The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has described as childish the demand for apology by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, from him.
Oshiomhole demanded the apology from Umahi over the state government’s refusal to allow the Ebonyi APC use the state’s stadium for its political rally on Saturday.
Speaking while in the state to accept some recently defected PDP members to the APC fold, Oshiomhole had said, “When I read in the paper this morning that my dear friend and brother has refused you and me the use of public stadium under his own caretaker, I felt a little worried.
“But let me say to the governor, when a people are determined, no obstacle made by man; sustained by man can defeat or weaken the resolved power and the spirit of the people from accomplishing what they set out to do.”
Responding through his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, the governor berated the APC chairman for the statement, which he described as “shameful” and “baseless”.
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He said that Oshiomhole ought to know that the stadium was under reconstruction and an APC faction in the state had rescheduled the planned rally.
The statement read, “It is very shameful for APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomole, to have made the statement credited to him while in the state. He has not disappointed Nigerians on his usual naked dance when he said Governor Umahi denied a faction of his party usage of the PA Ngele Oruta International Stadium which is undergoing reconstruction.
“It became more childish for the national party chairman who had earlier called Governor Umahi on phone and informed him of his coming to the state to have made such ridiculous statement whereas he was aware of the decision of a faction of his party to shift the date for the rally to 11th August.
“Oshiomole and Umahi have shared great friendship before this rally and as a sitting governor, Umahi while in Edo State to conduct governorship primary election of PDP in 2014 did not only pay a courtesy call on Oshiomole but had personal interaction as brothers despite their differences in political association, this is a pure example of political maturity exhibited by Umahi which APC lacks. One would have expected Oshiomole as a senior comrade to show respect to a sitting governor if he was not hypocritical in his alleged relationship and tolerance for opposition. But he decided to fly into Abakaliki, enjoyed the ambience of a serene environment and drove round a beautiful city with the best road network in the country and then mounted the podium and started spewing his usual political blackmail which he has been known for.
“More worrisome is his visible silence over the factions in his party in the state and his inability to fuse the divided party into one but has descended so low to demand apology from a sitting governor over a stadium that is under construction.
“APC has been rejected by Nigerians and Ebonyians have no reason whatsoever to identify with a political party without known direction towards betterment of the country.”