Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has said he deserved accolades for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the governing All Progressive Congress, APC, rather than attacks on his person by leaders of the former ruling party.
Governor Umahi insisted that his
recent defection to the APC is a strong message that the South East Zone can no
longer be taken for a ride, positing that the zone is now ready and willing
more than ever to take its destiny by its hands.
Umahi who spoke in a statement
made available to DAILY POST on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media and
Publicity, Francis Nwaze, lamented that the neglect of the SouthEast region has
taken an alarming proportion.
He said his crossover to the
progressive party, has launched both Ebonyi State and the South East Zone into
the bastion of national politics and discourse which is its rightful place in
the comity of states and regions in the country.
The Governor further recalled
enormous sacrifices made by late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, and other
notable South east leaders for the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party,
insisting that remaining in PDP would continue to deny the region its rightful
place in the nation’s scheme of things.
Parts of the statement read,
“Politicians who feel disillusioned, cheated or denied free and fair
opportunities, defect to other parties to participate in the elections or
benefit from certain prospects. One of the issues that have contributed to
party defections in Nigeria is lack of internal democracy within political
parties. In Nigeria, recognition of candidates for nomination and selection for
primary elections depends on the strength of the candidate in the area of
economic and political power, without any due consideration of the integrity
and capability/capacity of the candidate involved and regional spread. These
acts have led to political crises leading to individuals defecting to other
parties and/or forming new parties as a result of dissatisfaction with party
operation. For instance, the unhealthy power contest and intra-party crisis
prompted incessant defections of prominent members of People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) between 2013-2015 to the now ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
“As a result of the above
scenario, it is important to note that party defections in Nigeria are not
restricted to one party, but has become a political norm in Nigeria’s
democracy; sometimes in protest of bad governance and marginalization. The
above circumstance is certainly not unconnected to what led to the recent
defection of the Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi
State Engineer David Nweze Umahi from the People’ Democratic Party, PDP to the
ruling All Progressives Congress.
“The reason for the bold step was
due to the age-long neglect of the South East Zone by the PDP although one of
its foremost founding members His Excellency, the former Vice-President of
Nigeria Dr. Alex Ekwueme was from the Zone. Because of the integrity of Dr. Ekwueme,
the Igbos of the South East Zone embraced wholly the PDP and rallied around it
since the return to Democracy in 1999 but despite supporting other regions to
take their shots to the number one plum job in the Federation, the Zone has
always been relegated to the background when it comes to consideration for the
presidential slot.
“The proceeds of this noble
action, therefore, will not just be gargantuan but also bountiful considering
that no major decision of national interest will be taken under any pretext
without due consultation and representation of South-East Leaders in the
country. This will be more so if other States of the Zone could see beyond the
immediate and take action to ensure comprehensive rebrand and reintegration of
the South East Zone to its pride of place in the governance of Nigeria”.
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