Presidential hopeful and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi,
says politicians in Nigeria should have retirement age and not “pursue money”
till the end of their stay on earth.
The 58-year-old governor spoke on Monday when he featured as
a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme.
Umahi said, “In this country, I find it very funny for
people at certain age in this country that are still fighting so hard for
money. I thought that at certain age, we should be making efforts to reconcile
with God and be grateful to him for the opportunity given to us.
“So, it is important that we begin to engage and say, look, even if you are successful and your children are not successful, then you are not successful. We must let people know the true meaning of life; nobody goes to the grave with this money but it is your legacy that will speak for you, speak for your children and for your generation.
“This is the kind of engagement that we need to do so that
people will understand that everything is not about money and that every
position given to us by God as leaders, God will ask us for accountability for
what we did with such positions.”
When asked to throw light on those he said were concerned
about money, Umahi said, “What I mean is that in this country, there is no age
limit by which we can say we have retired, we tend to be pursuing money till
the end of our stay on earth in Nigeria.”
“I’m not just talking about political leadership, generally,
at certain age in your life, you should be able to say I need to retire and
give opportunities to your children. It cuts across all areas of life.”
Asked further if there was anyone running for president
alongside himself who should retire and allow the “children” to take over, the
governor said, “Not in my mind at all.”
Race for next Nigerian President
Recall that Umahi visited the
President, Muhammadu Buhari, on January 11, 2022 in Aso
Rock and informed the 79-year-old former military leader of his decision to run
for President in 2023.
His declaration came a day after 69-year-old All
Progressives Congress National Leader, Bola Tinubu, also visited the President
in Aso Villa and announced his “lifelong” presidential dream.
Speaking on the television programme on Monday, Umahi said
announcing his presidential ambition at Aso Villa some 24 hours after Tinubu’s
was only coincidental and not planned.
Umahi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the
ruling APC in November 2020 amid rising clamour for the South-East zone to
produce the next President of Nigeria.
Aside from Tinubu and Umahi, several presidential hopefuls
have emerged in the last few days including media personality, Dele Momodu;
former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; former
Governor of Abia State and Majority Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu;
former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, among
others.
A few northern politicians have also been rumoured to nurse
presidential ambition. The politicians include former Vice President Atiku
Abubakar, who had contested for presidency on three occasions, Sokoto State
Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and an ex-governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
While neither of them had yet to officially declare their presidential bid,
there are strong indications they are eyeing the exalted position.
Though party primaries that would lead to the emergence of
candidates are expected to hold later in the year, permutations, political
bickering and serial defections continue as the race for who succeeds Buhari
gets intense, while Nigerians wait with bated breath to see who would occupy
the exalted office in Aso Rock in 2023.
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