Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has extended a   hand of friendship   to his immediate predecessor,Chief Martin Elechi, by asking   him to forget the past  and join hands with him to rebuild the state.

Umahi,   who spoke during this year’s Democracy Day celebration   at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, also announced Elechi as one of the elder statesmen     that would be honoured by his administration for their   contributions  to   the upliftment of the state.

Others that will be honoured   are former Governor   Sam Egwu, former governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu   and   a former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim.

*Gov Elechi

Umahi said the honour will be an annual event slated for every Democracy Day to recognise great achievers of Ebonyi   origin. He said: “This year and of course every democracy day,we are going to be honouring our elder statesmen who have contributed in one way or the other to   the upliftment of our state.”

Meanwhile, the state government has procured  40 tractors in its   efforts to   revolutionise agriculture and turn around its economic fortune. The governor announced this during the Democracy Day celebration and one year anniversary of his administration at the Abakaliki Township Stadium.

Umahi also highlighted the achievements of his administration, and disclosed that in view of the dwindling allocations to states from the Federation account, “we decided to emphasize rice production which the state   is known for all over the world.”

The governor explained that three     tractors would be allocated to each of the 13 Local Government Areas of the state  to work on about 85 hectares of land mapped out for rice cultivation across the state this farming season.

He stated that government was collaborating with IFAD to cultivate a six hectare rice farmland   and FADAMA III for two hectares.