2023: Umahi Insists God’s Will Be Done, Applauds Peter Obi’s Movement

• Okays it as South-East’s great shot at Nigeria’s Presidency
• Says only God who knows who will win next year’s polls

BY EDMOND ODOK – The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has described the rising profile of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s political movement as sending a strong message that no longer can the South-East be taken for granted and ignored as a region in the nation’s politics.

He said the LP standard bearer’s growing popularity, against all odds, continues to put the South East zone forward and strengthens its claims to Nigeria’s presidency now and in the near future.

Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday, Governor Umahi said the momentum being created by the Obi movement is quite thrilling and encouraging given that it has awakened Nigerians’ consciousness about the South-East people and their relevance in the polity

Governor Umahi, who explained that his mission to the Villa was to invite the President to commission the new Ebonyi State Governor’s Lodge, constructed by his administration in Asokoro, Abuja, said; “What happened during the primaries of PDP and APC were a kind of miscalculation by our people, but to say whether they’re ready for the presidency of the country anytime, I think that the movement of Peter Obi is an eye opener and that’s why I said I love what he’s doing.

“I’m encouraged by what he’s doing because if he’s not doing what he’s doing, it means that Southeast would have been forgotten. So, while my party takes the victory, he would have prepared a very good ground for the South-East presidency, so that nobody is going to write us off and you can see the level of his acceptability, which does not translate to victory over APC, I’m sure of that.”

While maintaining that as a good party man, his support and good wishes are for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the 2023 elections, the Ebonyi Governor said; “But it’s (Peter Obi) a good movement and it reassures the Southeast people and the entire country that we’re accepted and that we’ll one become the President of this country. It’s very important.”

Further giving kudos to the former Governor of Anambra State for his dexterity and focus, Governor Umahi said; “Peter Obi’s movement, and all the movements, are anchored on God’s will, it’s only God who knows who will win, but there must be a wish. As a party man, I would wish that our party wins and if God says no, the next person I’ll wish that should win is Peter Obi because I believe strongly, and I will say it anywhere, in this north/south presidency.

“After the North has taken eight years, there is no moral justification to be seeking to take another eight years, it should go to the South. So, I’m not wishing Peter Obi away. God has the final say and He has the power and gives to whomever He wishes.”

In distancing the relative peace in the South-East region from the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labour Party’s standard bearer for the 2023 presidential elections, the governor attributed the positive development to the improved security in the country, courtesy of huge efforts and strides being made by the Federal Government.

On the possible correlation between the lull in attacks in the region and Obi, Umahi said; “You cannot technically assign the killings to the Igbo presidency. You can see that security is improving generally in the country and it has nothing to do with the movement of Peter Obi.

“Peter Obi movement is a movement that is anchored on equity, justice, and fairness. It may not translate to an outright win, because I must defend my party, I must wish my party well, and I’m having the ticket of my party.

“But whether what he’s doing has meaning in, not only Southeast, it does have meaning. So, we must never attribute the killings in the Southeast to this kind of movement.”

Commenting on the APC’s chances of good electoral fortunes in the South-East zone come 2023, Governor Umahi said the Igbo people will vote based on their interests, explained that “It’s going to be a different ballgame altogether because when campaigns start, the interest of our people, in terms of the presidency, is there. You can’t wish it away, but everyone in South-East, holding the tickets of their party, is going to be struggling and he’s going to be fighting.”

“You will not tell the guy that has the ticket of House of Assembly to look at the bigger picture of Igbo presidency. He may not see it. But that is not to say that Peter Obi is not going to get substantial votes in the South-East, it’s there”, Governor Umahi submitted.