EBONYI State coordinator, Friends of Atiku (FOA) and member representing Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency, Hon. Linus Abba Okorie has described Governor David Umahi’s statement, alleging that he is behind the destruction of Atiku/Obi billboard in his campaign office, as most uncharitable and unexpected of a man occupying the exalted office of the governor.
According to Okorie, in a statement, he said the governor knows the major role he played to make him the Governor of Ebonyi State in 2015, which is a clear evidence that he (Linus Okorie) didn’t need such cheap tricks to be popular in a state he has remained a strong stakeholder in the past 20years ago.
Okorie, who expressed shock that the governor did not condemn the destruction of billboards of the Presidential candidate of his party in his state but chose to capitalise on the incident to launch an undeserved attack on him, however, expressed happiness that the governor has for the first time mentioned the name of the PDP presidential candidate.
He then urged the governor and indeed all stakeholders in the state to team up with Friends of Atiku in the state to deliver the PDP candidate and his running mate come February 16 stressing that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will floor his All Progressives Congress(APC) counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari in Ebonyi state during the Presidential election .
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Meanwhile, Okorie said Ebonyians love Atiku and his running mate, Mr Peter Obi, and would vote massively for them in February irrespective of any political intrigues being cooked up in some quarters within the state.
He urged the divine mandate campaign organization to also brand their vehicles with their party’s presidential candidate and his running mate.
“I was convinced that the governor was misquoted when I read a line where he was quoted as saying that I destroyed the billboards just to draw attention to myself and my activities in the State. This is most uncharitable and unexpected from the occupant of the exalted office of a governor and who knows me too well and fully aware that I don’t need such cheap tricks to be popular in a State I have been a major stakeholder and player in the past 20 years. Neither do I need to destroy my own campaign materials to gain the governor’s attention when indeed my role in his 2015 governorship ascension are well known to all Ebonyians and remain indelible.
“I am deeply concerned that the governor did not condemn the unwarranted destructive attack on the campaign office of the Presidential candidate of his party, but instead chose to use the opportunity of the incident to launch such an obnoxious attack on me. May it not be that the further attacks said to be planned against the office are still afoot.
” I am, however, satisfied that the governor has finally spoken on the matter and publicly commented on the candidacy of our Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
I now passionately appeal to him and all stakeholders of our party, the PDP in the State, to join the Friends of Atiku in intensifying efforts to deliver our candidate come February 16, 2019. I am also looking forward to seeing the governor’s divine mandate campaign vehicles and materials branded with the images of Atiku and Obi.
“What is most gratifying is that Ebonyians are determined to massively vote the Atiku/Obi ticket irrespective of any intrigues and high wire politicking.”
Recall that Governor David Nweze Umahi on Tuesday during the swearing-in of two commissioners and two special Assistant alleged that the Hon. Member was behind the destruction of Atiku/Obi billboard mounted in his campaign office.
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