By Chukwudi Enekwechi
Ebonyi state is known as one of the least states in the country in terms of revenue allocation and generation. The state is usually rated along Yobe and Benue states as the poorest in the country, but with Governor David Umahi in the saddle the story of Ebonyi state has changed for better. Today the state has overtaken all the states in the South East in terms of infrastructural development and good governance. What amazes Nigerians is how Governor Umahi has been able to manage the lean resources of the state in a manner that he was able and continues to develop the state in all sectors. For example, Ebonyi state government has built and completed a full-fledged world-class university (David Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi state) with state of the art facilities comparable to any university in the developed countries. The state government under Governor Umahi is also leading other states in Nigeria in terms of connecting all the communities with asphalted roads, bridges and fly-overs. The number of fly-overs that have been constructed in Ebonyi state in the last seven years is only comparable to what the Rivers state government under Governor Nyesom Wike is doing in Rivers state. Meanwhile the monthly allocation accruable to Ebonyi is nowhere comparable to River state.
The reason for the ‘’magic’’ being witnessed in Ebonyi state is a result of the prudent management of scarce resources by the state governor. Another discernible reason for the governor’s sterling performance is his love for his people, for it is only a man with a passion for the upliftment of his people that will devote his time, energy and intellect to turn around a state that was hitherto considered backward. Apart from the construction of roads, bridges and fly-overs which have opened the state in a significant way, the governor has gone further to build an airport ( Ebonyi state International Airport, Onueke,) in the state. The airport will have the biggest terminal building in the country and a four kilometre road leading to it. With the completion of the airport Ebonyi state has now been well-positioned to attract investments from within and outside the country. In the state capital Abakaliki alone, the state government has constructed over twenty major roads, apart from the fly-overs and eye-popping roundabouts dotting the landscape of the city. In the area of security, the governor has provided well-equipped operational vehicles to the security agencies in the state and the result is that peace and tranquillity is being felt across the state. His administration has also not neglected the health sector as the governor periodically visits some hospitals in the state and offset the bills of indigent patients. In addition the state governor has significantly renovated many of the hospitals and built more to enhance the people’s access to healthcare.
As a compassionate leader, Governor Umahi has established the tradition of providing cash, bags of rice and other edibles to state and federal workers during Christmas celebrations. It is gratifying to note that while some states are grappling with discharging basic obligations such as payment of workers’ salaries the government of Ebonyi state under Governor Umahi is many steps ahead for they not only pay workers’ salaries as at when due, but they are focussed on delivering world-class projects that are already impacting on the lives of Ebonyians positively.
Therefore, the leadership style of Governor David Umahi has become a reference point for leaders and aspiring leaders on how a governor can utilise the lean resources at his disposal to render outstanding service to his people. In this connection, Governor Dave Umahi as he is popularly called by his people has endeared himself and by extension President Muhammadu Buhari in the hearts of Ebonyians. The people’s love for Umahi has been extended to President Buhari on account of the governor’s fervent belief in the leadership style of the president. This belief has led to the governor hosting the president on several occasions when the president visited Ebonyi to commission many completed projects in the state. In fact the president is usually at home in Ebonyi state that each time he visited, he stays for two days in the state commissioning projects. Indeed it can be said that Governor Umahi is not only a friend of the president, but his eyes in the South East region of the country. As his traditional title ‘’ Akubaraoha’’goes, the governor has ensured that developmental projects are sited in various communities and the town unions and their president-generals are saddled with the responsibility to monitor them and ensure total compliance with the vision of the governor. Similarly in line with his desire to uplift the status of traditional rulers in Ebonyi state, the governor has increased their salaries and provided them with SUV vehicles to facilitate their movements and services to the people. So in effect the Umahi administration is systematically permeating the nooks and crannies of the state with developments using a symbiotic strategy of working with communities and local governments.
Other major projects which have been completed within the tenure of Governor Umahi include the Abakaliki- Enugu road. Abakaliki – Afikpo road, the state international stadium, an international shopping mall and Margret Umahi International Market. With all these landmark projects Ebonyi state has finally emerged as a frontline state in the country, and the credit will always go to a man who saw tomorrow and never played to the gallery. He also did not use deception as a tool for governance, but from the inception of his government he hit the ground running with his unassailable vision to redefine the history of a state that has produced personages like late Dr. Akanu Ibiam, Dr Sam Egwu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu,Chief Martin Elechi and many others.
The achievements of Governor Dave Umahi are so numerous that it will be impossible to chronicle them in one write-up such as this, but posterity will judge him favourably for hearkening to the call of his people when it mattered most, and left his bold marks in the annals of history.
Enekwechi writes via [email protected]