Atiku: What Obi said during meeting with Gov Umahi
presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has
blamed the social media for the misgivings generated over his
nomination.
NAN reports that Obi said this in Abakaliki on Monday during a
courtesy call on Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi State.
According to him, "leaders of the South East Zone were never against
my nomination but with the process through which I was nominated.
"They have the right to disagree with such process and this made them
humbly request for a meeting with the party's presidential candidate.
"Unfortunately, we leave in an era where the social media controls
every part of news as I declare especially to the press that Umahi
remains the zone's leader and the best in the country."
Obi disclosed that Umahi made his nomination possible through his
efforts as the secretary of the PDP national convention committee
which produced the best presidential primaries in the country.
"Such efforts by PDP leaders especially Umahi ensured that that the
party's presidential candidate thought of choosing his running-mate
from the south east zone.
"That is why I came home to tell south east people that the nomination
is not for me alone but for them as its success rests on the efforts
of Umahi, its leaders and the entire people," he said.
He noted that he never thought of getting nominated, never discussed
such with anybody with the way it happened, only explained by God.
"PDP governors in the zone have performed tremendously and Umahi in
particular, has done enough for Ebonyi and the zone," he said.
"It would, therefore, be unfair and uncharitable for any of us to
allow his person or leadership, be put into disrepute as this journey
would not be successful without his leadership.
"We will work together to succeed as the PDP is desirous of returning
to power not just to return but to correct the anomalies presently
witnessed in the country," he said.
Obi said that he had a lasting relationship with Ebonyi which dated
back to his business dealings in the state as a student of the
University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), among his family's business
interests in the state.
Umahi, in his response, thanked Obi for the honour of the visit,
pledging that the people of the state and the zone would support him
to actualize his ambition.
"When you sought to visit me in Abuja, I chose to visit you instead
because you were a governor, chairman of the zone's governor's forum
all before me and presently, the vice presidential candidate of our
party.
"In your humility however, you decided to visit me and we both spoke
to the press to correct certain impressions," he said.
He remarked that he bore no grouse over Obi because even if nominated
for the position, he would decline because he still had four years to
lead as Ebonyi governor.
"We have supported each other in the past, you supported me during my
campaign to be governor even donating vehicles and this is the time to
show that one good turn deserves another.
"We have never had differences in any matter in the past but have been
badly misrepresented in this present matter.
"I want to officially congratulate you on your nomination because
nobody can impose a deputy on another but I maintain that the process
was not satisfactory to us," he said.
The governor noted that the process was faulted because five names
were submitted for the position and six people from other geo
political zones were selected to review the list.
"We, therefore, faulted the non-selection of an Igbo leader in the
review of the list and the non-selection of indigenes of Ebonyi and
Imo in the list.
"I am particular about Ebonyi because we have been the whipping child
of the south east zone as I have fought and will continue fighting to
correct this anomaly," he said.
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