BY: Ikenna Oluka
The Chairman of the South East Governor’s Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, on Tuesday, has said it was too early for him to start commenting whether he would contest for president in 2023, except after his second tenure.
Umahi made this known at the Dr. Sam Egwu Lodge located at the Government House, Abakaliki while addressing stakeholders in preparation of the democracy celebrations in the state.
The governor’s response came barely the eve of the rift that ensued between the Minister of Transportation Mr. Rotimi Amechi and the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Peter Obi over whether South East geopolitical zone has the capacity to succeed President Mohammadu Buhari in 2023.
Recall that Umahi had recently challenged those opposing the South East to produce either President or Vice President, saying the stakeholders of the zone will speak with one voice.
“We are good people. The leaders of the South-East will meet and never again shall we be marginalized and we must speak with one voice,” he said.
Although, there have been rumours making the rounds in the South East Zone that Umahi had since 2018 been making plans to join presidential race and that he is the only person that has courage to succeed President Buhari in 2023.
“On whether I have presidential ambition in 2023, the calling of God is to be Governor of Ebonyi State from 2019 to 2023. The God that called me is for governor and I can’t talk of that for now,” he stated.