Arewa Journalists Drum Support For Umahi To Become Senate President: Insult, Say SE Journalists

By Akinwale Kasali

Few days after he disclosed his intention to vie for the office of the  Senate President to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ebonyi  State Governor David Umahi’s ambition has  received a “boost”, as the Arewa Journalists’ Forum, AJF, on Thursday endorsed the him for the position of President of the 10th National Assembly.

Umahi will be a first time Senator when inaugurated, along with others, in June

The Group said that its endorsement of Umahi for the high profile position is due to his track record of leadership and his commitment to the development of the country.

Secretary of the Group, Abraham Awodi, at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Secretariat in Abuja,  hailed Umahi’s vision for a united Nigeria, saying that it was in line with the aspirations of the AJF.

“We have carefully observed the leadership qualities of Senator (elect) Dave Umahi, and we are convinced that he is the right candidate for the position of President of the 10th National Assembly.

“His track record of leadership in his home State of Ebonyi and his commitment to the development of our country are exemplary.

“We believe that he has the vision and the capacity to lead the National Assembly in a way that will promote the unity and progress of our nation,” Awodi said.

In the same vein, the Group’s Vice President, Onoja Ambassador, while responding to questions from journalists, explained that the AJF, which is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and boasts of 260 practising journalists in its membership base, consulted widely with the public and stakeholders in the political sphere before arriving at its decision to endorse Umahi.

“We did not arrive at this decision lightly. We consulted widely with members of the public, political leaders and stakeholders before arriving at our decision,” Onoja said.

Awodi dismissed suggestions that the endorsement was influenced by any external factors, saying that it was purely based on the merits of Umahi’s candidacy.

However, the question people are asking members of the AJF if they had the courtesy to consult with their counterparts in the South-east where Umahi hails from.

However, is alleged to be very generous to not a few members of the AJF, aside from also supporting the association collectively.

Others see it as an insult on the South-east that the AJF would arrogantly tell the South-east who should be the Senate President – if it is zoned to the Zone.