the choice of former Governor, Peter Obi as the running mate to the
People’s Democratic Party, PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Umahi stated this in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the state
capital.
The governor has faced backlash since he led leaders of the party to
complain against the selection process that threw up Obi as Vice
Presidential candidate of the party with many people accusing him of
sabotaging the interest of the Igbo nation.
But, Umahi while clearing the air, said he was only against the process
and not Obi who he noted was very competent for the job.
He, however questioned how people from other regions will meet and take
decisions that concerns me south east with the input of a single person
from the region.
“We have never said that we are against Peter Obi but what we have said is
that if six people can come together from five other regions and look at
recommendations for the south east and no south east person is there, that
is not good for us.
“We have never said that Obi is not good for us, we have nothing against
Obi but we want when decisions that concern us are being taken, we want
to be part of that decision’, Umahi said.
The governor also expressed displeasure on the imbalance in the initial
five man shortlist for the VP candidacy which had no person from Imo and
Ebonyi State on it.
“Number two, the five names submitted, of course no governors in south
east wants to be Vice President; everybody wants to finish his tenure.
The Five names for VP should have been five names from the five south east
states but there was no name from Ebonyi and Imo states”
“I am a fighter of marginalization of Ebonyi people. If we are going to
vote, we must be treated with equity. These are the issues; two names came
from Anambra, one from Enugu and two from Abia. So, what is wrong in
having someone from Ebonyi and then one from Imo?
These are the issues but there are not as terrible as is being looked at.
I know that my people put me on social media saying so many terrible
things about me but it doesn’t move me”
“We must sit down with the presidential candidate and say look if we work
together, we must be part of the decision making . I am not talking about
myself, I am talking about the leadership of the south east”.
“If six people can come from other regions to take decision and there is
nobody from south east and our people think is right, so be it”.
The Governor, who said he has a good relationship with Mr Obi said he has
no regrets on his actions in the aftermath of Obi selection.
“Nobody is against Obi. The leaders of Ndigbo are saying that when
decisions are taken and you invite people from other regions, invite
people from south east. They never issued any statement and anybody from
south east that is saying that my stand is not good, is not a human being
because tomorrow is bigger than today”.
“If Atiku had just announced his running mate without other people from
other regions seeing the list and making inputs or choices , we wouldn’t
have been bothered because nobody chooses a VP for anybody; it is like a
wife. But if other people were there, at least one person from south east
should have been there. Secondly, Ebonyi state shouldn’t have been
neglected even if we will not make the list because the choice is for the
man”
“You remember that one of the reasons that Ebonyi man is not too
comfortable with the issue of region is that we are afraid of further
marginalization. So, these are the issues. Obi is my friend. You would
have seen our pictures on the social media. Yes, he is my good friend and
we have worked together very very well and he said something to me ‘if I
were you, I will be more bitter, I will make greater noise than you are
making’.
“Obi understands. And let me give you one shocking news! I was told in the
course of our meeting in Enugu that somebody asked Chekwas Okorie why is
it that Igbo don’t vote for their Vice Presidential candidates and Chekwas
told him that anyday the Igbo man chooses his Vice Presidential candidate,
the Igbo man will vote for the Vice presidential candidate and if you
check be it Ekwueme or any other, you will find out that we have never
voted along that line”.
“And I am very sure that in further decisions, the Igbo man must be
called, that is just what we are saying. Nobody is against Obi and he is
very competent to be VP but I alone cannot endorse Obi. So when my Chief
Press Secretary issued a congratulatory message, the Leaders started
calling me saying so you alone have made the VP. So I had to issue another
statement to say look, I was not consulted. If that is my sin, I cannot
repent”,he concluded.