The diaspora group responded to recent media reports in which the former governor claimed he was now being avoided by those he helped secure political positions in the state, while also asserting he maintained a good relationship with his successor.
In these reports, Umahi was quoted as saying, “It is only Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi who will openly acknowledge that I am his father and boss. The others feel that by doing so, the state governor, my successor, will be angry with them. The governor cannot do that because he too openly acknowledges that I was instrumental to his emergence. I will fight anybody who makes trouble with the governor because he deserves our respect. I have done my bit, have left the stage and have to respect myself,” the works minister added.
Reacting to the development, AEISCID’s President, Paschal Oluchukwu Omaka, released a statement on Monday urging President Bola Tinubu to call his Minister of Works to order. The statement criticised Umahi for allegedly threatening to withdraw support for Nwifuru’s second term to manipulate him.
The statement read: “Knowing the character of Umahi, we at AEISCID wish to raise a red flag on his claims and inform the whole world that despite being a Minister of the Federal Republic, he still directly and indirectly controls and pilots the affairs of Ebonyi State, thus making it difficult for his successor to take firm decisions and govern the people of Ebonyi like his counterparts in other parts of the country.”
“To the end we have studied and known Umahi over the years, his recent media voyage is only symptomatic of his larger plans while crying wolf in public to continue to lord it over Ebonyians and their young and inexperienced Governor, Nwifuru, whom we have since learnt he keeps in palpable check with discreet threats of withdrawing support for his second term in office.”
The group highlighted recent developments in Ebonyi State, such as Umahi’s alleged imposition of his choices for local government chairmen, which they claim undermines Nwifuru’s authority and the will of the majority of stakeholders ahead of the July 2024 council polls.
“This group, therefore, cautions Umahi to stop threatening his successor, Nwifuru, with second tenure and allow him to make decisions he considers best for the people. The Minister should rather concentrate on the monumental task of building his cement-technology roads across the country, which we are certain would soon fail the same way the concrete roads he built in Ebonyi have done, even while he was still in office.”
AEISCID lamented that although Umahi’s overt control over Nwifuru might not yet be public knowledge and may be denied by Nwifuru’s government, it is evident that the governor’s slow start and inability to deliver more democracy dividends are likely influenced by Umahi’s dominance.
“This is why we would urge President Tinubu to call his Minister to order to stop threatening his successor with withdrawing support for a second term to continue taking advantage of him. Even some of the projects being executed are allegedly still determined and influenced by the same Umahi, who pretends he has left the stage, much to the chagrin of Nwifuru’s kitchen cabinet members who are afraid to speak out against the erstwhile oppressor of the people of Ebonyi State.”
“We finally charge Governor Nwifuru once again to rise up and take firm charge of his government and the people who elected him to govern.”
