BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
Indeed, Nigeria is in dire need of a solution to her sundry challenges especially to get the security situation stable, boost her economy by introducing innovations through creativity.
Govenor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State.
This is to ensure that with a patriotic spirit, the dreams of our heroes past shall not be in vain.
To achieve this, Nigeria needs a leader, focused on people's oriented policies, programmes and welfare.
The solution that will revitalize Nigeria's potentials, to stop the youth's continuous protests, alongside the separatist agitations, by not allowing the tireless efforts of the founders, who spent their blood, strength and knowledge to make a reality, this sovereign entity, now turning to a fear ceaseless nation.
Even though, Nigeria has six geopolitical regions, 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja with the 774 Local Government Areas, her population is comprised of different tribes, races, religions, cultures, colours, among others; yet the citizens indiscriminately are addressed as Nigerians.
What makes a particular Nigerian different from his co-citizens? The country is one. The Federal Capital Territory is one. The President is one, with a Senate President and a Speaker in the House of Representatives, operating in line with the provisions of one constitution - where rules and regulations are contained, in exception of the acts, bills and views flowing up and down, following the process of governance. Above all, Naira and Kobo are still used for transactions in every part of the country.
Suffice to note that the country having six geo-political regions, with two blocs, Northern and Southern parts, does not mean polarizing the bond connecting all Nigerians as the people of one nation, but where the problem lies is balancing the appointments, allocations, distributions and appropriations of her resources and potentials in the arts of governance.
To determine the power controllers in the country remains what makes a citizen of this great country not being considered to be part of one Nigeria, and this has become a contending issue tearing up the nation.
To not allowing Nigeria to wane out, demands a total compliance by the leaders to begin addressing the yawning of the citizens especially the youths, despite the seemingly current overwhelming agitations threatening the bond holding the nation as one entity with a home rule.
Drawing the attention of the Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State, Comrade Simbad Chidi Ogbuatu over the situation on ground concerning the political calculations and the best feat to succeed President Muhammad Buhari in 2023, his views spoke volume in supporting the voices of other Nigerians that Governor David Nweze Umahi should be considered as a solution to the country's sundry challenges.
Speaking on why Nigerians have been tipping the Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman South-East Governors Forum, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, for the 2023 Presidency, Comrade Ogbuatu described him as 'the workable solution to the country's problems."
The State APC Scribe observed that Nigeria as a nation-state is faced with avalanche of problems.
According to him, "one truth we must accept is that Nigeria as a nation-State is faced with multifaceted and hydra-headed problems since the country attained political independence on 1st October, 1960."
These problems, in his words, have become so overwhelming that successive governments at the centre tried their best in solving them, but the the citizens are not yet out of the woods!
"This is because the more our leaders apply solutions to these problems; the more the problems get monumentally aggravated.
"This is why today we have cases of violent secessionist agitations, violent religious extremism, banditry, kidnapping and other high profile crimes that adversely affect our national economy and national development plans and threatens national security.
"History teaches that when a nation is so enmeshed in problems and crisis that progress is totally impinged, God will always be merciful enough to send a Messiah to the rescue and now that Nigeria is in dire need of a Messiah, the Lord is preparing one for the rescue mission in the person of His Excellency, Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi, Fnse, Fnate, the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, Southeast Governors' Forum," Ogbuatu added.
Elucidating more why Nigerians are tipping Governor Umahi for the apex seat in the country come 2023, the State APC Mouthpiece noted that, "in his six years administration of Ebonyi State and still counting, Governor Umahi keeps proving that he has the capacity to tackle Nigerian problem head-on."
He further said, "Governor Umahi, having accomplished many great feats in Ebonyi State in the areas of; conflict resolution by peaceful means, security of lives and property, human empowerment and human capital development, aggressive revolution, education reform, healthcare excellence, critical infrastructural development, regular payment of workers' salaries, etc.
"Obviously, Governor Umahi is the workable solution Nigeria needs at this point in time.
"So, in the event that the presidency is zoned to the Southeast, we should not look too far for who will go for us as Governor Umahi has all it takes to do so.
"Make no mistake about it; Governor Umahi is the consensus candidate the Igbo nation needs to clinch power at the centre
"What it means is that we have to rally round him regardless of political affiliations and persuasions, religious beliefs and creed, ethnic leanings and philosophies, traditional observances and cultural affinities, etc.
"Governor Umahi is the only answer and as such, let us work towards the realization of this slogan as the 2023 general election approaches.
"On the strength of the above, let us shun divisive tendencies that cannot take us anywhere as a people and unite in the accomplishments of our political target because it will benefit us more as Easterners when Governor Umahi is the President of Nigeria; he has the capacity of transforming the entire Southeast within one year of his presidency.
"The parameter for measurement is evident in the beauty of Ebonyi State. A great wrestler is identified by his strides.
"Governor Umahi's giant strides in Ebonyi State shall be replicated in Nigeria when he becomes President of Nigeria, come 2023," the State APC Spokesman maintained.
In a swift interaction, the National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Engr Damian Okafor, lamented that the South Eastern region of Nigeria has been grossly marginalized since the civil war ended.
He frowned at the unimaginable infrastructural decay in the region, with the poorest state of its roads, dysfunctional health care facilities, poor educational system, continuous lack of drinkable water in the rural areas, high cost of living and unemployment at the highest rate.
The Igbo Youths Leader pinpointed as the worst and most challenging aspect of the South East experiences, by not allowing the people of the region to take their turn in the presidential election after every other region has produced a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
By implications, Okafor observed that other Nigerians have allegedly taken the South Easterners as second class citizens in the country.
He, however, suggested an Igboman to succeed President Muhammad Buhari, stressing that if the South East region is given the presidential slot come 2023 would quench the separatist agitations naturally, along sundry challenges in the country.
In considering the rising cases of insecurity across the nation and contributions of the state governors to quench the ongoing separatist agitations, Okafor commended the efforts of Governor David Umahi and his counterpart of Rivers State, Governor Onyesom Wike.
He disclosed that "the recent performance index rating which was conducted by the the international organization rated Ebonyi and River States high.
"So, with such index, we can say that those state governors are performing above average to quench the agitations.
"If the governors had done well, do you think that the agitations would be this high? I don't think that the governors are the cause of the agitations.
"Some of them have done extremely well and the agitations are still high.
"The bad governance starts from the successive previous administrations and some of them have now sat up to address the challenges but it appears too late. Crucifying the governors has never and can never be the solution."
He advocated for a committed leadership, and suggested that a leader with unbeatable records among his equals currently in governance whose antecedents in various offices, he occupied have been speaking volumes both in infrastructure and human development; with a full conscious to sustain one indivisible Nigeria, where region, religion, language, tribe and colour will not be the determinant factors in his administration but to patriotically champion equity, fairness and justice in executing governmental functions for the progress of the country, in ensuring a greater peace and unity abound without fear or favour.
Okafor, therefore, urged Igbos to come together to fight for what truly belongs to them in Nigeria, saying that 'breaking away cannot be the best option' in considering their investments in the country and the difficulties to encounter in starting life afresh, also pleading other regions to give a chance for the zone in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, believing that Governor Umahi would fix Nigeria problem if anointed to steer the presidential position come 2023.
