The Deputy Governor and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi state, Dave Umahi, has blamed the political crisis currently rocking the state on the refusal of his principal, Governor Martin Elechi to fulfill the promise of handing over to him at the expiration of his eight-year tenure.
He however, told his boss to leave out the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, the ministerial nominee from the state, Fidelis Nwankwo and former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Frank Ogbuewu from his current political travails.
Addressing newsmen over the weekend in Abakaliki, in reaction to Governor Elechi’s state broadcast and interactive session with journalists on Friday, Mr. Umahi, though was not mentioned by the Governor throughout his presentation, said he was compelled to respond because of twisted facts as they pertain to the PDP and failed efforts at destroying three of their illustrious sons, Anyim, Nwankwo and Ogbuewu.
The state House of Assembly had on Friday passed a motion to serve Governor Elechi an impeachment notice for alleged gross misconduct.
The deputy governor dismissed allegations that he was disobedient and disrespectful to his boss, who had anointed another person, former Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu to succeed him.
Mr. Umahi, insisted that his decision to run for governorship was anchored on two main pillars- the supreme pillar, Devine and the other pillar, the word of honour given to him by his boss.
He also contended that it was not true that the crisis of confidence started the moment former state chairman of the party, Prince Ugorji Ama Oti “resigned” his position on October 20, 2014 as alleged by his boss.
He alleged that the genesis of the crisis was that at some point in 2013, Governor Elechi started reneging on his promise to hand over to him as successor, hence everybody deemed to be close to him were hounded, including former PDP chairman, Ama Oti who was allegedly forced to resign.
Mr. Umahi said that Governor Elechi deliberately allowed some of his confidants including his wife, son, the PDP youth leader, Chinedu Ogah and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Celestine Nwali to run the show including the affairs of the party, hence they single handedly appointed Dr. Ben Akpa as Acting Chairman of the party instead of the deputy chairman, Joseph Onwe.
He claimed that the crisis of confidence continued throughout the PDP primaries where Governor Elechi allegedly tried but failed to manipulate delegate list and eventually the primaries did not favour him and his supporters, leading to their decamping to the Labour Party (LP).
