Chairman, of Southeast Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, has expressed confidence in the incoming President’s favourable disposition to give juicy positions to the Southeast region of Nigeria in his administration.
The governor said he agreed with the pleas of the president-elect and decided to endorse the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, as the next Senate President.
He disclosed these on Monday at the Mohammed Buhari International Airport, Onueke shortly after arriving in the State from Abuja.
He further disclosed that he decided to step down his senate Presidential ambition for Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the overall interest of the South-East.
His words: "The president-elect who is going to be the leader of the Party called me, and I consider it an honour for him to have called me, because I consulted him while he was in Paris, and he said we were going to discuss it.
“So, when he came back, he called me. I also accepted the interest of Southeast. Let it not be as if we are in opposition all the time.
“Politics is all about dialogue; give and take. Since we did not get that, we will get something else that is very tangible”.
Governor Umahi noted that Senator Akpabio at present enjoys the majority support of the senators-elect, contrary to insinuations in some quarters.
Asked about the support of Senators for Akpabio, he stated, “I am not yet a senator, but if you say senators-elect, the majority of them I know, are with Akpabio, and I am Akpabio’s campaign coordinator.
“So, if you are talking about the existing senators, maybe, but I am not aware.”
On the question of being appointed Minister of Works based on his superlative infrastructural performance as a governor, Umahi said: "I have worked so hard, and I feel it’s time to rest.
“Since I am not senate President, I think it is time to rest. So, I leave that to the President-elect; I leave that to my destiny; I leave that to Southeast; I leave that to the leaders of APC.
“Whatever be the will of God for me and Southeast, let it come true.
“But if it is for me, I would say that I prefer to be in the Senate, I prefer to rest.
“But if it is a sacrifice I have to make for the interest of Southeast, for the interest of the country, and for the President-elect, so be it. But I won’t struggle for it; I won’t ask for it.”
