Martin Elechi
The immediate past governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi has revealed why he backed a former Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu to succeed him rather than Governor Dave Umahi, who was then serving as his deputy.
The former governor, who disclosed this to select journalists at his country home, Echialike Ikwo, noted that the Governor lacked the spirit of accommodation and other qualities necessary for a person occupying such position. The press conference came ahead of a thanksgiving church service being organized by former members of his state executive council and former council chairmen and friends.
According to him, “I have no apologies to anybody or to any group of people for what happened. I still stick to my conscience and to my belief that what I did in that circumstance is what I should do.
“Yes I made my point clear to him (Umahi) as early as September 2014 that I wouldn’t support him because my observation showed me that he lacked certain qualities that we hold very high and very dear in governance; the spirit of accommodation.
“That whether you are in opposition or in government you have a right to be protected, you have a right to say your mind and somebody who opposed you was not necessarily your enemy or your opponent.
“We believe that everybody has the right to differ and if you don’t accommodate people’s quest to differ, it is a major minus to you in governance. But having said so, your destiny is your destiny, I have no control over your destiny, if it is God’s wish that you become governor then you will be.
“That is my position, but whether that is appreciated or not, that it is a statement of fact, that it is a statement of sincerity, I do not know.”
The ex-governor lamented that instead of being allowed to enjoy a quiet retirement after his service to the state, his freedom has been curtailed as he now lives in bondage in view of the 54 petitions against him at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Noting that he is currently on bail, he said he has been restricted to his home and frequent invitation to Abuja to respond to the EFCC queries.
He claimed that his major offense may have been his decision to anoint someone else as against his estranged former deputy as his choice of successor in office, an action he said, triggered series of political maneuvers that pitched him against Umahi who was then backed by the federal might and the party hierarchy.
Elechi noted that due to manipulations and total disregard to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s constitution and disrespect to the former president Goodluck Jonathan’s directives, the end of the battle was predictable as he was overwhelmed by the array of federal forces during the party primaries and the subsequent general elections.
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