By James Orji
Not a few Nigerians have descended on Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi over his comment that the country’s next president should be like the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari.
Umahi is a staunch supporter of the president and has shown this through his several comments and actions. He, last year, defected to the APC from PDP, the party for which he was a strong member for many years, citing the need to rally round President Buhari to succeed in his quest to reshape the country.
Many however insist that the reason why he dumped the PDP is to take a shot at the presidency under the APC banner.
The nation is poised for another presidential election in 2023, and many Nigerians believe that the election would be a referendum on President Buhari and the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC performance.
The president many insist, have not delivered on its election promises, even though his supporters say otherwise.
As the president will not be seeking office again, as the Constitution will not allow that, Governor Umahi said his desire is for President Buhari’s successor to have “a good heart ” like him.
The Ebonyi helmsman stated this in Abuja after a meeting with the president, in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa.
The governor who highlighted President Buhari’s achievements in the south east in six years to include the Second Niger Bridge, the award of eastern corridor of the railway line, and others said his wish is that the next president should inherit the attributes of the incumbent.
He said Buhari’s investments in infrastructure will fast track development across the country.
The Governor seems to be alone in his positive comments for the president, as some Nigerians have taken to the their Facebook page to criticize him, insisting that he’s not being truthful about the situation of things in the country.
Reacting to the issue @David Oki Abiodun said
“Until politicians elected into various offices shun the issue of partisanship, collectively considering all the electorates in their campaign promises, shunning their egocentric nature and speaking truth to power, Nigeria can never build a good democratic structure, Me; Umahi trying to pacify the immaterial president to avoid being probed.”
Also, @Ibrahim Sabo Yunusa said
“Good Nigerians both home and abroad are solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari 100 percent…
Nigeria best President ever…
Ride on President Muhammadu Buhari with your massive infrastructural development to Nigerians in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria for a better tomorrow…
Your enemies shall continue to be in severe pain…
In Shaa Allah….”
According to @Minabo Ekine
“The high percentage of Nigerians praying for a good leader not a leader like Buhari is more than you, so God must not honor your prayers.”
While @Real Sent wrote that
“David Umahi may your children have the heat of Buhari toward you in Jesus name”, @Cistus Ngene stated that
“May God treat you and your family the way buhari is treating Nigerian citizens”.
Others who.took the Ebonyi Governor to the cleaners over the issue include @Samuel.Duke who spoke sarcastically that “Yes he has done well Nigeria Economy is the best in Africa, the country is so peaceful people are enjoying & life is good. Continue lying to ur self becos of selfish interest,” and @Uchendu Ikec hukwu Kingsley who said “the greatest problem of Nigeria may not just be the leader in power but the pathetic sychophants surrounding him who doesn’t tell him the truth about the impact of wrong policies on the entire masses. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State is one of them”.
@Ayoade Olanipekun said “i think it is high time we start testing our so called politicians before they get into office because I think it is not all of them that are normal, especially this so called umahi, he is psychologically imbalanced
On his part @Henry Eluu said “Efulefu, Nigerians will never commit the blunder that brought Buhari to power again. 2023 strategy but for the heartless governor, Umahi is worst than Buhari”.
