Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has assured the people of the state that he would not interfere with appointments and administrative decisions of the governor-elect, Francis Nwifuru.
The Governor gave the assurance Monday during a victory party in honour of the new Governor-elect.
The event was held at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Addressing the crowd of All Progressives Congress supporters, the Governor commended Ebonyi people for electing Nwifuru, describing his election as God’s choice, and a demonstration of equity, fairness and justice by the people.
He pledged to nurture the governor-elect to success but warned those lobbying or intending to lobby for appointments through him to look elsewhere, noting that he would not interfere in the process.
Umahi, however, advised the Governor-elect to entrench the reward system as a criterion for choosing his team, adding that those who laboured should be remembered.
“Let me be very grateful to God for the gift of today.
“Some believed that they were the most qualified to be this Governor.
“But for the number of months since the decision was taken, whenever I go to my office, I had always knelt down and prayed to God that Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru should take over from me, and I am happy today that he has been declared winner.
“There is no leader in this state that did not adopt Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru, not because he is the best but because he is God’s choice.
“Let me appeal to those who are lobbying me, I will not nominate anybody to the cabinet.
“We came as a team, and the only thing I will say to the Governor-elect is that there must be a reward system; we must begin to reward people.
“We want people that would be saying, do this for my community, not for me.”
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, who proposed the toast at the event commended Governor Umahi for keeping to his promise of handing over to a more youthful person at the end of his administration.
“Your Excellency, I want to say that we are happy; the good people of Ebonyi State are happy and APC, Ebonyi State are exceedingly happy.”
Other major stakeholders who spoke, including the APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha; the APC national treasurer, Chief Matthew Uguru, and the member representing Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency of the State, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, commended the Governor for sticking to his promise of returning power to Ebonyi North.
They congratulated the Governor-elect and commended Governor Umahi for galvanizing the solidarity which birthed the victories at the polls.
The Director-General, Divine Mandate Campaign Council, Chief Austin Umahi and his counterpart in charge of the Women’s Wing of the organization, Catherine Ogbu, further appreciated Ebonyians for entrusting them with their votes, pledging good governance through the governor-elect.
In a brief remark, the Governor-elect, Nwifuru, while appreciating the Governor and the people of the state, beckoned his opponents to join hands with him to build a better Ebonyi State, saying: “We are winners.”
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