Umahi decries Ohanaeze head, says he no longer recognises him
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Ebonyi Governor and South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) Chairman Dave Umahi says he no longer recognises George Obiozor as Ohanaeze Ndigbo President for allegedly selling out on Igbo presidential aspirants.
“I weep for our leaders. We are now regarded as people that will sell anything for the sake of money. It is about equity, justice, and fairness upon which I continue to shout for the unity of this country,” Umahi said.
He lamented that Obiozor is partisan “instead of making himself a rallying point during the struggle for the Presidency of Igbo extraction.”
There were 95 South East delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary on 28 May. Only 15 of them voted for two of the four aspirants from the zone. The votes are as follows:
- Anyim Pius Anyim – 14
Sam Ohuabunwa – 1
- Charles Ugwu – 0
- Chikwendu Kalu – 0
Umahi scored 38 votes at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary on 8 June, one short of the 39 delegates from his state. Meaning that at least one Ebonyi delegate voted for another aspirant.
Of the total 284 South East delegates to the APC presidential primary, only 40 voted for three of the five aspirants from the zone. The votes are as follows:
- Dave Umahi – 38
- Ogbonnaya Onu – 1
- Emeka Nwajiuba – 1
- Rochas Okorocha – 0
- Ikeobasi Nwaokelu – 0
Umahi told his supporters who organised a reception for him in Abakaliki after his return from the contest in Abuja that Obiozor failed to stand for the South East when it mattered most.
“It is a very big shame, I have no confidence in him and he is no longer my [Ohanaeze] president,” he said.
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Failure of South East leadership
Umahi lambasted delegates from other South East states who he said sold their votes to willing buyers instead of standing up for the Igbo Presidency Project.
He also criticised politicians from the South East for not justifying the agitation against the marginalisation of Ndigbo at the primaries, but commended APC Ebonyi delegates, stakeholders, and supporters for their backing, per The PUNCH.
His words: “First, let me say to the Ebonyi people, you are wonderful people, the presidential [primary] election was a great eye-opener to every son and daughter of Ebonyi State and with your support, we fought very gallantly.
“I had a series of meetings with the party’s chairmen in the five states of the zone, in the company of its national vice chairman. I implored the delegates that the issue was not about me but the mood of the Igbo in the nation.
“I implored that they should vote for any South East aspirant so that when the votes are counted, we would not be missing.
“We would have made a strong statement in the process, that the Igbo are eminently qualified with due capacity to lead the country,
“There was no sort of lobbying I did not receive, but I maintained that it was about bringing the marginalisation of the Igbo to the forefront.
“The setting of the nation is well-skewed against any contest for the Igbo man. While every zone has about six states or more, the South East has only five. How do you expect an Igbo man to win a contest under this kind of arrangement?
“Prof. Obiozor could not stand for the Igbo when it mattered most; it is a very big shame, I have no confidence in him and he is no longer my [Ohanaze] President General.
“In the comity of [the] South East, Ebonyi people are not regarded. I continue to say that Ebonyi will never be Biafra.
“I weep for our leaders. We are now regarded as people that will sell anything for the sake of money. It is about equity, justice, and fairness upon which I continue to shout for the unity of this country.”
Ebonyi agenda
“I am the Governor of Ebonyi State, the only agenda I have for the South East now is ‘Ebonyi Agenda’. I continue to say that he who sells his brother, even the buyer will not trust him.
“Anyone that fights against the interest of Ebonyi people in the South East, I will fight the person publicly.
“Ndigbo, get your PVC and bond together, you have seen that nobody wants you anymore, we have the fighting spirit and the spirit of our founding fathers has been rekindled to fight for us.
“When honourable people are needed in the South East, they will come to Ebonyi State, everything is not money.”