Politics, World News

Umahi emerges Ebonyi south senatorial candidate.

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Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Sunday, defeated his immediate younger brother, Chief Austin Umahi, and three others to emerge the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the rescheduled senatorial primary election for Ebonyi South.Umahi scored 250 votes to defeat his closest rival, Austin, who scored 10 votes to come second.Other contestants who stood for the primary, according to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Prof. Emmanuel Adebayo, included Ann Ago-Eze, who he said got no vote; Nwakaego Chukwu, who scored five votes; and Mrs Ibiam Margaret, who got three votes.However, our correspondent observed that Agom-Eze did not participate in the primary.

Announcing the result of the election, which took place at the Afikpo North Local Council headquarters on Sunday, Adebayo declared Umahi the winner of the election.He said, “I, Prof. Adebayo, by the powers bestowed on me by the National Working Committee of the party, declare as follows: total number of voters, 285, accredited votes, 270 votes; votes cast, 275; number of valid votes, 268; while invalid votes is seven votes.

“I do hereby declare that Mr David Umahi, having scored the highest votes, is hereby the winner of the primary election for Ebonyi South Senatorial zone.”

In his acceptance speech, Umahi commended the electoral committee for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the primary.He also commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him, assuring them that the APC would emerge victorious at the forthcoming general elections in the state come 2023.

Politics

Don’t be deceived by Umahi, Ebonyi is PDP State – PDP tells Tinubu

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The leadership of the main opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ebonyi State chapter has urged the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu not to be deceived by Governor David Umahi’s assurance on getting bulk votes from Ebonyi in the 2023 general election.

The PDP made this known in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Chika Nwoba and made available to DAILY POST in Abakaliki, insisting that Ebonyi State remained a stronghold of the PDP in the country.

The Party was responding to a statement credited to the State Governor, Chief David Umahi, wherein he called on the citizens of the State not to vote for Labour Party, LP, and the PDP in the forthcoming general election.

Umahi, who swore in five commissioners, Head of Service, HOS, and some co-ordinators of development centers, at the new Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, had tasked stakeholders not to support mushroom political Parties, especially LP wherein Mr Peter Obi emerged a Presidential candidate.

According to Nwoba: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State has been drawn to a statement credited to the Governor, Engr David Umahi wherein he said that Ebonyi people wouldn’t vote for the PDP presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, but would vote for the APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It should be known to the general public that David Umahi is not the spokesperson of the generality of the people of Ebonyi State and as such, doesn’t have the locus standi to say whom and whom not Ebonyi citizens are going to vote for.

“As a political party, we wish to charge Mr Umahi to put his house, APC, in Ebonyi State in order, so that the party can have a gubernatorial candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“A man whose house is on fire doesn’t run after rodents. Ebonyi citizens of voting age are very wise and know where to lay their hands in the time of rain. Without mincing words, Ebonyi is a PDP State and this status will be upheld beyond 2023.”

Nwoba further urged Nigerians to discard Umahi’s assurances of giving bulk votes to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, adding that the governor is speaking with the mind of failing the presidential primary election.

“We wish to inform Nigerians to discard that statement from Umahi, as he spoke in the emotion of a politician who failed woefully in the just concluded presidential primary election of the APC.

“We urge Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to reckon on the assurances of the defeated political general, whose booths are a modicum of manure in the soil of the Eagles Square,” the Party said.

Politics

Umahi visits Buhari, insists on political solution to Kanu’s case

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The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on Tuesday paid a “thank you visit” to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President paid two-day working visit to Ebonyi last week and commissioned some projects including a facility at the University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, the Presidential Lodge and the Government House in Abakaliki, among others.

The governor, who addressed State House correspondents at the end of the visit, said he was in the State House to deliver a letter of appreciation to the President from the leaders of the South-East region for his recent working visit to Ebonyi and by extension to the region.

He said: “I came to the Villa to see the President and give him a thank you letter from South-East leaders, which expresses their deep appreciation for the visit of the President on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi, by extension South-East.

“I thought it necessary to do that as quickly as possible, our people are deeply very happy with the President and very appreciative of all the rewards of that visit.”

