The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has cautioned minister of Work and former Governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Umahi, to stop unnecessary interference in the activities of the state government and allow his successor, Governor Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru to govern the state.
The diaspora group was reacting to recent media reports wherein the former Governor claimed he was now being avoided by those he aided to attain certain political positions in the state, adding that he still had the best of relationships with his successor.
In the said report, Umahi was quoted as saying that “It is only Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi who will openly acknowledge that I am his father and boss. The others feel that by doing so, the state governor, my successor, will be angry with them. The governor cannot do that because he too openly acknowledges that I was instrumental to his emergence.
“I will fight anybody who makes trouble with the governor because he deserves our respect. I have done my bit, have left the stage and have to respect myself,” the works Minister rather deceptively added.
Reacting to the development through a statement released on Monday by AEISCID’s President, Paschal Oluchukwu Omaka, the Ebonyi indigenes in diaspora urged President Bola Tinubu to call his Minister of Work to order to stop threatening his successor with withdrawing support for a second term in office in order to continue to take advantage of him.
The statement said: “Knowing the character of Umahi, we at AEISCID wish to raise a red flag on his claims and inform the whole world that despite being a Minister of the Federal Republic, he still directly and indirectly controls and pilots the affairs of Ebonyi State thus, making it difficult for his successor to take firm decisions and govern the people of Ebonyi like his counterparts in other parts of the country.
“To the end we have studied and known Umahi over the years, his recent media voyage is only symptomatic of his larger plans while crying wolf in public to continue to lord it over Ebonyians and their young cum inexperienced Governor, Nwifuru whom we have since learnt he keeps in palpable check with discreet threats of withdrawing support for his second term in office.
“Recent developments in our beloved State, including the way and manner Umahi unilaterally ‘imposed’ his choices of Local Government Chairmen, literally forcing the return of 10 out of the 13 Local Government Areas Chairmen, some against the will and wishes of his successor and the majority of stakeholders ahead of the July 2024 Council polls says it all that he has never allowed his successor to breathe and take firm decisions that would meaningfully impact the lives of the people of Ebonyi State.
“This group therefore cautions Umahi to stop threatening his successor, Nwifuru with second tenure and allow him to take decisions he considers as the best for the people. The Minister should rather concentrate on the mountainous task of building his cement-technology roads across the length and breathe of the country, which of course we are certain would soon fail the same way and manner the concrete roads he built in Ebonyi has done even while he was still in office.”
According to the group, though the overt control over Nwifuru is not yet be public knowledge and may even by denied by his government who dreads his predecessor as a greedy emperor, AEISCID frowns at the fact that the slow start of events and inability of Nwifuru to showcase more democracy dividends to the people of Ebonyi one year after assuming office may not be unconnected to the obvious influence exerted on him by Umahi.
“This is why we would urge President Tinubu to call his Minister to order to stop threatening his successor with withdrawing support for a second term in office in order to continue to take advantage of him. Even some of the projects being executed is allegedly still being determined and influenced by the same Umahi who pretends he has left the stage even to the chagrin of Nwifuru’s kitchen cabinet members who are afraid to speak out against the erstwhile oppressor of the people of Ebonyi State.
“We finally charge Governor Nwifuru once again to rise up and take firm charge of his government and the people who elected him to govern.”