Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi, on Tuesday explained his position on the choice Peter Obi as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Umahi who is the chairman of South East governors forum alongside his counterpart from Enugu and Abia state and other party leaders rose from a meeting in Enugu on Saturday without endorsing Obi’s candidature.
But speaking with reporters in Abakiliki on Tuesday, Umahi said he is not opposed to the selection of Peter Obi as running mate to Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, Obi is his friend and is competent enough for the role but he insisted that every part of the south-east ought to have been consulted before the announcement.
Umahi said, “These people are tackling counsel without knowledge and I pity them because their utterances do not stop us from making our points. Nobody is against Peter Obi because he is my friend, competent and you must have seen our pictures together on the social media.”
“We must take decisions against the marginalisation of Ebonyi people because if we have to vote, we must be treated with equity. Two names of the nominees came from Anambra, two from Abia and one from Enugu but none came from Ebonyi and Imo.
“What is wrong with somebody from Ebonyi and Imo and you must know that one of the reasons an Ebonyi man is against regions in the country, is the fear of further marginalisation.”
“Nobody chooses the vice president for anybody, it is just like a wife issue but if other people were on the list, people from Ebonyi should be there. Even if we would not make the list as the choice is for Abubakar to make, we should know what disqualifies us from being picked,” Umahi said.
“When my chief press secretary (CPS) issued a statement congratulating Obi, the zone’s leaders started calling me, saying that I have made the VP alone.
“I had to issue a counter statement telling them that I was not consulted before the statement was released and that it was an honest mistake from the CPS.
“I cannot endorse Obi alone and am confident that in further decisions, the Igbo man must be consulted. If the position I had was my sin, I cannot repent from it.”