BY JAMES NWAKPA
As residents of Ebonyi State join other well meaning Nigerians to observe this year's Independence Day Celebration and Ebonyi State at 25 years of its creation, some respondents have enumerated thousands of reasons why the State Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi, has been identified as a blessing not only to Ebonyi residents but also to entire humanity.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman, Abakaliki Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Nwangele, noted that Governor Umahi has given meaning to governance as he has delivered beyond expectations in all aspects of human endeavours, adding that his unbeatable track records will stand a test of time.
"We thank God that the dreams of our forefathers have come to a limelight by giving us a wonderful leader who knows the plights of his people. God has cleaned our tears within the past few years that this man took the mantle of leadership. After Abuja and Lagos, Ebonyi State is now the third in the whole of Nigeria in terms of infrastructural development" he submitted.
Hon. Nwangele who also commended President Muhammadu Buhari's led administration, said that the president has done well in piloting the affairs of the people even in the midst of security changes facing the country, and advised people to always pray for the leaders and for the unity and progress of the Nigerian society, while encouraging the youths to engage in lawful and violent free agitations for posterity sake.
"The only area we are having problems is the issue of security. That is why we have to beckon on God to help us to get out of this ugly situation. How can our brothers and sisters be courageous to tell our people to sit at home when we know very well that there are people that if they sit at home the livelihood of that day is gone. I am joining the governor to advise them to change their mindset. We will join hands to agitate for actualization of Biafra which must follow due process and not through mass action" He concluded.
Similarly, the Hon. Commissioner for Capital City and Urbant Development, Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi said that Ebonyians have every course to celebrate because the governor has changed the ugly narratives of the state through his unparalleled developmental strides which has placed Ebonyi State on the global map of recognition, stressing that the people had never had it so good in terms of enjoying dividends of democracy until the emergence of Governor Umahi.
"Ebonyians can see that from 2015, we started seeing unprecedented changes in the area of infrastructural development, in the area of human capital development, in the area of social services, in the area of providing for the needy. We never had it so good. People should celebrate this man that transformed the state from the worst to the best" he noted.
He called for massive and total support of the wonder working governor, and also emphasized the need for the youths to embrace peace and to desist from all forms of social vices.
"My advice to the stakeholders is to support this God's given leader so that we can continue to have this transformation that he has brought about, because as a person, he cannot do it alone. Hence the need for all stakeholders to support him. Support him in the area of abiding by the laws of the state and by supporting all the programmes and policies of the state, and most importantly now that we are having security challenges all over the place and talk is cheap. Most times, blames are been apportioned to the government whereas the government cannot do it alone.
"It is our duty to talk to our youths from the village to the community and down to the local government levels because the youths have been seriously empowered under Umahi's led administration. More importantly, we believe in one Nigeria and we can see we have a better prospect in Nigeria than what they are agitating for" he submitted.
Others who disclosed their feelings including the SA to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, the General Manager, Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency, Mr. James Iroh and the Honourable Commissioner for education, Dr. Sunday Nwangele, all observed that there has been a very robust and cordial relationship among the three tiers and the three levels of government in Ebonyi State which has culminated in effective and smooth running of the state.
