“Stop Thrëatëning Gov Nwifuru With Second Term, Concëntratë On Cement Technology Roads” – Diaspora Ebonyians Caution Umahi

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

In Ebonyi State, all appears not to be going well anymore for godfather and godson, as Dave Umahi the  Minister for Works and former Ebonyi helmsman and his protege, Governor Francis Nwifuru may have  opted to walk parallel paths in the political landscape of the State.

Insinuations concerning a strained relationships between the two had, for a while, been tucked away from the public glare.

But strong indications have, in the last few days, tended to push their differences harder into the public dormain.

Only last Thursday May 30 , the former Governor threw an innuendo to wit- “Most of the people that I assisted during the elections have been avoiding me. It is only Onyekachi Nwebonyi who will openly acknowledge that I am his father and boss. The others feel that by doing so, the State Governor will be angry with them .”

However, many Ebonyians appear not to be persuaded by the rhetorics and, therefore, have concluded that there is more to the Umahi outbust than meets the eye.

For his statement, Umahi received knocks from Ebonyi indigenes in the Diaspora on Monday, June 3, 2024, with an admonition to avoid any attempt to meddle in the governance of the state.

In a statement issued by its President General, Paschal Oluchukwu Omaka, the group alleged that there are subtle moves by the Minister for Works to use the  second term  bid of Governor Nwifuru as a weapon to manipulate and control the  administration.

They have, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to rein in Umahi, direct him to  concentrate on his Abuja job and allow the State Governor to serve the good people of Ebonyi state.

“Knowing the character of Umahi, we,  at AEISCID, wish to raise a red flag on his claims and inform the whole world that despite being a Minister of the Federal Republic,  he still directly and indirectly controls and pilots the affairs of Ebonyi State, thus making it difficult for his successor to take firm decisions and govern the people of Ebonyi like his counterparts in other parts of the country.

“We have studied and known Umahi over the years. His recent media voyage is only symptomatic of his larger plans while crying wolf in public to continue to lord it over Ebonyians and their young and inexperienced Governor, whom we have since learnt he keeps in palpable check with discreet threats of withdrawing support for his second term in office.

“This group, therefore, cautions Umahi to stop threatening his successor,Nwifuru ,with second tenure and allow him to make decisions he considers best for the people.

“The Minister should concentrate on the monumental task of building his cement technology roads across the country, which we are certain will soon fail the same way the concrete roads he built in Ebonyi have done, even while he was still in office..

According to them, Nwifuru’s control by Umahi  may not have become public  knowledge, yet the signs are all over Ebonyi state, They  cited the forthcoming July 20, Local Council Elections as an example of how strong Umahi’s grip is on  the Nwifuru administration.”

The group alleged that the former Governor singlehandedly. imposed his acolytes as chairmanship candidates of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, a development which they fear greatly demeans the authority of the Governor.

They blamed the seemingly slow start of the Governor Nwifuru’s administration in attending to the needs of the people, to the ongoing subtle manipulations by Umahi.

They alleged that contrary to his public posturing and pontifications, Umahi still determines and decides projects to be executed.