Attempt to cause rift between me and Umahi will fail

No level of gossip or attempt to cause confusion between former Governor Dave Umahi and me would succeed, says the new Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru on Sunday.

Nwifuru said appointment of political office holders in his administration will be based on profession, and not by friendship.

He spoke while addressing stakeholders and citizens of Ebonyi State during the post-inauguration thanksgiving, held at Saint Emmanuel Catholic Parish, Edukwachi, Izzi Local Government Area.

Nwifuru recalled how he rose from a bus conductor to a bricklayer, to a foreman, to a PDP assistant secretary, to a speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly for eight years, and now to a governor.

According to him: “I want to tell politicians, everybody wants to be a friend to the present governor (Nwifuru) and a friend to the former governor (David Umahi). Some people want to cause crisis, a lot of them (politicians) want to bring disaffection, and they are gossiping. I ask, why are you gossiping? You don’t gossip about a siting governor.

“You are now gossiping about me. The former governor, Umahi is my father. If he (Umahi) loves you more than me, he (Umahi) would have handed over to you. He (Umahi) handed over to me because he loves me more than you.”