you, I will be more bitter, I will make greater noise than you are making’.

•Sourced from Independent repor

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