By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The ambition of Austin Umahi to succeed his elder brother, Senator David Umahi, who was representing Ebonyi South District in the 10th Senate and is now Nigeria's works minister, has begun to gather steam in the state.
The development followed the recent
appointment of Senator David Umahi as the Federal minister of works by President Bola Tinubu and his subsequent resignation as a Red Chamber lawmaker created a vacuum in the Senate for Ebonyi South Senatorial District.
Therefore, the Concerned Ebonyi South Youth For Quality Representation has shopped for a replacement for Senator David Umahi, the former Deputy Leader of the Senate.
The group have tipped Chief Austin Umahi to replace Senator David Nwaeze Umahi in the Senate.
The endorsement was contained in a press statement titled 'Why Ebonyi South Senatorial Seat Fits Chief Austin Umahi."
The statement signed on behalf of the group by its Chairman and Secretary, Peter Akpa and Michael Ori respectively, stated that Chief Austin Umahi has proved that he was not just an exceptional leader of men and resources but one who dedicatedly leads from the front and inspires others to achieve greatness.
According to the statement, Chief Austin Umahi was behind the political successes recorded in the political landscape of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023, however, he has not been rewarded either by way of appointment or elective position.
The statement reads: "It is no longer news that the wheels have turned full circle for the immediate past administration that presided over the affairs of Ebonyi State from May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2023.
"What will remain of fervid concern to history and historians however, is the behind-the-scenes and open contributions of great individuals to the birth of that administration during the hot and highly contested primary, general elections and the tenure itself.
"Given his clear, emphatic and unassailable contributions and sacrifices to the many positive outcomes in the era, it will be trite to say that one man who bestrides the entire political tapestry like a colossus and stood as the rock of Gibraltar all through the era, is Deacon Chief Austin Umahi.
"An embodiment of academic brilliance, organizational skills and results-oriented administrative acumen, Chief Austin proved that he was not just an exceptional leader of men and resources but one who dedicatedly leads from the front and inspires others to achieve greatness.
"All who had more than a cursory knowledge of the era will remember that Chief Austin fought tirelessly in 2014 to ensure that the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State secured the ticket and continued to tread where Angels were afraid to run as he led the charge on many fronts that culminated in 2015 in the victory of the then immediate past Governor and the election of three Senators, five House of Reps Members and 24 State House of Assembly members, as one of the few founding members of Divine Mandate, yet he held no elective nor appointive position.
"In 2016 fortune thrust on his shoulders the responsibility of resuscitating the PDP South East that was in the throes of pangs of death as the National Vice Chairman (NVC ) and Chairman South East. After his stewardship, friends and foes are in agreement that he performed creditably.
"In 2019, he repeated the same feat without complaining, always cheerful, dogged and determined in the course he believes in. In 2020, October, he willingly resigned his position as a National Vice Chairman of PDP, South East in protest against the marginalization of Ndigbo and the defection of the then Governor to APC, this he did without minding the dictum that self-preservation is the first law in Heaven.
"Throughout, the eight years of the immediate past administration, he was the stabilization strong link that saw all the tremendous transformations recorded in Ebonyi State. He had also positively affected the lives of many people in the extant period and remained the voice of many voiceless, and the defender of the defenceless, No wonder his admirers named Ochiagha ndi igbo Gburugburu.
"In 2022, he contested for Ebonyi South Senatorial seat primary which he won overwhelmingly but was asked to relinquish the position to the then Governor which he quietly did without complaining as a true and loyal party man. In 2022, he was given too many tasking state assignments which he conscientiously and dutifully discharged creditably.
"The tasks to mention but a few, include the Chairman of the zoning committee that midwifed the sharing of elective positions from ward to the state level, a feat that led to the peaceful, equitable and harmonious electioneering in the State and secondly the Director General of Divine Mandate Campaign Council that produced the young and vibrant Governor of the State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, three senators, three House of Representatives ( and still counting) and 20 House of Assembly members.
"The moral burden now: Should a loyal dedicated and hardworking party man go unrewarded having paid his dues and sacrificed beyond human comprehension thus far? Answer: It is payback time. Let Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone overwhelmingly and in consensus support a man who is driven by an uncommon passion and zeal for the betterment of the people to go for Ebonyi South Senate, After all, this is the same ticket he surrendered out of respect and in obedience to the Party."
