The recent declaration of the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi, as the wisest Governor in Nigeria did not come as a surprise, a grassroots-based Non-Governmental Organisation in the state has said.

The group, the David Umahi Nweze Akubaraoha Ebonyi Transformation Agenda (DUNAETA), said in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abakaliki that the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who made the declaration last week during a visit by the Ebonyi State Executive Council to Abia State, is more than justified in the rating based on the realities on ground in Ebonyi vis-à-vis other states of the federation.

“Governor Umahi’s style of leadership is truly unique and has the imprint of wisdom all over it. At a time when many other states are finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries or meet other basic needs as a result of the economic recession in the country, the Umahi Administration, despite Ebonyi’s modest resources, embarks on numerous road projects, flyovers, roundabouts, street lights and hospitals, while also executing a revolution in agriculture, as well as the educational and health sectors. This is in addition to regular payment of civil servants, who also get paid a 13th month by the State Government. Therefore, Governor Ikpeazu was 100% correct in describing Governor Umahi as the wisest State Governor in Nigeria,” DUNAETA said in the statement signed by the President and Founder, Lady Monica Ada Chidinma Eze.

The statement also drew attention to the recent declaration in Abakaliki by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, that Abakaliki rice being aggressively promoted by Governor Umahi is one of the best in the world. According to the Ambaasdor, “Your rice is the best anywhere in the world and we commend the Governor for putting his government to work in Ebonyi State.”

Lady Eze a.k.a Ada Ebonyi, who doubles as the Technical Adviser (TA) on Media to Governor Umahi, further stated: “Today, for the first time, the South East Governors’ Forum under the purposeful and visionary leadership of Governor Dave Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State has a vision and drive for zonal socio-economic and security integration of the region and has mapped out strategies, especially in the energy sector, for greater economic activities in Igboland. In order to achieve this, the S.E. governors have announced the composition of 10-man economic team which comprised Professor Barth Nnaji, former presidential economic adviser, Professor Osita Ogbu and eight others to be selected from the five states that make up the zone, adding two each to be selected from the five states in the zone. This vision will go a long way at improving power supply and help to spur its railway, cement production and other economic and industrial programs the zone is articulating in unism. Efforts are also made to interface with the Southeast Economic Corporation, Central Bank and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for collaborations to achieve this noble goal.”

DUNAETA congratulated Governor Umahi for the positive testimonies by distinguished non-Ebonyians and appealed to the people of the state “to join in celebrating their God-given Governor who has deferred sleep in his quest to make Ebonyi one of the best states in Nigeria.”

“Going by the realities on ground, Engr. Umahi has no opposition or viable opponent come 2019. We are confident that Ebonyians will continue to give him their full support and will cap it by overwhelmingly re-electing him in 2019 to enable him continue his good work,” DUNAETA stated.

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