FINALLY GOV. UMAHI DEFECTS TO APC

Reporter : AMECHI ODO

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has called on the people of the South East zone to move en-mass to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as it is a credible platform to reconnect them with the centre.

He stated this at his formal defection to the ruling party at the Christian Ecumenical Centre Abakaliki.

Governor Umahi was received by the National Leadership of the party led by the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni.

Also at the event were the Chairman Progressives Governors Forum, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; the Governors of Niger and Jigawa States; the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami; a former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; and the member representing Ikwo and Ezza South Federal Constituency, Comrade Chinedu Ogar.

Governor Umahi explained that the people of the South East zone were tired of empty promises, emphasising that his defection should be seen as a sacrifice for the people to reclaim their pride of place in the nation’s polity.

“South East zone today, we are moving to APC, we have to launch out to the centre. We are tired of empty promises, we want action now,” Governors Umahi stated.

Handing over APC flag to Governor Umahi, the Acting Chairman of the Party, Governor Buni said his defection was apt as it was an endorsement of the growing popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership style in the South East.

“Your entrance is timely, one distinctive feature that distinguishes leaders from rulers is justice and fairness, President Buhari is a man of justice and fairness,” APC National Caretaker Chairman claimed.

A former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani described the move as a bold step towards reuniting Ndigbo with their Northern brothers, noting that the South East was not cut out for opposition politics.

“I want to point out that Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State is taking the Igbo nation to where it rightly belongs, our founding fathers have always aligned with people we can get on with very well,” Chief Nnamani argued.

Highpoint of the event was the swearing in of a new Caretaker Committee of the Party in the state led by Chief Stanley Okoroemegha.