By Emeka Mamah

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi and his wife Rachel, have been honoured by the people of the Old Afikpo Union, OAU, for setting a number of records in the area.

The reception  which took place at  the Government College, Umahi’s  Alma Mater in  Afikpo  on February 27,  attracted sons and daughters of the zone as well as dignitaries from  other parts of the state.

Gov. Dave Umahi

Umahi was conferred with chieftaincy title of Dikedioranma 1 of Ebonyi South, while his wife bagged the title of Ojiugo 1 of Ebonyi South by the OAU.

The OAU, comprising Afikpo North, Afikpo South,  Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha Local Government Areas which make up Ebonyi South Senatorial District.

According to the OAU, Umahi was the first deputy governor in the country to outsmart his former boss to clinch his party’s ticket before going ahead to win the governorship election. The former deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Shinkafi became the substantive governor but that was with the active cooperation of his principal, Senator Sani Yerima.

Apart from this, Umahi was also the first from Ebonyi Southern Senatorial District to be elected governor since the creation of the state more than 19 years ago.

Thirdly, the people said that Umahi “has recorded a feat as the first governor to break the animosity, hatred and disunity which hitherto threatened the very foundation and peaceful co-existence of Ebonyi people,” as “there is no gain saying the fact that prior to this time, villages were against villages and political blocs against political blocs.”

However, according to them, since Umahi became governor, old things have since passed away and everything has become new in the state, signalling a paradigm shift in all spheres of life in the state.

Chairman of the occasion and former deputy governor of Old Imo state, Chief Francis Orji, recalled how OAU came to be. He said the ceremony was organised to appreciate and commend Umahi.

Dr Nnachi Okoro, chairman of OAU, in his remarks said the reception was organized to honour Umahi   for emerging victorious in the 2015 governorship election and in three levels of judicial battles.

National Assembly members   representing the zone, Senator Sonny Ogbuoji, Rep. Idu Igariwey and Rep. Linus Okorie, in their separate remarks, described Umahi as a material for export, adding that the honour given to the governor and his wife by the zone were well deserved.

They stressed that the occasion was to celebrate Umahi’s uncommon transformation of the state since he assumed office, pointing out that under his leadership, Ebonyi people now see themselves as a people with one common purpose, vision and destiny as the governor has within the short period demonstrated his knack for equity through political appointments, distribution of state’s resources and projects.

The event was also used to present awards to some stakeholders from Abakaliki bloc otherwise called the Umuekumenyi, who   stood their grounds despite persecutions by their kinsmen, to ensure that power was shifted to the South of the state for the sake of equity, fairness and justice.

Notable Ekumaenyis who were also honoured with plagues included a former Governor of the state, Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu; Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe; and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru.

Also honoured were the PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Onwe, Simeon Okpanwu, Geofferry Chukwu,Felix Mgbada, Njoku Afoke, Francis Igwe, Innocent Ugo Chima, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, Okeagu Ogada, Clement Nweke, Professor Ozo Nweke Ozo, Chukwuma Nwazunku, Senator Nguji Ngele,Chief Igwe John Nwenyi, Boniface Ofoke, Godwin Ogbaga, Elias Mbam, Fidelix Nwankwo,  and Eze Charlse Mkpuma

Speaking on the occasion Governor Umahi, thanked the OAU for also honouring the people of Ekumaenyi , saying  the action  signposted positive hope Umahi said that Ebonyi State would become a paragon of equity and love in future and promised to give adequate attention to the construction of all roads in the state capital. He also assured that within the next six months, every part of the capital city and its environs would have potable water.

He also, vowed to remain committed to the vision and mission of the founding fathers of Ebonyi by promoting equity, unity, fairness to ensure progress in the state

His words, “Let us join hands together and confront the challenges facing us as a people because there is no victor and no vanquished. With unity and love, we are going to build a great Ebonyi State.”

Promising to make Abakaliki   one of the best capital cities in the country, Umahi also paid glowing tributes to the PDP leadership in the state headed by Chief Onwe Joseph Onwe, an Ekumaenyi man, for not betraying his political ambition.

Umahi also used the occasion to rekindle the hope of PDP supporters as he noted that the party remained the political party to beat in the country.

He explained that his open support for President Muhammadu Buhari did not mean that he was desirous to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He then asked “all PDP people not to remain in the party,” adding,  ”PDP remains the only party in Nigeria… PDP remains our party; PDP remains the party to beat.

“So, my relationship with the President should not be mistaken for support for another party. And I will continue to support Mr President because he is my only boss.

“We know what we are passing through as governors and I want to tell you that Mr President is doing his best to reposition this country. What we are witnessing is global economic meltdown; it is not peculiar to Nigeria and so, I ask Nigerians to join hands with Mr. President so that we can lift up this nation.

“The fate of our nation is in our hands and I believe strongly that if we prefer Nigeria made goods and if we sit with one another, Nigeria is going to be great again.”