Yesterday, the outgoing governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, announced that he was suspending his ambition to become the next Senate President out of respect for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the president-elect, Bola Tinubu. Umahi is leaving his position as governor of Ebonyi State.
Umahi, who would be a newcomer in the 10th Assembly, stated that these, in addition to the desire of the South East to play a role in the center, were factors that influenced his decision to withdraw from the race.
According to him, he had always desired for the South East to be at the center, and that aspiration informed the manner in which he practiced politics in order to maintain the region’s position at the forefront of debate. He gave assurances to the other regions of Nigeria that it would be in their best interest for Nigeria to remain a unified entity.
Umahi, who was a guest on the morning program Sunrise Daily on Channels TV, made the following statement: “The president-elect, Bola Tinubu, called me and said, ‘look, I am committed to zoning the Senate presidency to the South South,’ and I said,’sir, I will not disobey you, and I have never disobeyed any sitting president, even when I was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).'”
“I was constantly defending the president, but not because he was acting in a completely appropriate manner.” The ones that he was doing wrong, however, are for me to advise him in such a manner. Not necessarily in order to make it known to the general public.
“As Chairman of the Akpabio-Barau Campaign, I would like to welcome you. It is not necessary for me to hold the position of Senate president in order to unite my constituents. By obeying the leadership of the party and the president-elect, I am already winning over the hearts of those in authority over the people in the South East.
Umahi pointed out that he is one of the figures representing the people of the region in his capacity as Chairman of the South East Governors Forum. He emphasized that he needed to make way for the people in the South and Southeast.
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In order to accomplish this, the governor of Ebonyi stated that he needed to make an appeal to residents of other parts of the country.
“Look, we can work together; we deserve the unity of the country, and that is the reason why I will not disobey the party and its leaders,” he added. “Look, we can work together; we deserve the unity of the country.”
The governor stated that the previous administration, which was led by President Muhammadu Buhari, stoked discontent among the populace and provided fuel for the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) agitation. This was noted by the governor.
He stated that he made the decision to withdraw from the race for Senate president the moment his party decided to give the position to the South South region and select Godswill Akpabio as the candidate of choice for that region.
“Akpabio is not only a friend but also my brother. There is no question in my mind that I should back him.” However, he proposed that legislators be limited to a maximum of three terms and must be at least 70 years old.
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