Aside from his retinue of infrastructural revolution in Ebonyi State which has unarguably remodelled the landscape of the southeast state, Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze says Gov. Umahi’s crave for human capital development is unparalleled given his passion for qualitative education which he described as cardinal in providing a lifeline for citizens.
The APC chieftain said much as he has published some treatise on the very many trailblazing projects, needs abound to expose yet another bewildering aspect of this enigma that governs Ebonyi State; his deep sense of Philanthropy and love for humanity and how he has continued to touch and change lives in Ebonyi State.
Eze revealed that during the 26th Anniversary of Ebonyi State Creation, Governor Umahi empowered thousands of Ebonyians in the second phase of the State's Empowerment scheme. This came after over 3,500 Ebonyians were empowered with N300,000 each to help households cushion the effect of the trying times.
During the pendency of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Umahi, empowered over 10,000 youths with between 250k and 1m. The historical appointment of over 1500 aides in the past as means of empowerment; one of the highest by any State Government in the annals of governance in the country is still fresh in the memories of men.
Similarly, Gov. Umahi was able to pay hospital bills for over 2000 patients and discharged them with bags of rice, wrapper and N5000 cash during the last Christmas season alone and gave Christmas gifts and palliatives to over 2000 old people across the state.
While many States battle to pay salaries, Governor Umahi not only ensured that Civil Servants are paid promptly, but in addition, paid an extra 10k to every worker with a 5kg bag of rice during Christmas. He also extended Christmas largesse to orphanage homes, Churches, Mosques, NGOs, Professional groups etc across the State.
Throwing more light on this unprecedented Philanthropic activities by Governor Umahi, the State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Chief Uchenna Orji explained that the State government released one point eighty billion (1.8 billion)Naira for the empowerment of a set of people in the state. The fund was approved at the State Executive Council meeting.
Eze noted that another tranche of nine hundred million Naira of released funds was for the NG-CARES Empowerment programme for farmers, SMEs, Market men and women, youths and Public Work volunteers as beneficiaries.
The party Chief highlighted that the money was disbursed through CSDA, FADAMA, and MSMEs under the Ministries of Human Capital Development, Agriculture and Natural Resource as well as Commerce and Industry and that the balance of Nine hundred million Naira later released was for about three thousand women and youths as END SARS empowerment package in the state.
He said that September 2022 was empowerment galore as more human empowerment packages were rolled out by the state government under Umahi.
Eze highlighted that the summary of the disbursement shows that Three Hundred Naira each was disbursed to about Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty beneficiaries (300,000x3480 people) while Forty Thousand Naira was later disbursed to about FForty-ThreeThousand people. (40,000 x 43,000 people)
After this exposure, Eze said he investigated further into Gov. Umahi and his acts of goodwill and the result of his investigation are succinctly summarized below:-
"His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Umahi is very philanthropic, with numerous chieftaincy titles, including Ekubara oha. As a cheerful giver, he has given meaning and value to the lives of many people of different ethnic nationalities. Under the “ENGR. DAVE UMAHI EDUCATION FOUNDATION”, Chief Umahi has given full scholarships to over 750 undergraduates from the inception of their tertiary education to the final year, from 2009 to date. He also runs a Charity through which he distributes essential materials and cash to widows, orphans and the less–privileged periodically.
Through his Youth Empowerment Scheme, he has sponsored the training of young people in entrepreneurial skills and mobilized many financially and today, many of them are proud owners of thriving businesses.
Eze further highlighted that apart from the above feats, Umahi stands out amongst his colleagues as having once appointed over 100 Executive Council members, over 1100 TAs and over 2000 Ebonyians who occupy political positions in the state of which 90 per cent of those who occupy this political position are youths and over 30 per cent of them, women.
I can now understand why the great mind Martin Luther King Jr. with Umahi in his mind stated, "Life’s persistent and most urgent question is “What are you doing for others?” on the other hand, Conrad Hilton exposed Governor Umahi this quote, "Charity is a supreme virtue and the great channel through which the mercy of God is passed on to mankind. It is the virtue that unites men and inspires their noblest efforts.”
Furthermore, Chief Eze hailed the planned appointment of 1300 Liaison officers across the 13 Local government areas of the State by Gov. Umahi, stating that such an initiative is necessary to incorporate the people in the art of governance which he described as a shared responsibility.
He said the Governor made the announcement Sunday while speaking in an interdenominational Church service at the Government House Chapel, Abakaliki.
