The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has commended the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, for resisting pressures to engage in a rift with Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
Insinuations were rife in the state that the acclaimed “father and son” were at loggerheads over the control of the state’s party structure.
The Chairman of APC in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, however, said on Friday, that it was in the state’s interest that there was no Umahi-Nwifuru rift.
“Umahi as a leader has made his marks in Ebonyi and Nigeria, realising in the process that there is time for everything.
“There is a time to reign, step aside and stand as a father.
“A good dancer dances with wisdom, leaves the stage when the ovation is loudest and refuses to yield to pressure to remain on stage,” he said.
Okoro-Emegha said that Umahi’s debunk of the insinuations of conflict portrayed him as a patriot who did not want Ebonyi to undergo the political upheavals witnessed in some states.
“He admitted to have been put under pressure from within to tell the governor certain things but he never did so.
“His declaration of leaving the governor to decide the party’s affairs is a welcome development as the governor is the party’s leader in the state.
“The governor knows what is good for the party and when he succeeds, the party succeeds,” he said.
He urged party faithful to always ignore the antics of naysayers and be committed to its ideals for continuous success.
It would be recalled that Umahi, while declaring open the commencement of work on the Ebonyi section of 118.km trans-Saharan super highway, said he never signed a one-term agreement with Nwifuru.
“I fought battles to make Nwifuru governor without conditions and I will support him for eight years.
“I was in control of the state party structure for eight years as the governor and will, therefore, not interfere with Nwifuru’s leadership.
“People think I will return to struggle for power after leaving office but I am not available for such distractions,” the minister said.
