A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Austin Umahi who is also the immediate younger brother to Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has rejected an appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Umahi said he believes the job is not for him or someone of his social status and urged any interested person to contact the Ebonyi Governor for the job.
He argued that the appointment should have gone to job seekers or retired civil servants.
President Buhari appointed Umahi as the Secretary of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission(RMAFC) but in a statement made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, the politician disclosed that he has rejected the appointment.
Umahi made his stand known on Thursday while reacting to the congratulatory messages that have been coming his way following the announcement of the appointment.
He said: “Let me deeply appreciate each and every one of you that sent his or her congratulatory message and numerous calls for my appointment as the RAMFC Secretary.
“I am honestly humbled by this show of love, however, I regret to inform you that I declined the appointment because it is at best for job seekers or retired civil servants or better still anyone who loves the job and secondly, I am convinced that at my age and work experience it is not in doubt that I know what I want in life.
“Please if you are interested in the position do not hesitate to approach our indefatigable Governor to do the needful because as far as I am concerned the position is still vacant. Thanks and God bless.”
The Political Play In Ebonyi
Austin emerged as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for Ebonyi South but withdrew from the race for Governor Umahi who contested and lost in the party’s presidential primaries.
INEC however refused to accept Governor Umahi’s candidacy.
The matter went to court and the court agreed with INEC that Umahi can’t be the APC candidate.
On Friday, July 222, Justice Fatun Riman, cited Section 115 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and ruled that the governor was not an aspirant and cannot participate in the election or pre-election matters of the All Progressives Congress as regards the Ebonyi South, whose primary held on May 28, 2022.
A fresh election was ordered to be conducted within 14 days.
