Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has declared his interest to run in the 2023 presidential election.
Umahi, who met President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, told State House correspondent that he informed the president of his intention to contest the election on the platform of the All Progessives Congress, APC.
Governor Umahi said that he discussed politics with President Buhari and the interest of the South East geo-political zone in the presidency in 2023.
“And of course, I told the president that without prejudice to whatever will be the decision of the party which we shall all abide by, if the party throws the ticket open, or they zone it to southern part of Nigeria that I believe that with what I have put in place in the past six years plus, I will be running for presidency on the platform of the APC.
“So, I told him; and of course he believes that whoever that wants to run for the presidency of this country must consult widely and go to all the leaders; and that we must do everything to remove ethnicity and our religion in our polity so that this country can grow.”
Running against self
Asked what his chances were considering that the former Governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Bola Tinubu, has also declared his intention to run, Umahi said he was not in contest with anybody.
“The bible that I swore with; a section of it in first Samuel says by strength shall no man prevail and power and might belong to God.
“He chooses whomever he wills and he will do that in 2023. I’m not in contest with anybody; I’m in contest with myself.”
Consultations
Umahi said that he could not have begun consultations with stakeholders without first of all informing President Buhari, adding that the South East zone want politicians from the zone to contest for the position of the president in all parties.
“I wouldn’t have done that without first coming into clear with the president.
“There are these feelings in South East that they have not been president and that people feel that those of our leaders in the various political parties should indicate interest to contest.
“And this is fair, this is important, but at the end of the day, it is God Almighty and the political parties that will also decide.”
On whether he has made intention known to the leadership of the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Umahi said the “Ohaneze leadership should not play politics.”
He said that Ohaneze “can speak for fair treatment to South East as a people but as a matter of equity, justice and fairness, and leaving a level playing field for all the political parties and the aspirants.
“They should not dabble into politics or whom to support or whom not to support. I think that they will hear it just like they heard other the political parties’ aspirants.
“We will also write them to notify them that yes, they have capable sons and daughters that if God wills, could do this job.”
According to Governor Umahi, the president will have the final say on the date of the APC convention.
Political solution to insecurity
Umahi said political solution could be used to solve the insecurity in the South East.
“You see, political solution does not terminate the judicial process, and if you know the president very well, he has always said, and has always demonstrated that he wouldn’t interfere with any judiciary process.
“Everybody knows him for that, but you remember very well, that if agreement is reached between parties, you don’t expect the president to be the negotiator, there are a lot of federal government officials.
“And I believe strongly that as South East is proposing for political solution, they should be able to engage the federal government.
“After all, there’s always what is called out of court settlement, but it is for our people and our brother Kanu to be willing for us to truly engage so that we can find true peace in our region because the activities there have destroyed a lot of the economy of southeast and a lot of lives have been lost.
“Today, the matter has gone beyond them. You know, every criminal, kidnapper, armed robber tend to claim IPOB and IPOB in turn is fighting them. But I think, this is late. So we desire peace, we desire to save the lives of our people. And so we are willing to engage, to see that we have, you know, an amicable settlement. And you know, rebuild the economy of South East.”
Umahi said he also invited the President to visit Ebonyi State and inaugurate projects executed by his administration.
Emmanuel Ukoh
