The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has cautioned the Minister of Works and Housing, David Umahi, to stop threatening his successor, Governor Francis Nwifuru, with second-term ticket issues and to allow him to govern the state.
The group also urged Nwifuru to rise up and take firm charge of his government and the people who elected him.
The President of AEISCID, Paschal Omaka, stated this in a statement issued Monday while reacting to recent media reports in which Umahi claimed he was being avoided by those he aided to attain certain political positions in the state, adding that he still had the best of relationships with his successor.
The group said the minister should concentrate on the mountainous task of building his cement-technology roads across the length and breadth of the country.
The group added that it was certain the technology would soon fail in the same way the concrete roads he built in Ebonyi had failed even while he was still in office.
The group stated that it has studied and known Umahi over the years, saying his recent media voyage was only symptomatic of his larger plans while crying wolf in public to continue to lord it over the state.
It stressed that it has since learned Umahi keeps in palpable check with discreet threats of withdrawing support for his successor’s second term in office.
It noted: “Knowing the character of Umahi, we at AEISCID wish to raise a red flag on his claims and inform the whole world that despite being a Minister of the Federal Republic, he still directly and indirectly controls and pilots the affairs of Ebonyi State, thus making it difficult for his successor to take firm decisions and govern the people of Ebonyi like his counterparts in other parts of the country.”
“Recent developments in our beloved state, including the way and manner in which Umahi unilaterally ‘imposed’ his choices of local government chairmen, literally forcing the return of 10 out of the 13 local government areas Chairmen, some against the will and wishes of his successor and the majority of stakeholders ahead of the July 2024 Council polls, say it all. He has never allowed his successor to breathe and take firm decisions that would meaningfully impact the lives of the people of Ebonyi State.”
“Though the overt control over Nwifuru is not yet public knowledge and may even be denied by his government, who dreads his predecessor as a greedy emperor, AEISCID frowns at the fact that the slow start of events and the inability of Nwifuru to showcase more democracy dividends to the people of Ebonyi one year after assuming office may not be unconnected to the obvious influence exerted on him by Umahi.”
Ebonyi: Stop threatening your successor with second term ticket – Group cautions Umahi
