President Muhammadu Buhari
‘It’s for job seekers,’ as Umahi rejects Buhari’s appointment as RMAFC secretary
Brother of Chief David Umahi, the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Austin Umahi has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari appointment as the secretary of the newly-reconstituted Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) management board.
Austin Umahi, who is the younger brother of Gov. Umahi, in a statement on Thursday in Abakaliki, rejected the appointment saying it was ‘best for job seekers, retired civil servants, or anyone who loves the job.’
“I am honestly humbled by this show of love but regret to inform you that I declined the appointment.
“This is because it is best for job seekers, retired civil servants, or anyone who loves the job.
“I am also convinced that at my age and work experience, it is not in doubt that I know what I want in life.
“Anyone interested in the position should not hesitate to approach our indefatigable governor to do the needful. This is because to my knowledge, the position is still vacant,” Chief Umahi said in the statement.
Austin who was at the centre of the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) Ebonyi South Senatorial District ticket confusion in Ebonyi after reportedly relinquishing his mandate already won at the state primary on May 28, to his older brother, Gov. Umahi, returning from having lost his presidential bid in the party.
However, a High Court ruling, last week overturned Gov. Umahi candidacy and eligibility for the contest, as it ruled for fresh primary to be conducted by the state APC on July 31.
Only, last Tuesday, the senate, Tuesday, finally confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Mohammed Bello as Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The senate confirmed Bello over one month after President Buhari had sent a letter to the Red Chambers requesting the confirmation of Bello, as replace replacement for Chief Elias Mbam who was re-appointed in 2016 but not confirmed and sworn-in until 2019.
Bello’s confirmation was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs.
Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi, presented the report.
Adetunmbi said that from the available documents and the presentation made to the committee, the nominee satisfied the requirement for appointment as the chairman of the commission.
Political analysts posit that Austin Umah’s rejection of the Buhari appointment may be intended as payback for the President dashing his brother’s presidential ambitions.
This is also as they further claim it could be that following Governor Umahi’s political arch-rival in the state APC and former governorship aspirant, Chief Elias Mbam’s recent position at the RMAFC as Chairman, Umahi may have anticipated appointment into the same position from Buhari.
