From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State government has conferred State Honours on its deserving citizens in recognition of their various contributions to the growth and development of the State.
Governor Umahi administered the honours to the beneficiaries Tuesday at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
According to a press release issued by Governor Umahi's Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko, the event was the first segment of the State government initiative to celebrate State and national figures who have impacted positively the success story of the State.
The release further read: "Addressing Stakeholders and the honourees Governor Umahi said its essence was to reward those who have played crucial roles in the creation and development of the State from all sectors."
He recalled the deprivations, neglect and humiliation suffered by the people before the State was created, and paid tributes to the resilience and bravery of the founding fathers of the State who remained undaunted by the intimidations and persecutions against their struggle for identity and self-determination.
"If you cast your mind back to where we would have been without the creation of Ebonyi State, you will understand.
"That is why we set aside today to celebrate our Founding Fathers.
"Our Founding Fathers suffered deprivation, humiliation and disenfranchisement in the struggle for the creation of our dear State.
"When they were reminded that this part of the Country would not sustain itself, they said, "don't worry, we are a people of contentment; we will manage with the little we have"
"That contentment gave birth to the present Ebonyi State that is first in the sustainability index in the Country today.
"The intention here is to be grateful to God."
Governor Umahi applauded the previous Leaders of the State from the Military era to his predecessors in democratic governance for laying a solid foundation for the transformation of the State.
He seizes the event to further reiterate his strong belief in the rotation of power among the three senatorial districts in the State, vowing to continue to fight for equity and justice in and out of the office to ensure that the governorship position is rotated simultaneously across the three zones of the State.
"Anyone vying for Governorship from Ebonyi South where I came from, or the Central is a joker.
"The South must stoutly stand for Ebonyi North because the North stood for the South amidst all betrayals in 2015."
Governor Umahi expressed pride over his administration's achievements in the State for the past seven and half years and appreciated all Ebonyians who have supported his visions one way or the other.
He identified his love for God and passion for mankind as the underlying secret behind the achievements, adding that amid his human frailties, God's grace has continued to sustain and drive the actualization of his dreams for the State.
"Tonight I want to say that I am very proud of you; I am very grateful to you all.
"Let us as a State continue to be grateful to God for it is not by power or might.
"The secret is that I love God."
In an opening remark, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Awards Committee, Dr Eric Kelechi Igwe, explained that the event was conceptualized by the Governor as a reward mechanism to encourage excellence and hard work in the State.
He noted that the awards were categorized into three: Commander, Ebonyi Hall of Fame CEHF; Member Ebonyi Hall of Fame (MEHF) and State Merit Award (SMA)
"The essence of these awards is to institute a reward mechanism for those who have distinguished themselves in the service of the State in their various present and former capacities.
"It is also an encouragement for Ebonyi citizens who have made the State proud in various areas of endeavour as jinx breakers.
Igwe applauded the Governor for touching all sectors of governance and carrying all segments of society along in his administration.
The Deputy Governor also congratulated the honour recipients and charged them to continue to remain worthy ambassadors of the State.
Among those honoured by the Governor was the State Correspondent, New Telegraph Newspapers, Uchenna Inya, who received State Merit Award (SMA) for impacting humanity variously through his profession as Journalist.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the glyph for the institutionalizing of the David Nweze Umahi Lecture and Award series as an annual event to be commemorated in the State.
