January 11, (THEWILL) – Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest for the 2023 presidential election.
Governor Umahi disclosed this to State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with the President.
The declaration by Gov Umahi, who is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, came barely 24 hours after a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinunbu informed the President of his intention to contest the 2023 Presidency.
Umahi, who told State House correspondents that he discussed the issue with the president who told him to go and seek the support of the people, however said he would not be weighed down by Tinubu’s entry into the race because he believed that the contest is not about might but will be won by who God endorses.
“The Bible that I swore with a section of it in 1 Samuel says that by strength shall no man prevail, and power and might belong to God. I’m not in a contest with anybody, I’m in a contest with myself”, he said.
The Ebonyi governor, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, had argued that the former ruling party was not ready to cede the 2023 ticket to the Southeast.
Fielding questions, he disclosed that he stands a better chance if the APC throws the ticket open.
“Of course, you know, the interest of the South East, for the seat of presidency in 2023. And, of course, I told Mr. President, that without prejudice to whatever will be the decision of the party, which we shall abide by, that if the party throws the ticket open or zoned to the southern part of Nigeria that I believe that with what I have put in place in the past six years plus, that I’ll be running for the presidency, on the platform of APC.
“So I told him and of course, he believes that whoever wants to run for president of this country must have to consult widely, go to all the leaders and that we must do everything to remove ethnicity and religion in our politics So that this country can grow”, he said.
The Governor said if he gets the endorsement of the party, his presidency will replicate his achievement in Ebonyi state at the national level, saying that he has a lot to show in running governance as a business.
On whether he had made his intention to run known to Ohaneze Ndigbo, Governor Umahi said: “Ohaneze leadership should not play politics. Yes, they can speak for the interest of the southeast, they can speak for fair treatment to the South East as people, as a matter of equity, justice and fairness, and leaving a level playing field for all the political parties and the aspirants.
“They should not dabble into politics or whom to support or whom not to support. I think that they hear it just like they hear those of other political parties’ aspirants. We will also write to them to notify them that yes, they have capable sons and daughters that if God wills, could do this job.”
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