By Ruth Oginyi
Ebonyi State governor, Engr David Umahi, says he has no plan of returning to his former party – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor described social media reports of him dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP as a “big joke”.
Umahi, who doubled as the chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum, stated this on Sunday at the Ebonyi New Government House Chapel during a special Church thanksgiving service organised by the State Government.
He stated that returning to PDP was like going back to Egypt, adding that he has performed better since joining APC.
Recall that Governor Umahi joined the APC after resigning from PDP in November last year where he is being rumoured to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Some people were writing the other day that Umahi wants to go back to PDP. Why will somebody open the very, very smelling mouth and say this to me with all these achievements? I don’t want to go back to Egypt.
“That man is supposed to be flogged 30 times when he can’t even find a road to go to his compound and he is telling me that I want to go back to PDP. Let him bring all the Governors of his party let us debate.
“And to the opposition parties, thank you very much because you are keeping us in check but the kind of opposition in Ebonyi state is kind of bitter and that is not opposition. Opposition Ought to be constructive”, he said.
On his recent endorsement to vie for the 2023 presidential election by the Ebonyi Council of Elders, the governor said he was still praying, waiting for God’s directive on the project.
The governor also reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s planned visit to the state, he said no group or anybody can stop the President from visiting the state any time he wants him to visit Ebonyi.
“I saw where one misguided element that calls himself IPOB said the President is not welcome in Ebonyi. I said to him, he is inconsequential and he is a misguided element.
“I was in Paris and I told Mr. President that the leaders of the Southeast would want to visit him over the issue of peace in the Southeast and I appealed to him to postpone the visit to early next year but I didn’t want to tell our people because I was pushing for the completion of most of the projects.
“So, Mr. President will come when we want him to come. So, that guy is an inconsequential human being. If he is serious, let him lead the war to Ebonyi State and let him see if he will find a foot to go back. So, all commissioning will be from next year January”, he said.
