By Angela Mbaocha, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, has boasted that should the All Progressives Congress (APC), give him the presidential ticket of the party, he would defeat the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, before noon on the election day.
Umahi, who is the Chairman, South-East Governor’s Forum, told the National leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and National Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) at the new Presidential lodge, Government House, Abakaliki, that Atiku is the easiest candidate to beat at the contest.
The governor said that with his achievements in Ebonyi state, hewas confident he would defeat Atiku if given the presidential ticket.
He reiterated that his decision to leave PDP was the best following the marginalization witnessed by the Southeast zone under PDP.
The governor expressed dissatisfaction over the way money was shared by some presidential aspirants of the PDP, during the just concluded Party’s primary election in Abuja.
The presidential aspirant told Nigerians to base their voting on pedigree and antecedents and not to vote for visionless candidates.
Earlier, the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and that of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), recommend Governor Dave Umahi for 2023 Presidency.
NUJ and NAWOJ said Umahi has prudently managed the lean resources of the state and transformed it to unexpected.
NUJ and NAWOJ CWC were in Abakaiki, Ebonyi State capital for their quarterly meeting and used the opportunity to inspect the projects executed by the state government.
Isiguzo said time has come for the media to rise to the occasion by setting positive agenda, adding that political actors have taken over discourse
He noted, “from what we saw and what we heard about, your Excellency, even if we stay here in Ebonyi for the next two weeks, it will be difficult to appreciably earmark your landmark achievements in Ebonyi State.
“From what we saw your Excellency, I must tell you have done very well as a Governor state.
“What we have seen today are outstandingly remarkable, the University of Medical Sciences in Uburu constructed by you cannot be seen anywhere because if Nigerians especially our political leaders appreciate what you put there, you have clearly succeeded in stemming the tide of Medical tourism because what our people travel abroad, Asia, America and Europe, you have brought to Ebonyi State.
“The one that really endures me so much your Excellency is the Inyere bridge in Edda’. From what we have seen and heard, the much you have put into it and what you are still putting into it, if it were some other places, what you use to put the bridge there will gulp the resources of that place for the next 20 years.
“From what you have done, Nigerians should unite and come to Ebonyi and plead with you to replicate what you have done in Ebonyi at the National stage, it shouldn’t be the other way where you are asking, it should be us and the rest of Nigerians asking you to come and do what you have done here at the National stage. That is why the media must begin to talk about the positive things that are emanating from our Democratic experience so that the rest of the country will fly with it”.
On her part, NAWOJ National President, Mrs. Ladi Bala said Nigeria must have a leader like Umahi to tackle Infrastructural challenges in the country.
