Governor of Ebonyi State, Engineer David Nweze Umahi, has lamented what he called “high level of betrayal displayed” by delegates from four southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo, during the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election.
Governor Umahi, who spoke today, June 11at the maiden matriculation ceremony of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, stressed that it was a very big shame to the Igbos not to make a statement with their delegates.
The Governor, who thanked Ebonyi delegates both in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ebonyi State, for promoting the interest of Ebonyi people, said that he was disappointed with the attitude of the President-General of Ohanaeze, George Obiozor.
According to him, despite his efforts to make delegates of Igbo extraction to vote for their own during the presidential election, he was still disappointed.
“Let me first deviate a little before I come to what we are doing today. Ebonyi people are wonderful people. It will not be good for me not to take out time to express my gratitude to you after the presidential primary election.
“The presidential election was an eye opener to Ebonyi State. I thank God that through your support we had a victory. We decided to contest so that the Igbo people would not say that we do not have qualified people.
“The Igbo man has five states and we should be asking why. Is there any fairness? Other states have 40 to 50 local government areas. How do you expect an Igbo man to win? But the worst is the attitude of delegates from the southeast. I met with delegates from southeast and begged them to vote for any aspirants from southeast and by doing so we will make a statement.
“Only Ebonyi people in PDP stood for both the PDP and APC. It is a very big shame that our people are crying over marginalisation. I am ashamed of the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He can no longer be my president. It is a very big shame every Igbo man should be weeping for himself. And let me warn the youths in Ebonyi State that those leaders selling us out should not be considered our leaders again.
“You talk about marginalisation and Biafra and I continue to say that Ebonyi State cannot be part of Biafra. I weep for our leaders. There is no amount of lobbying that did not come for me, but I continue to say it is an Igbo man.
“Anyone that comes against the Ebonyi people, I will fight in public to protect the integrity of Ebonyi man. We must aspire and the kingdom of darkness cannot hold Ebonyi down. We have a fighting spirit and we have nothing to be afraid of. When honourable people are needed in the southeast, they will look for Ebonyi people.”