On the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the governor insisted on a political solution to the problem.

He dismissed the insinuation that the people of the South-East zone were no longer interested in the “Nigeria Project.”

The people of the South-East, according to him, are not in support of any form of agitation or plan to secede from Nigeria.

Umahi said: “I had many months back met with the President, where we had very detailed and frank discussion on that particular matter. South-East people are tired and I have always said that we are not totally in support of agitation to secede from the Nigerian nation.

We want to belong to the Nigerian nation and as the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, I have publicly said it, I have defended it, I don’t care about the attacks and those who have taken to the politics of that matter in our place.

“So, the President graciously granted my request for a political solution but you see, when the President repeatedly said the matter is in court, we must appreciate his pedigree and integrity.

“He cannot just as a President say he is going to destroy the matter in court.

“But there is always room for dialogue and out of court settlement and that is what we are looking for.

“He has said, your cultural leadership should be able to initiate that with Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer.’

“But, this is over six months and we have been begging the President of Ohaneze to take up that responsibility.

“So, that is the position and we are waiting for the President of Ohaneze to kick-start this political dialogue.

“I met with the Attorney-General of the Federation, he is very well disposed to it,

“I have also met with the Director General of the Department of State Services and he is also disposed and the same with the Inspector General of Police – so the ball is in our hands.”

Politics

‘Resign and contest for governor again to test your strength,’ Wike challenges Umahi

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The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against giving its presidential ticket to a potential defector in the 2023 elections.

The governor gave the warning during a meeting with PDP leaders in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Wike stressed that he was qualified to lead the country.

He said the recent defection of some prominent members of the party to other parties should not be allowed to continue.

He also challenged his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi, to resign from the position and recontest to test his popularity.

The governor said: “I have never left this party for one day. When PDP was in trouble, I stood firm and said PDP will not die. Don’t give the presidential ticket to the person who will run from the party tomorrow. I am the only one Nigeria knows won’t run from the party no matter what happens.”

Wike insisted that the opposition party would rise above the confusion engendered by defectors.

He added: “My colleague, David Umahi, hear me well wherever you may be. PDP had sleepless nights to win elections and you took the mandate of our people to another party. If you know you’re a man and very strong and can win an election, I challenge you to resign as governor and contest the election whether you will win again.”

He advised delegates to shun ethno-religious sentiments during the convention, adding that the party could not afford to lose in the 2023 elections.

“What PDP wants now is who can win an election. It is not about where you come from. Give me the ticket and let me go and win the election for you,” the governor concluded.

Politics

APC accuses Court of ‘judicial error’ over Umahi’s removal as Gov

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Federal High Court of ‘judicial error’ after a ruling declaring that Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi and his deputy, Eric Igwe, vacate their seats as the sitting governor and deputy respectively.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director (Publicity) APC National Headquarters, Salisu Na’inna Ɗambatta, who described the ruling as a “glaring judicial error” and a “travesty of justice”.

Dambatta said, “The presiding judge committed a glaring judicial error by giving judgment sacking a duly elected and sworn-in governor and his deputy without relying on or citing any provision(s) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any provision of the Electoral Act that empowers the court to sack a sitting Governor and or his Deputy. This is purely a travesty of justice.”

Furthermore, the APC criticised the Court for referencing Amaechi’s case, noting it was not a case of defection.

In February 2014, the Supreme Court dismissed a suit filed by Celestine Omehia, a former governor of Rivers State, challenging the election of his successor, Rotimi Amaechi.

The court quashed the decision of an appeal court which gave Mr. Omehia a temporary win that suggested he may oust Mr. Amaechi after seven years in office.

The long-drawn case dates back to 2010.

Mr. Omehia was removed from office in October 2007 after holding office for five months. The Supreme Court at the time ruled that he had usurped Mr. Amaechi’s ticket for the election, and accordingly handed Mr. Amaechi the top job.

In its statement regarding the ruling against Umahi, the APC said, “The Electoral Act and the judgment in Amaechi vs INEC contemplate who is the right candidate of the party and not the issue of defection. As you all know, neither Amaechi nor Omehia raised the issue of defection to another political party.

