March 16, (THEWILL) – The 64 Coordinators of Development Centers in Ebonyi State, said they were dissatisfied with the judgement of the Abuja Federal High Court, which sacked Governor David Umahi and his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe from office, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The Coordinators under the aegis of Forum of Coordinators of the Development Centre, who made their position known while briefing Journalists on Tuesday, at the old State Executive Chambers, Abakaliki, said the pronouncement by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Umahi and his deputy, was surprising and shocking.
Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Beatrice Eze, who spoke on behalf of the Coordinators, said it was surprising and shocking that Justice Ekwo in his ruling, ordered that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should submit to INEC, names of people who never stood for elections to be sworn-in as Governor and Deputy, respectively, in place of a duly elected Governor and his Deputy.
“We call on the Appeal Court to immediately rise to protect the sanctity of our constitution by upturning Ekwo’s judgement, so as to avert the danger this judgement is capable of imposing on the Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy”, the Forum added.
The Forum while expressing confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary, was upbeat that Justice Ekwo’s judgement would be reversed by the Court of Appeal.
“We are confident in the impartiality of the Judiciary, the reason for which the said judgement has been appropriately appealed; again, proving that Governor Umahi is an ardent respecter of the law and legal frameworks”, the Forum noted.
The Forum further said, “Governor Umahi is our Governor till 2023, as his defection to APC has not offended any portion or section of the Constitution or extant laws.”
They maintained that no amount of distraction from the enemies, especially from those making futile attempts to takeover the office of the Governor and his deputy, through the backdoor, would stop the accomplishment of Governor Umahi’s 2023 presidential ambition.
“Your Excellency, your party is our party, your next move, your glorious and triumphant entry into Aso Rock come 2023, is our collective mission which must be accomplished and this distraction from the enemies of the ‘New Ebonyi State’, which you birthed and nurtured will certainly not hold water, but will end in praise as their move to get enthroned into the seat of power through the back door is an evidence of their disconnection with the grassroot.
“Your Excellency, you have given Ebonyi a new song through your people oriented polices and programmes, evident in your giant developmental strides for which our unflinching support has come to stay with you as we can’t afford to “sing the Lord’s song in a strange land. We hereby advise those who wish to fight Governor David Umahi, to first of all, read about David in the Bible”, the Forum noted.
The Forum further hailed the courage of many Nigerians, who according to them, spoke against the judgement, adding, “we assure these set of patriotic Nigerians that this honor and sense of nobility done by speaking out won’t be abused.”
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Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
