Governor Umahi Advises PDP Govs to Get Closer to President Buhari

As controversies trail Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi state defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, the defiant chief executive advised his critics to stop wasting their time because he actually joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Nov.10, while there were insinuations that he will leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

*APC chieftains with president Buhari

The governor who was speaking at a reception on Thursday morning in Abakaliki while hosting the progressives Governors Forum to official announce his exit from the PDP and entry into the APC. Speaking during the occasion. The governor told his audience:

“My defection to APC was in obedience to God’s will, respect for President Muhammadu Buhari and an honour to dignitaries present as well as obedience to the wish of Ebonyi people. Money means everything to many people but I choose wisdom from God.

“People asked why I was leaving PDP, but I told them that if APC would treat me nicely when I don’t have any relationship with it, what will happen when I am in its fold. I told them that even as large as APC is, one man does not control the party but in PDP, one man controls the party,” he said.

Giving aone of the reasons for his defection, Governor Umahi said:
“As the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, I applied for N10billion for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the president obliged without conditions.

“The president never treated any governor with disdain and presently that I am in APC, there is no guarantee that I will be treated better than those already in the party as well as the PDP governors. We can boast of infrastructure and economic supports from the APC-led federal government, but we cannot do such for the PDP led administration since 1999,” he said.

The governor advised other belligerent state governors and politicians to get closer to the president and understand him.

Speaking during the occasion, Alhaji Mai Buni, APC National Caretaker Chairman, congratulated Umahi and his supporters for joining the party reminding him that he was entitled to all rights and privileges due to progressives’ governors.

“You are automatically the leader of the party in the state and a waiver has been granted to you and your supporters across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. You should try to be fair to all members of the party, you must realise that there were people already there before you,” he said.

Alhaji Buni said that the APC caretaker committee has approved the dissolution of the state executive committee of the party and will be inaugurating the state caretaker committee of the party which will ensure the formation of all structures at wards and LGA levels.

©Pegasus Reporters