Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi have exchanged verbal attacks over claim that the former is responsible for the sack of the latter by Federal High Court, Abuja.
Wike had earlier boasted that he was behind the ordeal of David Umahi, who was sacked by court for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting to Wike’s remarks, Umahi labeled Wike as an illiterate who drinks a lot of alcohol, saying Wike acts like he is God.
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Asked in an interview if he and his unnamed counterpart had personal grouse aside the politics of decamping to APC, Umahi said, “Probably the difference between us will be our faith. I serve the living God and he probably takes a lot of alcohol.
I don’t drink. So that is the difference between us otherwise he remains my friend and my brother and I have nothing against him.”
When pressured to name the governor he was referring to, Umahi said: “You should be the one telling me. You heard him on Channels boasting that he is behind. A mere man that depends on the breath of God. I pity illiteracy. It’s a shame. You are boasting to remove another governor.
“What qualifies you just because you’re packing money that is public fund? Not intellectual material but by just packing money from public funds and you are boasting about it. Otherwise, who were you?
“I became a billionaire at the age of 25. I’ve worked all my life and I have asked him to come for public debates.
“I do not commission 3.4-kilometer road. I commission 35-kilometer roads. I commissioned twin flyovers running to one kilometer. I commission megaprojects with little resources.
“So, if he says he has done well and he is Mr this or that, let him come for a public debate with me. Let’s start with our childhoods. So I’m not disturbed.”
Asked whether his presidential ambition has died he said: “It could be just your own imagination because there is no such thing. You can see us in the various media houses, you know, social media. You can see my supporters everywhere, you can see my consultation.
Recall that Wike, Wednesday, had slammed his Ebonyi State counterpart, Umahi, for calling him a dictator who controls the structure of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Wike also said Umahi was wrong to have said he single handedly imposed Uche Secondus as the PDP National Chairman.
The Rivers State governor made this known on Wednesday evening while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Umahi, a longtime member of the PDP, had claimed he defected because of the “injustice” meted to the South-East region by the party, adding that the APC would protect the interest of the region in the 2023 presidential election.
However, Wike said “If there is one person that has supported Umahi, it is me. But for him to threaten the party is wrong.
“Umahi wants to run for President of Nigeria but he has no right to threaten anybody. Politics is dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.
Wike added that the Southern region of Nigeria wants to produce a president in the 2023 elections but “who tells Umahi that he is the only qualified South-East person to be president?”
The River State governor also said Umahi was “insulting the intelligence of the South-East people” by claiming to have the interest of the region at heart whilst he pursued his personal ambition.
He stated, “On the other hand, if you watch him today on Arise TV, he said one of the reasons (he left) is that Wike is a dictator. Wike controls the party. Which one do we take now? Was Wike in charge from 1999? When did Wike become relevant?”
Wike also recalled that “Umahi called me on Monday and told me he wanted to move and I said, you are free. However, check yourself, check your conscience, if you satisfied, you are free.”
