Umahi opens up on why he dumped PDP for APC

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has said that Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) politics of bitterness and anger drove him out of the opposition to the waiting arms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Umahi, who was elected governor twice after also serving two terms as deputy governor under the PDP, defected from the party in November last year.

Speaking to a crowd of government officials and APC supporters at a ceremony to commission a road project in Jigawa, Umahi said his major problem in the PDP was that he was expected to “be castigating President Muhammadu Buhari.”

“As governor, my only boss is my wife and President Muhammadu Buhari is the overall boss of all. If you were brought up well, you will know that you don’t have to insult an elder and your boss,” the governor said.

“When I was in the PDP, all the governors got support from the president to strengthen their states. This is a man that has respect for every governor, a man who never sends anybody against his enemy. He deserves our respect and support.

“Without the support of the president it would have been terrible for governors, he never showed party inclination in helping the states.

“The unity of Nigeria is very important. I urge the leaders of this country to come together and stop bitter politics. Stop bitterness and anger, let us stop sending provocative messages and comments in trying to pull down the ruling party,” Umahi said.

Umahi who also said he moved to the APC to take back the Igbo into the national political centre, said the southeast had always been in alliance with the north, saying ”this is what we are fighting for and you need to be informed.”

Badaru thanked Umahi for accepting his invitation to the state and assured him of the protection of lives and property of all Nigerians in Jigawa.

Badaru corroborated Umahi’s remarks on President Buhari, saying he has been fair to all the governors. He said without his support, many states would not have been able to execute infrastructural projects.

“When we came on board in 2015, the economy went into recession. 27 states were not paying workers’ salaries but the president supported the governor with bailouts and with that, we were able to pay arrears of salaries,” Badaru said.