Speaking at the service, the Umahi said his administration will not relent in repositioning the youths for leadership in the State through various kinds of empowerment, employment and mentorship.
Eze further thanked the Governor for the prompt payment of workers' salaries especially the November and December salaries which were paid on December 10 to help workers celebrate Christmas with ease.
The employment of over 1,000 Ebonyians at the King David University of Medical Sciences is a feat worth commending and the ongoing employment of workers for the Ebonyi state airport is another praiseworthy initiative of Gov. Umahi.
Recently in the promotion of the Legal system in the State, about 64 Lawyers were employed in the State Civil Service
EMPOWERMENT OF EBONYIANS IN LAGOS AND ABUJA
In a bid to celebrate this year’s Christmas for Ebonyi people at home and in the diaspora, the Ebonyi State Executive Council of 13th December 2022 approved the release of the sum of (111,250,000.00) covering the transportation of Ebonyians living in Lagos and Abuja to Ebonyi State for Christmas celebration, including the cost of Rice, Christmas gifts and largesse to the selected 1270 Ebonyians living in Lagos and Abuja. Secretary to the State Government, Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Commissioner for Health and Commissioner for Special Duties were charged by EXCO to supervise the payment of this Christmas empowerment funds to Ebonyians in Abuja and Lagos who must have BVN and Phone number.
“If what Umahi is doing is not revolution, I need to be educated on what revolution is all about,” Eze said.
In appreciation for the love and support to Civil servants and consistent payment of workers' salaries by Governor Umahi the Trade Union Congress(TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) honoured him with an award during the 2022 Public/Civil Servants Christmas Party at the Christian Ecumenical Center, Abakaliki Ebonyi State.
EBONYI REDEDICATED TO GOD EVEN AS UMAHI EXPOSES HIS MAJOR LEGACIES
Eze highlighted that the Ebonyi State Government organized a night of praise and worship to appreciate God for his goodness in the affairs of the State within the past year.
The praise and worship session held at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Tuesday was well attended by all and sundry.
Eze further postulated that the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Cletus Ofoke said the event was put together to appreciate God for his goodness to the State in the last year and to take the State higher before God as a Christian State.
The praise and worship session was characterized by several performances by gospel artists from within and outside the State.
Speaking at the event, Governor David Nweze Umahi dedicated the successes of his administration to the grace of God which he noted was beyond human comprehension.
"What has happened in Ebonyi State is beyond me and beyond the comprehension of any man, you have to have a good heart to see what has happened in Ebonyi State.
"My greatest legacies will be those I removed from the political class to the Business Class.
"The men and women of God understand the miracle that has taken place in Ebonyi State, it is beyond the ordinary."
The Governor appreciated the Deputy Governor, the Speaker and other critical Leaders of the State for their cooperation in the Ebonyi project.
"Tonight it is my pleasure to once again announce my successor in the person of the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and if I am a man of God that serves no other God, this prophecy shall come to pass in Jesus' name.
"It doesn't matter the battle that lies ahead of us, you are my son and you will always remain my son, there is no battle that we can not overcome because he that is in us is greater than he that is in them.
"God has told me that the remaining five months of our administration, by the mid of every month we shall be mounting the podium like this to thank God."
Governor Umahi also restated the determination of his administration to complete all ongoing projects before officially anchoring the ship in 2023.
"There is none of our projects that we will not complete, by January we shall be landing at our Airport."
Preaching, the Guest Speaker, Prophet Isa El-Buba identified gratitude to God as the greatest tool to be successful in life.
"Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, the dead can not praise God, it is only the living that prays to God.
"For you to be able to move from one point to another, you need to give God thanks.
"That I can have a cup of water to drink, it is a miracle, that I can have where to lay my head, it is a miracle and we should give him praise all the time.
"The greatest thing you can do is to have the heart of gratitude, to thank God immensely for showing mercies, God has been good to us.
"Ebonyi stands out in terms of development, is it the amazing roads, the amazing flyovers. When I was coming to Ebonyi many years ago it used to be a village but right now, Ebonyi has been transformed and that is why we are here to give God praise."
In conclusion, Eze commended the Governor and stated, "for Igniting this level of celebration in Ebonyi State by empowering these thousands of Ebonyians in this manner at this season of severe hardship in the country and proven yourself as an example of what true governance is all about, it is my sincere prayer that God will reward you accordingly."
