Ebonyi State governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, said he has lost confidence in the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Socio-cultural organisation.
Umahi who spoke on Saturday at his hometown, Uburu, during the maiden matriculation ceremony of the King David University of Medical Sciences, said: “I have lost total confidence in the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation, and will openly confront anyone who challenges the Ebonyi agenda.”
The Ebonyi Governor polled 38 votes at the just concluded primary election of the APC which was won by Bola Tinubu, former Lagos governor with 1,271 votes.
Umahi who was visibly angry with the outcome of the primary election accused delegates from the south-east of “trading their votes” in the just concluded presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I had a series of meetings with the party’s chairmen in the five states of the zone in the company of its national vice-chairman. I implored on the delegates that the issue was not about me but the mood of the Igbos in the nation. I implored that they should vote for any south-east aspirant so that when the votes are counted, we would not be missing,” NAN quoted him as saying.
“We would have made a strong statement in the process that the Igbo are eminently qualified with due capacity to lead the country.
“They will come later to preach about Igbo unity and its agenda but henceforth, the only agenda I know is the Ebonyi agenda. This shows that even if we have equal number of local government areas and delegates such as other zones, we would still trade our votes.
“We are currently regarded as people who can sell anything but they should remember that anyone who betrays his brother will lose the trust of those who gained from the betrayal.
“There was no sort of lobbying I did not receive but I maintained that it was about bringing the marginalisation of the Igbos to the fore.
“You (Ebonyi delegates) have made yourselves reference points of steadfastness in the country and when people are seeking for trustworthy people, they will come for you.
I stand with you strongly on this. I have said I what you just said repeatedly after the two conventions. I am ashamed as an Igbo man. It’s really disgusting. Kudos to Ebonyi people, you have proved that you are trustworthy.