The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has revealed why he frowned at the process leading to the choice of Peter Obi as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Umahi explained that he was dissatisfied with the process that led to Obi’s selection.
Addressing reporters in Abujain Abakaliki, the state capital, Umahi said he was only against the process and not the competence of the former Anambra State Governor.
According to Umahi, “How can people from other regions will meet and take decisions that concern the South-east without the input of a single person from the region.
“We have never said that we are against Peter Obi; but what we have said is that, if six people can come together from five other regions and look at recommendations for the South-east and no South-east person is there, that is not good for us.
“We have never said that Obi is not good for us, we have nothing against Obi. But we want when decisions that concern us are being taken, we want to be part of that decision.”
Umahi also faulted what he termed the ‘imbalance’ in the initial five-member shortlist of persons considered for the Vice President slot which he said “had no person from Imo and Ebonyi States on it.”
He said, “Number two, the five names submitted, of course, no governors in South-east wants to be vice president; everybody wants to finish his tenure. The five names for VP should have been five names from the five South-east states; but there was no name from Ebonyi and Imo states.
“I am a fighter of marginalisation of Ebonyi people. If we are going to vote, we must be treated with equity. These are the issues; two names came from Anambra, one from Enugu and two from Abia. So, what is wrong in having someone from Ebonyi and then one from Imo?”
DP