It was also gathered that the campaign posters of personalities including that of Umahi's younger brother, Austin have flooded the town, declaring interest to contest in the alleged rumoured Ebonyi south senatorial zone election.
Though, Austin Umahi has not openly declared interest in the Ebonyi South Senatorial vacant seat, what seemed to be opposing declarations have emerged.
According to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Nwifuru, it is only his office and God would determine the credible person to succeed Senator David Umahi, when the Senate President, Godswill Akpabor vacant.
Governor Nwifuru noted that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, observed that once an appointee who is still a lawmaker either as a member of the National or State Assembly takes an oath of office of another political position, his former seat will be declared vacant by the Senate President.
He further disclosed that the Constitution also has empowered the Senate President to convey to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC accordingly to conduct a rerun election in other to elect credible people to occupy the vacant seat in the House.
Nwifuru who stated this during the 2023 New Yam (Ojiji) Grand Finale at Anmegu, the ancestral home of Izhi Nnodo Ekumenyi Clan in Abakaliki local government area of Ebonyi State, maintained that choosing a credible person to succeed Senator David Umahi is in the hands of Governor and God Almighty.
Nigerian Pilot learnt that the 2023 candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Chief Linus Okorie has declared as illegal the INEC's alleged plan to conduct a fresh election for the zone.
Okorie insisted that the alleged plan by the Nigerian electoral umpire to conduct a fresh election in Ebonyi South Senatorial District would not hold any positive effect, considering the matter of the election is still pending in court.
It could be called that Okorie partook in the Saturday 25th February 2023 National Assembly Election. He has dragged the All Progressives Congress, APC, and David Umahi to court for allegedly rigging, manipulating and perpetrating other irregularities in the election.
Okorie who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki, made this known while reacting to the rumours making the rounds that the INEC allegedly plans to conduct a fresh election to replace the former governor, David Umahi who resigned his position in the Senate to become a minister of works.
Okorie, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency described such rumoured fresh election for Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone by INEC as illegal.
He said: "Today, the tribunal is sitting to adopt all the final addresses of all the parties. After today, they (Tribunal) will reserve judgement, which may be next week.
"If that judgement is given, if the court decides that it was Umahi who won that election, then two things Will happen; if nobody goes to the court of Appeal to challenge it, INEC will fix a date for a new election in which case, anybody can participate, but if the court didn't rule that way, INEC can do nothing.
"There will be no election until the final determination of the 2023 Ebonyi south senatorial election in Court, starting from the Tribunal and maybe to the court of Appeal, if any party feels dissatisfied with whatever the Tribunal rules. The only person that cannot Appeal now, is David Umahi because he is no longer in the response process."
Reacting to the alleged BVAS report forgery by the former governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, Okorie said: "There is an investigation ongoing by the police on the BVAS report forgery. And irrespective of how the Tribunal determines, there is an alleged crime, and time does not run against an alleged crime. The Issue of forgery is different from the result, is different from the Tribunal and it is different from the election.
"That allegation is being investigated, and there is a petition before the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the outcome is completely a different thing. David Umahi is accused of forging the BVAS report, and the investigation is still ongoing and has not stopped. And so, it is a different thing irrespective of what the tribunal rules."
On whether the minster of Works, Umahi be arrested if found culpable of the alleged crime, after the investigation by the police, Okorie said: "The laws are clear, if it is proven that he forged, clearly the law will take its cause. And part of it will be to get him (Umahi) prosecuted.
"He will be charged to court and If the final investigation confirms that he forged the BVAS report as alleged, it is expected that he (Umahi) will be arrested and arraigned before the court. It is only the President and Vice, governor and deputy that has immunity. Whether you are a Senator or Minister, you can be arrested.
Okorie, expressed optimism about getting a victory in the Court, adding: "I ran that election and my people voted for me, but we are in court, and I expect that the court will give me justice. I'm a law-abiding citizen. "I will accept whatever ruling the court is, but I assure you, if I'm not satisfied with the ruling of the Tribunal, I will proceed to the Court of Appeal. Whatever happens ultimately, the rule of law will take its course."
