BY NATIONAL PANEL REPORTERS
Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State.
Mr. Collins Azu speaking.
The Coordinator of the Forum, Collins Azu made the condemnation in a statement made available to our correspondent.
Azu in the statement, said that Umahi's donation of the state medical university to the Catholic Church, an offertory to the Adoration ministry for advancement of God's vineyard and other trivial issues raised in media against the governor by the AESID's President, Paschal Oluchukwu, were not expected from any reasonable person or group.
He however, urged Ebonyians and other people of goodwill to ignore Oluchukwu and his co-travellers who adore calumny and unnecessary media attacks.
"Following the renewed media onslaught against Governor David Umahi by an amorphous org—Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora, AESID issued by its President —a certain Mr. Pascal Oluchukwu as reported by some sections of the media on Medical College, Governor Umahi's donation to Adoration Ministry, Enugu ostensibly to advance the gospel and other trivials he raised, the Coordinator of Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Voluntary Organisations and Political Support Groups— Collins Azu on Wednesday in Independence Layout, Enugu, Nigeria urged men of goodwill to ignore Oluchukwu and his co-travellers in their campaign of calumny and unnecessary media onslaughts against Governor David Umahi," part of the statement read.
He said it should be 'granted that the Forum is not an extension of the governor's media team, neither assembled parrots of praise singers,' but "as the closest to the grassroots, from all indication, Governor David Umahi has lessened the job of civil society organisation in Ebonyi State.
"Prior to his emergence as the 3rd democratically elected governor of the Salt rich state, the NGOs and CSOs were preoccupied with provisions of —sustainable skills acquisitions — empowerment of women, widows, youths— indigent people.
"The curve —with Umahi on the saddle of governance, has been flattened given the massive empowerments embarked upon by Ebonyi State Government.
"The Coordinator observed that contrary to the submission that human capital development has been quashed by the Umahi administration, in 2016-2018.
"The government of David Umahi distributed 4,000 tricycles, disbursed 4billion Naira for various empowerment programmes based on the enumerated data of street hawkers in the streets of Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers States—startups.
"Between the date under reference, 400 Toyota Sienna multi-purpose vehicles were distributed.
"Similarly, our Forum had queried the poor state of water supply in Ebonyi.
"The result of the complaints necessitated the ongoing reactivation of Oferekpe, Ezillo and Ukawu Water Schemes as we recently inspected the projects.
"As indubitable group standing between the civil space and government, my opinion in the governance of Ebonyi State, if not subjected to political lense, is weighty as we have been working for the greater good of the people for the past 17 years.
"When Umahi began the journey of ending medical tourism in Nigeria using Ebonyi as launchpad, we were awed by the gigantic structures— Medical University—if it will stand test of time—given the dearth of maintenance culture that permeates all strata of our national life—and its name—'King' David wondering which political personage of Ebonyi descent has that title given that —all the universities and institutions are named with zero consideration to title, to wit—Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University and Michael Okpara Universities.
"However, when he announced the handing over of the University to the Conference of Catholic Bishops, that decision to allow people with proven track records of human and material management, we believe was informed by exhibition of ownership spirit in managing public facilities.
"Granted also that no 'paperwork' has been completed, that policy pronouncements should not have ired cynics as it is the right step in the right direction.
"Azu insisted that the declaration of state of emergency in infrastructure by the Umahi administration also court our attention as poor infrastructure is the nation's development bane.
"Regrettably, while thinking that similar interventions should be appreciated by all, writing under the heading 'Don’t Be Carried Away By Umahi’s Gift, Group Warns Mbaka' AESID, had through its president, alleged “apart from our misgivings that such project which Umahi has been parading as though it is a personal gift was executed with a yet-to-be-accounted-for public funds".
"As enshrined in Nigerian Constitution, freedom of speech is inalienable right and Oluchukwu like every other person is entitled to that, but expressing same should be informed by existing reality not prejudice.
"On several occasions had civil society been invited to a town Hall meeting wherein various approaches towards people oriented government were propounded.
"The connection of construction of roads to even in the hinterland has made it possible for some of our organisations with core competencies in—Environment, Mining and Health to access the suburbs.
"Governor Umahi has shown capacity for good governance."
