Umahi declares that Ebonyi will never have anything to do with Biafra as Ndigbo have investments all over Nigeria

GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State has declared that his people will never be part of the proposed so-called Biafran republic as Igbos have investments all over the country and no president of Igbo extraction will want to divide Nigeria.

A candidate in the 2023 presidential elections, Governor Umahi has been a firm advocate of one united and indivisible Nigeria in contrast to the position of Igbo secessionists. Speaking at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki during a reception organised for him after declaring his presidential bid, the governor pointed out that Ebonyians would never have anything to do with the phantom Biafra republic.

He stressed that Ebonyi State was better off in a fair and equitable Nigeria. Biafra existed briefly between July 1967 and January 1970 during the Nigerian Civil War but since 2015, calls for its resuscitation have grown as the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is seen as one that marginalises Ndigbo.

Governor Umahi said: “If anybody tells you about Biafra, Ebonyi State will never be part of Biafra.  Let nobody be afraid of the presidency of an Igbo man as an Igbo man is a builder and not a destroyer.

"There is no Igbo man that will be the president of this country and would like to divide or destroy it because we have investments everywhere. First and foremost, I have been saying that if anybody tells you about Biafra, Ebonyi State will never be part of it. We are not Biafra.

“We have been so oppressed and now we are finding our feet and you want us to go back. We are better in a fair and equitable Nigeria and we are not going anywhere. We will continue to appeal and dialogue to be treated fairly and equitably like other regions of Nigeria.

“Some enemies of the southeast say if we become president, we will divide the country. How would we divide the country? We have investments everywhere.”

According to Governor Umahi, he has already discussed the issue of insecurity affecting the southeast with President Buhari.  He added that President Buhari will be coming to Ebonyi State in March for what will be a historic visit.