Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has declared openly that the Southeast Governors Forum to step up and become the pillars of strength for Ndigbo. It said in the absence of IGBO at the highest level of governments, in Executive, legislature, and Judiciary, Ndigbo needs directions and a new political rallying point and pillar, “
In a statement, Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro said in the absence of our legends, late Dim odumegwu Ojukwu and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the responsibility fall on the Chairman of Southeast Governors forum, and Ebonyi state Governor, Engr Dave Umahi, as Ndigbo are full of expectations, that he concedes to this burden of leadership bestowed on him.
Governor David Umahi has been lauded for his administration’s infrastructural developmental strides in Ebonyi State.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro said Umahi’s impressive performances have redefined governance in Ebonyi State, stating that the state now has new look and has become center of foreign business Investments.
The Igbo body described Umahi as the modern father of Ebonyi predicated on his developmental gains recorded since the assumption of office as the state’s helmsman.
According to the Ohanaeze in the release, “the transformation in Ebonyi State is unprecedented. And this did not go without some level of leadership thought, a high level of creative ability, and ingenuity by the governor. In virtually every locality, he knows their problems and what critical infrastructure must be fixed.
“What is the essence, to attract investment, trade and increase economic activities. Umahi resolved to build critical structures, including the shopping mall comprising over 5000 number modern shops, the biggest in Africa. Also, there is an international market with over 3000 number shops, the biggest in the Southeast.
“The Ecumenical Centre he put up is not only for spiritual enrichment but also for social activities. That Ecumenical Centre has a sitting capacity of about 20,000 and attracts conferences, thereby triggering the social-economic development of Ebonyi State.
“The governor ensured the construction of not less than five kilometers of roads. In addition, the governor ensured that every federal road connecting Ebonyi State was rehabilitated, some of which are concrete pavement. So, Ebonyi now has about 1500 number state roads, including the satellite town, metropolis and across the rural communities”.
The group said that in the area of agriculture, Umahi’s government has the One-hectare program, mechanization, and commercialization program, and the issue of empowerment of people through agriculture, whether at the primary, secondary, or tertiary level agriculture. The governor believes that through Agriculture, we can create jobs, be self-sufficient, thereby positively engaging the teeming youths and graduates, who are roaming the streets.
“What did he do apart from the commercialization and mechanization of agriculture? He procured 13 number bulldozers, one each per Local Government Council. He procured tractors not less than 30 and gave to Co-operatives and procured Seeders, Transplanters, Harvesters. In addition to these, he had to revamp the rice milling plants. We have the Youth Empowerment program, where the governor deployed 750 million nairas for the empowerment of youths and women. The grant is free of charge and 250,000 per 3000 beneficiaries.
“The governor also looked at a lot of the widows, those in businesses and those in agriculture and gave them #100,000 each (a total of 4,300 windows). They deployed this money into agriculture. This has increased their living standards.
“Our state has the highest number of private rice milling clusters. About 1500 number clusters of privately-owned rice milling plants, but when the governor came, he felt we should take advantage of this comparative advantage in processing, not only in cultivation or in planting. He increased the capacity of the rice milling plants.
“As at today, we have 32 metric tonnes capacity-per-hour rice mill and parboiling, that is a plant that cooks the rice and now fits the rice mill for it to be processed into head rice and other value chain rice, including the by-products, like the rice pram used in doing indomie”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo further commended the leadership acumen of Governor Umahi, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi which it stated had ushered in rapid growth and development in every facet of governance in the southeast region.