… SAYS ALCOHOL IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WIKE AND ME
The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on Wednesday in Abuja, said he is not worried about the court judgement that sacked him from office following his defection from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC,
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, on March 8, in a judgment, ordered Umahi; his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and 16 lawmakers to vacate their office and seats, for their defection from the PDP to All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ekwo also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to immediately receive from the PDP, the names of its candidates to replace them, among others.
On March 10, Governor Umahi and others had sought an order of the FHC Abuja, staying the execution of its judgment directing them to vacate their offices over their defection to another political party. But the FHC struck out the case. Speaking to journalists after meeting the President, Umahi said he was not disturbed by the judgement, adding that God has plan for everything.
“Do I look worried? You see, God has plans for everything. And I think that God allowed one court to give judgment that I go nowhere, allowed another court to say, because we defected, and the votes belong to the party. “And so I have no worry because the Constitution is clear. I have confidence in the judiciary and so you can see I have added some weight in these few days and looking more handsome.
“And I’m not worried because the highest court has said that votes belong to the candidates. And that’s why even though APC won the election in Bayelsa State, but the deputy governors credentials, were defective. And even a day to day swearing in, the Supreme Court ruled this qualifying the candidate of APC that won the election because of his deputy”
“And so, if votes inputs belonged to the party, it would have been that the Supreme Court in their wisdom would have just asked for the man that won election for the party to bring the substitutes to do that. “So I’m not worried. Because in the first place, there is no constitutional provision that says that the Governor can be sued in the first place, so I’m not sue-able. You know, but a court judgment is a court judgments I’m not to interpret it but the Constitution, we swore to uphold, I can speak to the Constitution”. He said.
Umahi who also spoke on his relationship with his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, said that the only difference between them is alcohol which he doesn’t take.
“Probably the difference between us will be our faith. I serve the living God and probably a lot of alcohol. I don’t drink. So that is the differences between us, otherwise he remains my friend and my brother and I have nothing against him.”
Speaking further, on his Presidental ambition, the embattled Governor said he is still in the Presidental race, adding that anybody claiming that he has stepped down, is not saying the truth.
He stated that there was nothing that suggested that he has stepped down.
“You can see us in the various media houses. You know social media, you can see my supporters everywhere, you can see the consultations that I’m making. I even consult those who are also aspiring. And that shows you how committed I am to this course and I think it’s God’s project. So, there is no such thing.
However, Governor Umahi, while defending the consensus candidate arrangement as planned by the President for the APC Convention, said he will follow whatever instructions that the President will give bring a loyal party man.
“I’m not Mr. President, So, I don’t want to think like, Mr. President. I can’t preempt what Mr. President is calling us for; And I love Mr. President. I love the leadership style of Mr. President. And as the leader of the party, I’m very much loyal to him, loyal to the party. And I will carry out whatever instructions he gives to the letter, because he’s a man that is very fair, and is a man that has the interest of this country at heart. Therefore, whatever instructions or advice he may give us, I, the Governor of Ebonyi State, will abide by such instructions”.
Meanwhile, the Governor said that apart from the APC Convention, that he was in Abuja to invite the President for the Commissioning of several completed projects he did in Ebonyi.
Umahi explained that the President has agreed to visit the state in April, adding that the projects were done in the last six years of his administration.
“We have quite a lot of projects in Ebonyi State. We have the King David Medical University. We have over 2000 completed roads built with concrete. We have the biggest mall you can ever imagine in West Africa built in Ebonyi State. We have one of the wonders of this nation and that is, President Buhari Tunnel Flyover Bridge, with fountain on top.” He stated.
“Because we have the largest fountain you can ever think of in West Africa. We have the International Markets, we have the industrial cluster. Time will fail me to name the projects completed but they are there and I’m sure you’ll be part of that visit to see what God help has done with us in the six years plus”.
