By Ruth Oginyi
The chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Umahi, yesterday [Wednesday] said that he had no regrets saying that God should give Nigeria another president like President Mohammad Buhari come 2023, saying that the president was a man with a good heart.
Umahi spoke in Abakaliki when he received former governor of Borno state, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, who visited the state in the course of canvassing the governor’s support in his bid to run for the national chairmanship position of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor also advocated the rotation of the presidency between the northern and southern zones of the country, saying such arrangement would entrench justice, equity, and fairness in the nation’s political arena.
The governor endorsed Sheriff for the position of the APC national chairman, describing him as a man of great humility and candour.
“I have no regrets saying that Mr. President is a man with a good heart. He is a man that is conscious of his integrity. I have no apologies. The presidency should rotate between North and South. We must be able to bring peace for ourselves and our children. Everybody has become wiser. Let us be entrenched in the path of justice, equity, and fairness.
“Ali Modu Sheriff is a man that is accessible and humble to the core. Since he left the PDP, my mind left the party. When we betray people, it is a seed we are sowing that will germinate after some time.
“We are determined to change the narrative of the state. If I were the leader of the party, I will declare you unopposed. You are my choice. Our prayers are with you.”
Sheriff extolled Governor Umahi for changing the narrative of Ebonyi state through infrastructural development, adding that “We have been driving on concrete roads on our way to Ebonyi State Government House. The way and manner you stir the ship of the state, you have passed 85 percent of all the indices of governance.
“I am happy for this state. I have never thought that this is what I’d meet in Ebonyi six years ago in my wildest dream. You are the Iroko tree of eastern Nigeria that joined the party. Eastern Nigeria has become APC. You have earned a lot of respect from most of your colleagues.
“I accord you the respect you deserve. I have a reason to tell them to visit Ebonyi state. You have made your people proud.
“I will run for the national chairmanship position of our party.”
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday scolded Rivera state governor, Nyesom Wike, for attacking Governor David Umahi on his recent statement on Buhari.
Recall that Umahi, had after meeting with President Buhari in Abuja last week, said that God should give the nation another person like President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 who he described as kind-hearted.
But while reacting to Umahi’s comment, Wike lambasted Umahi, saying his prayer was a bad one for the nation.