President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday described the defection of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as “a bold move driven purely by principle rather than opportunistic motives.”
While commending Umahi for his decision, Buhari urged Nigerians to pay less emphasis on identity politics so as to enhance democratic culture.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted him as saying: “I am proud of Governor David Umahi for taking this bold decision in accordance with his conscience and principles, rather than any external influence or coercion.
“Good governance is very important to us in the APC, and I’m glad that the governor has cited this as a major factor in his decision to join us.
“I urge our citizens to pay less emphasis on identity politics if we want our democracy to make a positive impact on our country.
“With men like Umahi, I foresee a brighter future for our democracy because the voters will be more motivated by performance records of parties and their candidates.
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“Let me once again commend the boldness of Governor Umahi for taking this courageous decision in a country where principles are in short supply among many.
“I know people might call him names, but that is the price men of principles have to pay for acting according to their conscience and convictions.”
Umahi, along with some members of his cabinet, on Tuesday defected from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.
The governor hinged his defection on the alleged marginalisation of the South-East by the PDP as well as the party’s silence on zoning the presidency to the region in 2023.
