Umahi Meets Buhari, Says APC’s Low Votes Can’t Deny Southeast Senate Presidency

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State on Tuesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari to apprise him of his decision to vie for the office of the Senate President, saying that not having enough votes from the Southeast is not enough reason for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deny the region the post.

“I think that every region clamouring for the presidency of the Senate to be zoned to it is the right of such people,” he said. “If you look at the true reflection of our society, you will agree with me that the right thing to be done by our leaders without prejudice to their rights and thinking is that the South-east deserves the number three position.”

The governor, who was recently elected to the Senate, acknowledged that the South-east did not give President-elect Bola Tinubu the majority of votes from the region but said the new administration needs “the cooperation of the minority people to have a holistic nation to govern.”

“This is very important and I have always said that you can deliver somebody by the reason of the majority votes of particular regions but you also need the cooperation of the minority people to have a holistic nation to govern.”

“So, for inclusiveness, unity of the country and for everybody to be carried along, the South-east deserves the position and so far, nobody has been able to say this is the reason why the South-East should not be given that position and I am pleading for that.”

Mr Umahi said leaders of the ruling party, APC, in the South-east worked hard for the party even before the presidential election; thus, the strides it made in winning other elective positions.

“I know what effort we made as a people for the unity of the country. I know the way we were regarded and we understand that we are stronger while we are together and we made vows to our people while we were campaigning for APC, we assured them that we belong to an equitable and fair Nigeria.

“Now it has come to a point where that position we took should be put to practice and that is what we are begging for because the chain is as strong as the weakest link and it is time for healing, inclusiveness as well as the time to move this country forward,” he said.