Why we met with President Buhari- Gov. Umahi

The chairman, South East Governor’s Forum and governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Umahi has reiterated that their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa was not to campaign for his re-election in the 2019 general elections but to seek for 50 percent release of contract sum to the firm working on the second Niger Bridge.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday, he noted that their request for release of 50 percent sum coupled with 50 percent bond was to ensure speedy completion of the project.

He said it became necessary to clarify as there were speculations in some quarters that Governor Umahi, alongside his PDP counterparts in Enugu, Hon. Ifeanyi Igwuanyi and Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu were scheming to support President Buhari’s re-election in return to secure their second tenure at the poll.

Umahi noted that another vital issue apart from the second Niger bridge which was tendered to the president by the South East governors meeting but was not reported was to include an Igboman among the security chiefs.

He spoke to journalists at the project site of the ongoing modern ecumenical centre in Abakaliki which he said will cost the state government over a billion naira and is expected to be completed by March 2019.

He noted that the forum wouldn’t have met with President if not for the release of N7billion mobilization fund to the contractor to continue with the project.