Governor David Umahi and President Muhammadu Buhari (File photo)
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has vowed to name a prime project,
one of the best world’s glass tunnel, after his friend, President
Muhammadu Buhari.
The governor said he would name the one and half kilometres glass tunnel it is constructing after Buhari.
He told those who cared to listen that he is not ashamed to be
President Buhari’s despite belonging to the opposition People Democratic
Party (PDP).
Umahi said on Friday night in Abakaliki during the quarterly media
chat/ dinner as part of celebrations to mark the nation’s 58th
anniversary and 22nd year of the state’s creation, noting that their
relationship was beyond politics.
“I want to state that aside my wife, Buhari remains my only
boss and should be respected by Nigerians because of his status as the
president.
“Buhari as the president, is the symbol of the country just as the governors are mini-presidents in their respective states.
“The fact is that as a human being, he might not be doing
everything correctly, but the citizens owe him prayers and understanding
to lead the country aright.
“I have said repeatedly that I don’t have to insult him to show
that I am a PDP member and it is not my duty as a governor to insult
the president.
“This does not mean that I do not identify with the ideals of
the PDP, but it must be stated that those who say they are supporting
Buhari in Ebonyi are only deceiving the people,” he said.
The governor noted that the opposition in the state was only
interested in his job and not genuinely supporting the president, vowing
not to allow them to take the position from him.
“The northern senatorial zone of the state produced a governor
who served for eight years; the central zone did the same and the
southern zone where I hail from should be allowed to complete its
eight-year tenure.
“This is the tripod on which the state’s equity rests and even
though a sitting governor wanted to truncate it, God brought a David in
my person to ensure it was maintained and it will be maintained till the
end,” he said.
Umahi urged Nigerians to realise that power comes from God and to
check the brazen quest for political offices which has brought several
problems to the country.
“Politicking has recklessly taken the centre stage in the
nation’s affairs and if such is not checked for the next four years, it
would be difficult for the country to handle its consequences.
“The common man in the country just needs food on his table as
politics has become a means of profiteering even from those who have
nothing to offer to the people,” he said.
The governor, who took time to enumerate his administration’s
strides in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, education, heath,
human empowerment, among others, noted that his decision to modernise
the state capital was irreversible.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that media practitioners
from within and outside the state, took turns to ask several questions
bordering on the state’ s existence and made general comments, at the
occasion.
(NAN)