“So it is absolutely ridiculous and questionable, as it is shameful that a judge could decide a weighty matter such as conditions for sacking the governor of a state without relying on any express provision of the Constitution or Electoral Act or Judicial Authority either of superior courts or even courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” the statement read.

Governor Umahi and his deputy had been elected into office in the 2015 and 2019 general elections on the platform of the PDP. However, they defected to the APC in 2020.

Consequently, the PDP approached the court, asking for Umahi’s removal.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that Governor Umahi and his deputy cannot transfer the mandate of the PDP to their current party, the APC.

He described their defection as illegal, null, and unconstitutional.

Politics

Umahi lifts ban on political activities in Ebonyi

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Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has lifted a ban earlier placed on political activities in the state, giving room for governorship aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to begin consultations ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Umahi disclosed this on Wednesday during an interaction with newsmen after an enlarged Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Centenary City, in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Speaking through the State Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, Umahi said the time was right for him to lift the ban to allow aspirants begin their political consultations.

The Chairman-In-Council announced the lifting of the ban on political consultations ahead of the 2023 General Elections and expressed determination to consult widely, especially with the House of Assembly, the EXCO, the Elders Council, Founding Fathers, Women Organizations, CAN and other relevant groups with a view to getting opinions on where the Governorship position shall be zoned to,” he said.

“For the Governorship seat, he made it clear that Ebonyi South, having benefited from the principle of zoning, shall not be allowed to contest as his administration’s support shall be for Abakaliki block.

“EXCO noted the intention of the Chairman of Council and kick-started the debate on where the Governorship seat will be zoned between North and Central Zones,” he added.

Politics

Ebonyi will not obey IPOB’s sit-at-home order – Umahi

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The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, said on Thursday the people of the state would not obey the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) sit-at-home order on October 1.

Umahi disclosed this to journalists in Abakaliki.

The group had last ordered the people of the South-East to stay at home on October 1 in a bid to force the Federal Government to release its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB also banned the flying of the Nigerian flag in the region, effective from September 25.

The governor insisted that October 1 was a very important day to Nigeria as a country and also the state, which was created on October 1, 1996.

He said the state that had been so deprived in the past was trying to catch up with the rest of the country with innovations.

Umahi said: “So, anybody that says `sit-at-home should know that Ebonyi people are not going to sit at home. I appeal to the entire Southeast people to remember the danger of this order. Many people have been killed for no reason because of it.

“Agitation is natural and fundamental, but nobody is justified to carry guns illegally to kill other people. We condemn in totality the insecurity in the Southeast being instigated by our people.

“We also condemned the killing of Dr. Chike Akunyili, (erstwhile widower of Dr. Dora Akiunyili, former Minister of Information) and other people in the country at large.”

Politics

Nigeria needs a kind-hearted leader like Buhari in 2023 – Umahi

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The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, Monday expressed hope that God would give Nigeria a kind-hearted leader like President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The governor, who spoke with State House correspondents at the end of a meeting with President Buhari in Abuja, said people of South-East are grateful to the President over his great works in the region.

He commended Buhari over some landmark projects including the Second Niger Bridge and the eastern corridor of the railway line among others in the South-East.

He stressed that the country needs a leader with a good heart like Buhari.

Umahi said: “I came to see Mr. President. One is to thank him very highly for a number of mega projects that he is doing in the South-East. The Second Niger Bridge is fast becoming a reality. Each time we visit that bridge location it is always like a dream.

“So we the people of the South-East are very grateful to Mr. President for this. We also thank him for the award of the Eastern corridor of the railway line. This is a project that is going to fast-track the commercial activities of our people.

“I recall that when I was in school, I used to join train from my state, Ebonyi, and then get up to Maiduguri where my brothers were staying for my holidays.

Mr. President is about restoring that hope. We are deeply very grateful. But I also reminded Mr. President that one of his cardinal objectives is to integrate the South-East or the state capitals, but in putting together the project through South-East that the capital of Ebonyi State, which is Abakaliki and capital of Anambra State, which is Awka, were omitted.

