Gov Dave Umahi, The Pride of The South East as He Emerges One of The 8 Most Influential Politicians in Nigeria

We join the men and women of goodwill, lovers of excellence and the entire people of the south east, irrespective of our political divides, in celebrating one of their own, His Excellency, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, who was shortlisted as one of the best performed and performing state chief executive in Nigeria.

This is a no mean feat coming from the record setting and infrastructure Governor of the hitherto poverty stricken, overlooked, marginalised, guinea worm infested, educationally backward, dirty, dusty and last created state of the south east. That this great news is coming at a one of the most difficult times in our modern history, with heigthened insecurity and uncertainty, is a very welcome development and big consollation.

Umahi is the only Governor of the south east states who made the list and going by the available statistical data of all development indices, he has himself to beat to emerge the best in the final excercise slated for later in the year.

On record is that Gov Umahi has tranformed Ebonyi from what was a very backword state, to a leading frontline state in the country. This is in tems of physical infrastruture, economic vibrancy to human capital development and a model for Nigeria. He achieved these and more with little or nothing as internally generated revenue, IGR, but largely relied on the meagre federal monthly allocation, financial prudency and good planing. He has offered selfless service to the people through the direct labour work method with the state ministry of works as the biggest contractor in Ebonyi.

A close look at the states who made the final list of 8, based on receipts from the federal allocation for the period of January to April 2020, clearly indicate that Ebonyi state received the least amount, but is leading in most of the areas surveyed.

The table bellow, in the order of who received what, among the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, tells the rest of the story;

During the the period under review, Jan to April 2020;

1. Delta state got a total of N87.26b.
2. Lagos state N70.36b.
3. Rivers state N70.26b.
4. Kaduna state N39.25b.
5. 0yo state N37.26b.
6. Bornu state N36.80b..
7. Edo state N31.44b. And
8. Ebonyi state N22.56b.

Additionally, all the states listed, especially Lagos state generated so much from IGR, while Ebonyi ranks the least on the table and likewise in the country. Ebonyi in practical terms, leads the pack. For example where Delta, Lagos or Rivers states, with over 80b, 70b and 70b respectively were able to build 100 km each, if within the same period covered, Ebonyi being able to build 25 km, emerges tops in that category. Ebonyi leads in the lenght & quality of roads built across the state, in the last 5 years.

Gov Umahi has built more flyovers than the rest of the competition combined. Investment in education and health care is second to none. Abakaliki, the state capital is presently the most modern, developing beautiful city in Nigeria. It has more lighting sysyems and water fountains than all other cities, outside Lagos and Abuja, put together.

Workers and pensioners are paid promptly and as at when due. Workers in Ebonyi are even paid the 13th month or Christmas bonus, every December. Civil servants and farmers are given loans to establish and expand their farms respectively and this has withnessed phenomenal increase in the food production in the state.

All these are done from the federal allocation we saw on the table and forms the basis for the assessment. It is very amazing how Gov Umahi has been able to achieve so much in less than 6 years in office, leaving behind, all the other older states in the south east, some of who receive from the 13% derivation fund as oil producing states.

As we patiently wait for the final excercise that will produce the evential wiiner and best performed Governor in the country, the statistics and achievements on ground, indicate that Gov Umahi is cruising home with victory.

Everything we hear or see on videos about Ebonyi state is true. We can only thank Gov Umahi for making us proud while urging other leaders to follow in his footsteps.

Rev keneth Ubochi.
Enugu.