2023: Umahi consulted stakeholders before endorsing Speaker as possible successor, says Aide

An Aide to Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, Mr Francis Nwaze, said Wednesday that the governor duly informed relevant APC stakeholders in the state before endorsing his possible successor.

Our correspondent recalls that the governor announced at the weekend that he had endorsed the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Francis Nwifuru, to succed him in office in 2023.

The development was greeted with serious criticism and disapproval by other aspirants from the ruling-All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

In a statement issued to newsmen in Abakaliki on Wednesday, Nwaze, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, frowned at the reaction trailing the governor’s action from within the party.

He described as regrettable, the aspirants’ description of the endorsement as “illegal and undemocratic”.

He, therefore, urged the public to disregard the false assertion, adding that democracy would surely prevail at the end.

“Nwifuru’s endorsement was made to uphold the far-reaching decisions of the stakeholders and traditional rulers of Ebonyi North and Central Senatorial Zones.

“The governor had maintained that the decision on who would succeed him shall be a popular one by the people.

“This he proved by convening a series of meetings with the stakeholders and traditional rulers from both zones, where he sought their opinions on who emerges the next governor.

“He directed them to suggest two aspirants each from both zones, bearing in mind that the southern zone, given that Umahi hails from there.

“The northern zone summarily presented the assembly speaker while the central zone presented Sen. Julius Ucha to the zoning committee inaugurated by the governor before his trip abroad,” the statement added.

The media aide further stated that the governor received the recommendations from the committe upon his return to the country.

“Based on popular opinion and considering many issues concerning zoning, Nwifuru’s choice was accepted as the position of the masses and this got the governor’s backing.

“The governor did not stop anyone from purchasing forms to contest for the position but only upheld the popular opinion of the people.

“This does not disenfranchise anyone from exercising his or her legitimate rights because those interested in contesting for the position are not barred.

“We seek the co-operation and support of all to the decision of the stakeholders, traditional rulers and governor for a better Ebonyi,” the statement further stated.