Ebonyi State Government on Friday dismissed viral reports in some sections of the media, alleging that Chief Austine Umahi, younger brother to Governor David Umahi, rejected his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, as the new Secretary of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The viral reports had quoted Chief Austine as saying that he rejected the appointment because it is the kind of job suitable only for job seekers or retired civil servants.
But the Ebonyi State government in a statement on Friday dismissed the reports as false, saying the APC family only reviewed the important roles of the Governor’s brother in the party, especially as it concerns the 2023 general elections and decided to keep him in the state to help the party during the campaigns.
Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko, who issued the statement, added that the government had already sent a replacement to the presidency.
He said: “The attention of Ebonyi State Government have been drawn to the insinuations making the rounds that Austin Chukwu Umahi, the immediate younger brother of the Governor of the state rejected his appointment as secretary of Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC). This is far from the truth.
“The true position is that the All Progressives Congress (APC) family in Ebonyi State noted Chief Austin Umahi’s important role in the campaign council both at the state and national levels at the just concluded presidential primaries and deemed it necessary to appeal to Mr President for a replacement via a letter dated July 25th, 2022 as his services are more needed in the state at this point.
“Those who erroneously started indicating interest in the position are to note that a replacement has been sent to the President but they would be considered in subsequent appointments both at the state and national levels.”
