2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: I HOPE TINUBU OR OBI WIN THE PRESIDENCY - UMAHI

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has reacted to Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying his ambition makes the South East geopolitical zone relevant.

Umahi, who was in Abuja for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to inform him of the completion of a new Governors' Lodge in Asokoro, did not openly support the Labour Party candidate, but said Obi's presidential ambition was good for the region.

In response to questions about the APC's chances of capturing the presidency in 2023, he stated that only God can determine who will ultimately win the election, but he hoped that his party, the APC, would emerge victorious.

Remember that Umahi, a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that sparked outrage in the political community.

Commenting on the ongoing crisis within the APC ahead of the general election, Umahi stated that such issues will be resolved amicably and that the party will emerge stronger.

"Well, I think that, you know, we don't have issues in the APC like the kind of issues we have in other parties," he says. They say that in a big house, there are vessels of honour and vessels of dishonour. Literally, this means that there must be some problems in a large house like the APC. However, the structure and spread of the APC ensures victory.

"I can assure you that some of the disagreements in some states will be resolved; a mechanism has been put in place to sort out those differences by Mr. President, the party's candidate, his vice, and then the national chairman and leadership of the party, and I believe we are well prepared for victory in 2023."

"And you can see the level of his acceptability, which does not translate into victory over APC, I'm sure, but it's a good movement, and it reassures the South East people and the entire country that we are accepted, that we will one day become the President of this country, which is very important."

When asked if the Peter Obi phenomenon contributed to fewer killings in the South East, he said, "You cannot technically attribute the killings to the Igbo presidency; you can see that security in the country is generally improving, and it has nothing to do with Peter Obi's movement."

"The Peter Obi movement is based on equity, justice, and fairness." It may not translate to an outright victory because I must defend my party, wish my party well, and am running on my party's ticket. So, whether what he's doing has meaning in there, not just South East, it does. As a result, we must never attribute the killings in the South East to this type of movement.

"Peter Obi's movement, like all movements, is based on God's will; only God knows who will win, but there must be a wish." As a member of our party, I hope we win. If God says no, the next person I want to win is Peter Obi. Because I strongly believe, and will say it anywhere, that after the north has taken eight years, there is no moral justification for the north to seek another eight years, it should go to the south.

"So I'm not going to wish Peter Obi away." God has the final say and the power to give to whomever He pleases."

When asked if Obi has a chance of winning, he replied that everyone has a chance of winning and a chance of losing, but you should always have a wish.

"Yes. It's going to be a different ball game altogether. Because when the campaign starts, yes, the interest of our people in terms of presidency is there; you can't wish it away. But everyone in the south east holding the ticket of their party is going to be struggling and he's going to be fighting. You will not advise the House of Assembly candidate to consider the bigger picture of Igbo presidency. He may not see it, but that does not mean that Peter Obi will not receive significant votes in the South East."