“And I reminded Mr. President that the South-East governors had requested that I write which I did, but not yet approved by the Honourable Minister of Transport, which Mr. President said he will find out why they were omitted in the first place.

“I am very, very hopeful that Mr. President is going to give approval to those two locations. Let me also mention the fertiliser presidential initiative which has helped the country Nigeria so much in food sufficiency.

Let me point out that without the effort of Mr. President, through this fertiliser initiative and other programmes in the agricultural sector, it would have been a very difficult time for this country.

That project is supposed to produce a large set of granules to enable us to produce fertilisers to serve the South-South, South-East, and part of North- Central.

“Mr. President has already approved the funds and released to Solid Mineral Development Fund. But part of the requirement is that there must be SPV integration or private sector initiative. They have applied to Mr. President for approval through the Chief of Staff. So we had to remind Mr. President.

Lastly, four years back, Mr. President was in Ebonyi State about November to commission a number of projects and lay the foundation stone for others. I reminded Mr. President that we are expecting him four years later, which would be November for him to come to Ebonyi State. The last time he spent one night but this time we are asking him to spend three nights.

“We have over 20 different projects that we consider good enough for Mr. President to commission. We have completed the Muhammadu Buhari light tunnel bridge complex, the first of its kind in Africa for Mr. President to commission.

We have gotten to the stage of completing the best medical center, King David University of Medical Sciences, the best in Africa. We have completed the largest mall, the most beautiful mall you can see anywhere in West Africa.

We have completed additional six twin flyover bridges, well decorated and beautiful. We want Mr. President to commission it. We want Mr. President to commission the St. Margeret International Market, the largest market in West Africa.

“We have over 200-kilometre concrete roads in Ebonyi state, some of them federal roads and some concrete roads. We have over 1000 kilometres of road completed, since my first tenure. Of course, the list can be unexhaustive here. Even the three agric Industrial clusters are ready for Mr. President to commission.

We also have a number of ongoing projects. Most of them will terminate at the end of 2021. Like the International Airport which Mr. President approved two years ago. Now we are the first in the whole of Nigeria to build an international airport runway with concrete that is going to be ready for Mr. President to lay the foundation stone. I will invite him to commission it next year.

“We have the first flight about May 29, 2022. We also have a number of road projects, especially the 199 kilometres of Abakaliki ring road, of which the state government has completed with 53 kilometres of it.

“And of course, the limestone granules is Mr. President’s project and he has to lay the foundation stone.

“But I think after Lagos and Abuja, Ebonyi remains, another state with the highest numbers of flyover and Ebonyi Airport remains the largest after Lagos and Abuja.

So this is why we came and I’m happy that Mr. President is quite disposed towards visiting us again.

“I will continue to say that power rests in the hands of God. And God will also give us the next President who has a good heart like President Buhari for the good of this country.

Politics

IPOB not responsible for burning herdsmen houses in South-East – Umahi

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Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Monday said videos making the round on social media purporting that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were responsible for burning of houses belonging to herdsmen were not the handiwork of the separatist movement.According to Umahi, communities, rather IPOB were responsible for the acts.The governor  who also disclosed that South-East governors had earlier banned open grazing and movement of cows on foot in the zone, stated this in Abakaliki on Monday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration committee.

While warning against politicization of security matters, the governor called on leaders of the South-East geopolitical zone to create a framework that will secure the lives and properties of the people.Umahi, who is the Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum said: “The governors of the southeast had banned not only open grazing, but we have also banned the movement of cows by foot into the southeast.“In each of the five states of the southeast, we are managing ourselves very well. We have also stopped the movement of cows across communities.“What we discussed in the southeast with the herdsmen, with the farmers is the method that has been in place for a long time before now.“What our people must know is that security is not political, what is demanded of the leaders is to put up programs that favour the people and foster national unity.“There is a new dimension that is taking place in the southeast which is very dangerous. It is when the communities use the name of IPOB, the video and upload it to the social media and say it is IPOB that is burning the houses of herdsmen.“It is not IPOB, it is the communities that are doing this and this is very dangerous for the Igbo man. I am talking to us as leaders.”

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