The recent attack on Governor David Umahi by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers was a product of envy.
The Ebonyi State Government said Wike was envious of Umahi’s “earth-shattering accomplishments.”
This is just as the state government in a statement issued by Umahi’s spokesman, Francis Nwaze, slammed Wike for speaking as if he has the Nigerian Judiciary in his pocket.
The statement was issued in reaction to a video in which Wike allegedly claimed he masterminded the Abuja High Court judgement that sacked David Umahi as governor over his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC).
It would be recalled that Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recently sacked Umahi and the deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The governor and his deputy were sacked by the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered judgement that the 393,042 votes garnered by Umahi in the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi State belonged to the PDP and same could not be legally transferred to the APC by the process of defection.
Another court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abakiliki, the Ebonyi State capital, had earlier affirmed that Umahi was right to have defected to the APC.
An high court had also asked the governor not to vacate his seat.
However, the Ebonyi State Government, while reacting to Governor Wike’s claim that he masterminded the Abuja High Court judgment, said: “Wike from the statement has taken responsibility for the pronouncement of the Federal High Court, thus requiring that he explains to Nigerians how he now calls the shots in the Nation’s Judiciary without being a Judge.
“While we will not get intoxicated and begin to comment on a case that is already pending in a Court of competent jurisdiction like Wike, we like to place it on record that Ebonyi State is not in the same geopolitical Zone with Rivers State and so nothing would have prompted Nyesom Wike to make such unguarded comment about Governor Umahi if he is not a cheeky hatchet job-man.
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“It is on record that Governor Umahi since the legal battle started has conducted himself properly by filing an appeal in a Court of Superior records and did not resort to horse-trading like his counterpart, Nyesom Wike who speaks as if he has the Nigeria Judiciary in his armpit, which is impossible.
“We are however not unaware that the envy of Nyesom Wike is the earth-shattering accomplishments of the Governor Umahi-led administration in Ebonyi State which include but are not limited to over seventeen twin flyovers, State of the art King David University of Medical Sciences, the best of its kind in Africa, the shopping mall, the best international airport in Nigeria, payment of civil servants, massive empowerment of the youths, widows, clergy and so much more.”
Nwaze added: “While not joining issues with the Governor, we like to remind Wike that hence he riggled himself out of the 2015 Appeal Court ruling dismissing him as Governor of Rivers State, Governor Umahi would come out of his current legal issues stronger and unscathed while still proceeding on his presidential ambition gallantly.
“Not minding his looney voice, we want to emphasize that Governor Umahi and Ebonyians have absolute confidence in the Nigeria Judiciary to carry out an unbiased adjudication which would open a new vista of precedence in justice dispensation in Nigeria.
“We urge Ebonyians and supporters of Governor David Nweze Umahi across the country and beyond to remain peaceful and resolute lest the likes of Wike and other political desperados score a cheap political point by the reason of their conduct at a time like this.
“We also enjoin Ebonyi citizens and the reading public to disregard the hapless surmise of a man reputed for orchestration of unhealthy and brutish governance under a Democracy,” the statement read.
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