Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has accused the South-East delegates to the just-concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary of ‘trading’ their votes.
Mr Umahi, who made the allegation on Saturday during the matriculation ceremony of the King David University of Medical Sciences, said the Igbos should henceforth not complain of marginalisation due to the delegates’ conduct.
“I had a series of meetings with the party’s chairmen in the five states of the zone in the company of its national vice chairman.
“I implored the delegates that the issue was not about me but the mood of the Igbos in the nation. I implored that they should vote for any south east aspirant so that when the votes are counted, we would not be missing.
“We would have made a strong statement in the process that the Igbos are eminently qualified with due capacity to lead the country,” he said.
He regretted that conversely, the delegates “traded” their votes while only those from Ebonyi voted for him and others.
“They will come later to preach about Igbo unity and its agenda but henceforth, the only agenda I know is the Ebonyi agenda.
“This shows that even if we have an equal number of local government areas and delegates such as other zones, we would still trade our votes.
“We are currently regarded as people who can sell anything but they should remember that anyone who betrays his brother will lose the trust of those who gained from the betrayal.
“There was no sort of lobbying I did not receive but I maintained that it was about bringing the marginalisation of the Igbos to the fore,” he said.
Mr Umahi commended the delegates from Ebonyi for their trust and steadfastness, assuring that other people would soon realise that money is not everything.
“You (Ebonyi delegates) have made yourselves reference points of steadfastness in the country and when people are seeking for trustworthy people, they will come for you.
“I have lost total confidence in the leadership of the Ohaneze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation and will openly confront anyone who challenges the Ebonyi agenda,” he said.
Recall that Mr Umahi garnered the highest votes of 38 by any South-East aspirant in the primary won by former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu.
(NAN)
