Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RAMFC, Chief Elias Mbam, has disclosed that governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State’s defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, would further strengthen the unity of the party in the state and reposition it towards capturing the governors seat in 2023.
Mbam stated this on Sunday after APC’s stakeholders meeting with the governor at his Uburu hometown in Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi state.
The APC chieftain noted that the decision was a welcome development, and that the state as well as the South East would benefit from the defection, even as he maintained that the South East had nothing to show for its numerous support for the Peoples Democratic Party since the inception of democracy in 1999.
He said the APC-led Federal Government has shown commitment towards developing infrastructure in the South East, and that it was time politicians in the zone moved to APC en-masse, even as he pointed out that the zone has not benefitted much from the ruling party because of being in opposition.
“The major stakeholders in our party met with the governor and he told us why he wanted to leave his party for the APC. Part of the reasons was the need for South East to be part of the government at the centre.
“He stressed the need for the zone to collaborate with the North and that if we do that, we will be able to get what we have not been able to get since 1999.
“Since 1999, PDP has been in control in Ebonyi and other states in South East, yet the party has not found one person worthy of flying its flag and we don’t even have any hope that it would happen soon.”
“Ebonyi State need to join the ruling party in order to be present where major decisions are being taken. We want to lead a campaign where the South East will become more relevant at the centre.
“Umahi’s move is a commendable decision, it’s good for our state and Igbo people. “The best way to be represented in a meeting is to be present where major decisions are taken and if Ebonyi is not present at the centre, certainly it will affect what we get from there.”