Fact Check: Are South East Governors Working For Buhari?

South East governors have recently been alleged to be canvassing for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election into office in 2019.

Governors from the South East are: Willie Obiano of Anambra State, David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.

While three of the states are controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo state is controlled by the All Progressives Congress, APC and Anambra is controlled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

Although, it is expected that the PDP controlled states will work for the election of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, speculations have it that the governors are supporting Buhari.

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in a statement, alleged that certain south-east governors were working for Buhari.

According to him, the governors are working for the president and not Atiku because of their plan to return for second term by all means.

“IPOB has proved that there are other centres of influence and power in the East. Those hoping that Atiku will sweep Biafraland because of the Obi factor are misguided, because almost every governor in the south-east is working for Jubril/ Buhari. What a shame. Even Soludo of all people is working for Buhari.

“IPOB is not backing down on the boycott. Never!!. In the immediate past few years, IPOB has proven that, other than politicians, there are other centres of influence and power in Southeast and parts of South-South.

“So, this current path we have chosen – the path of boycotting the 2019 elections – is a well-considered one, geared to leaving no one in doubt that we mean business. We know some people are wondering what IPOB expects to gain when it refuses to participate in elections.

Similarly, the Buhari Media Organisation, BMO, alleged that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, South East governors and some members of the PDP, were supporting Buhari.

“On individual basis, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, has publicly left no one in doubt about his positive relations with the President whom he has hailed on several occasions for the infrastructural strides in the region, and of late his Enugu counterpart Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had been pictured wearing a lapel pin with President Buhari’s image.

“What is now left is for the governors and Senator Ekweremadu to be pictured with the viral 4 + 4 hand sign,” the BMO said in a statement by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke.

Meanwhile, a cursory look at statements previously made by some south east governors indicate that some of them have spoken in support of Buhari’s re-election bid, whereas, others have maintained a neutral relationship with the president.

Some of the statements retrieved by THE WHISTLER are:

Governor Willie Obiano (Anambra State)

Obiano, on December 14th, openly campaigned for Buhari by stating that he has fulfilled his promise to Igbos by completing the Zik’s Mausoleum.

“President Buhari is determined to keep to his vows. The Zik’s Mausoleum is important to us. It is an honour to Zik of Africa, who played major roles in re-shaping the nation.

“The project started 23 years ago. We thank President Buhari for keeping to his words.

“I have no choice than to praise President Muhammadu Buhari for his determination in the implementation of other federal government projects in the state and other states in the region,” he said.

David Umahi (Ebonyi State)

Umahi, in an interview with State House correspondents after his visit to the Presidential Villa in December 2017, outrightly urged President Buhari to seek re-election in 2019.

“Any first term governor would want to go for second term. Whatever you wish yourself, you should be honest enough to wish another person the same.

“Since Mr. President is on his first term and I am on my first term, it is my wish to re-contest and I will as well wish the President the same thing: to re-contest,” the governor said.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State)

Governori Ugwuanyi showed his support for Buhari by adorning his (Buhari) second term badge.

Ugwuanyi had worn the batch when he travelled with the president on a foreign trip to Poland.

The picture was tweeted by the President’s aide on social media, Lauretta Onochie.

Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State)

Ikpeazu has once commended President Buhari over his fight against corruption and affirming the rule of law.

He issued a release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, commending how the president was working tirelessly to “stop corrupt individuals from using illegally acquired wealth to buy immunity from prosecution through the backdoor”.

Rochas Okorocha (Imo State)

Okorocha on several occasions vowed to ensure that president Buhari emerged winner in the forthcoming 2019 presidential election.

Speaking at the APC’s South East women and youth rally in Owerri, the state capital, he re-assured that “Imo victory for Buhari is designed.”

“The Nigeria of today, he is the best man for the job. He is fighting against corruption. It takes an unusual determination to do what he is doing. He stands to end terrorism in North- East. I think Nigerians, all Nigerians should support him. In South East, all the South East governors are for President Muhammadu Buhari,” Okorocha had said this on November 21, 2017, at the government house in Owerri, Imo State capital, while receiving a group of youths called Democratic Youth Congress for Buhari 2019.