Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has said that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, loves Igbos.
Umahi, who is the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, stated this on Wednesday in Iboko, the headquarters of Izzi Local Government Area, during the party’s campaign in the 13 council areas of the state.
The governor described the insinuation as ‘baseless’, urging the people to vote for Tinubu and all APC candidates in the coming general elections.
“The Igbos prospered under Tinubu as governor of Lagos and are still prospering. We are not sentimental and will follow those who know the way.
“Tinubu will take care of Ebonyi just like President Muhammadu Buhari is doing now,” he said.
He called on Izzi residents to support his son and APC governorship candidate, Chief Francis Nwifuru, who is currently the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“It is the turn of the Izzi tribe to be the governor of the land they gave us and no one can take it from them.
“Nwifuru has been under my tutelage for 16 years and he is eminently qualified to continue with the philosophy of divine mandate,” he said.
The governor urged citizens not to support candidates from the southern district (where he hails from) so as not to undermine the existing equity charter in the state.
“When the south turn produced the governor, the people of Izzi and the entire Ekumenyi block supported me.
“Now it’s your turn and the southern counties, and others must support you,” he said.
He said the party’s campaign structure has been decentralized so as to increase mobilization at the ward level.
At the event, the APC gubernatorial aspirant thanked the people for their massive participation and support, and promised not to disappoint, if he becomes governor.
“I will run my government based on the principles of the charter of people’s needs, based on open governance and performance management.
“I will make decisions through citizen input and focus on results and outputs,” he said.
Nwifuru thanked Umahi for his guidance over the years and promised to uphold his legacy in all sectors if elected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umahi’s wife, Rachel, who is the Chairperson of the women wing of the APC campaign council, led other stakeholders to express their support for Nwifure and the party’s candidates for various positions.