By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Dave Nweze Umahi has said that President Buhari will next month commission the ultra modern Ebonyi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja
This is even as he has once again said he is impressed by Peter Obi Movement, arguing that the nationwide acceptability of the Labour Party flagbearer has increased the chance of an Igbo Presidency in the nearest future.
Speaking to State House Correspondents on Friday after a closed doors meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Umahi disclosed that his mission at the seat of power was to invite President Buhari to commission one of his latest legacy projects in mid October.
According to him: “I came to office this early to see Mr. President and invite him to commission my legacy project, this time not in my state, but here in Abuja, in Asokoro. I can say, the most beautiful Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, which has been completed.
“And it’s quite befitting for Mr. President, and Mr. President, will be the one to commission it. So that’s what I came to discuss with him, he’s very happy with the project, because I got some of the pictures and he is happy”.
On the response of the President to his request, Umahi posited that his host has accepted the invitation, saying: “Yes, sure he did. Mr. President has never turned down anything I request of him. So that is going to happen about mid October”.
On how long it took him to construct the lodge and at what cost, the Governor said: “Well, when I came on board in 2015, I discovered that our Governor’s Lodge in Maitama is not actually the kind of place I would like to bring people to discharge of my duties here in Abuja”.
“This is because from day one, as governor of the state, I conceive a mindset to be number one, in anything I do. And so that infrastructure was not going to be an exception. So in 2016, I went to look for land in Asokoro.
“And I saw one in about 3,000 square meters. Luckily, I got a very good price, at N350 million and I paid in 2016 but I didn’t start building until 2020, about November 2020. And by June 2022, I had completed it”.
“When I say is the best Governor’s Lodge anywhere in this country. I mean, it’s the best Governor’s Lodge anywhere in this country. I wouldn’t be able to say you know how much it took, but I know it should be under…if it’s up to N1 billion it cannot be more than N1.2 billion, but when you see it you will think is something built with N10 billion. Mark my words, you will not find any other lodge like that”.
On the benefit of Governor’s Lodge in Abuja to the people of Ebonyi, Umahi justified his action, pointing out that he builds legacy projects to make big statement.
“Yes, I build mind blowing projects to let first and foremost our brothers and sisters, in the South East know Ebonyi state has come of age. So if I have achieved nothing, it is to instill confidence in our people, because even when we talk about marginalization of South East, you come to South East we talk about marginalization of Ebonyi people”.
“So I build that project for people like you to assure you that we went to the same school, that we have the same brain that would come of age and nobody should neglect Ebonyi State again. And to some people we use it to punish thosethem. whom that neglect us are being punished by this gigantic project. And my projects are project you can’t find anywhere in South East, you can crosscheck that. So it is punishment”.
Meanwhile, Governor Umahi has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not in any serious crisis like the opposition political parties in Nigeria, adding that APC is poised to win the presidential election next year.
Said he: “Well, I think that, you know, we don’t have issues in the APC like the kind of issues that are in other parties. They say in big house, you know, that a couple of things, there are vessels onto honour and there are vessels onto dishonour”.
“Literally meaning that there must be some issues in a big house like the APC. But the structure and the spread of APC is such that victory is assured. And I can assure you that some of the disagreements in some states are going to be resolved”.
Umahi insists that mechanism has been put in place by President Buhari, the candidate of the party, his vice and then the National Chairman and leadership of the party, to sort out those differences. And I think we are well prepared for victory 2025″.
Asked if the South East is ready for the presidency in 2023, the outspoken Governor of Ebonyi answered in affirmative, saying that the region could not have been more ready than now.
Said he: “What happened during the primaries of PDP and APC, were a kind of miscalculation by 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”.
“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 South East would have been forgotten”.
“So why 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 of over APC”.
“I’m sure of that, but it’s a good movement. And it reassures the South East people and entire country that, we are accepted, you know, that we will one day become the president of this country. It is very important”.
Asked if he believes that the Peter Obi Movement is response for the drop in the case of wanton killings in the South East, the Governor said there is no imperical evidence to that effect.
According to him: “You cannot technically assign the killings to Igbo presidency as you can see that security generally is improving 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 outright win because I must defend my party, I must wish my party well and I’m having the ticket of my party. So but wither what is doing has meaning in there, not only south east, it does have meaning. So we must never attribute the killings and in south east to this kind of movement”.
“Peter Obi’s movement and all the movement are authored on God’s will, is only God who knows 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 wish that’s should win is Peter Obi.
“This is 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 for the north to be seeking to take another eight years, it should go to the south. And so I’m not wishing Peter Obi away. God has the final say and he has the power and gives to whomever He wishes”.
