Obi As Atiku’s Running Mate: We Were Never Consulted- Umahi
By Joyce Onuora Abakaliki
State, Chief David Umahi has expressed shock over the choice of former
governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi as the running mate to the
presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar without
consulting with the leaders of the party in the zone.
Umahi said the earlier statement quoting him as congratulating Peter
Obi was never with his knowledge and dissociated himself from the
statement, saying that the position of the entire South East zone has
always been that any position zoned to the South East must be
deliberated upon by the leaders of the zone.
He said in the case of the appointment of Mr. Obi as Atiku’s running
mate, neither the governors, nor Igbo leaders were consulted, a
situation he said was a great departure from the earlier agreement.
The governor apologized to Nigerians and Ndigbo for the statement,
adding that his Chief Press Secretary acted without his knowledge and
wish to state categorically that he has nothing personally against
Peter Obi or any other person emerging as the running mate to the
presidential candidate of PDP.
He said that any position zoned to Ndigbo must be discussed and
agreement reached so that the right thing is done in line with the
peculiar nature of Igbo politics and their quest for politics of
inclusiveness.
