There were shouts of joy at the Abakaliki Township Stadium in Ebonyi State on Thursday, when Governor David Umahi announced the birth of a baby during a state luncheon party for elders and widows in the state by his administration.

The baby arrived just minutes before the Governor called out about 1,710 widows to be empowered by the government as part of the efforts to lessen their burden.

An elated Umahi drew his wife, Rachael close to him and named the new born girl Rachael Mgborie David, a combination of the names of his wife and himself.

Umahi, according to a statement on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, advised that the mother of the baby girl, Regina Patrick, should add the name of her late husband as the surname of the baby.

Immediately, he announced a donation of N1 million to baby Rachael and directed his Senior Special Assistant on Religious Matters and the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State chapter, Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, to open an account for the baby with the money.

Regina Patrick, one of the 1,710 widows drawn from all the political wards in the state, lost her husband six months ago.

Umahi said: “There is a woman whom I was told gave birth in this celebration ground and as I was deliberating with my wife on how she became pregnant, they said she took in before her husband died, six months ago.

“We will name the child. Her names will be Rachael Mgborie David plus her late dad’s name. Rev. Father Nwali will use the sum of N1 million to open an account for the child.”

The Governor also offered scholarship to her from secondary school to university levels, saying: “If it pleases God that we are in power after her schooling, wherever we are, we will make her enjoy scholarship for secondary and university.”

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Barr. Samuel Okoronkwo, coordinated the programme, which is part of the activities marking Umahi’s two years in office and the 2017 Democracy Day celebrations. Okoronkwo was full of gratitude to God for his mercies. He said that the widow and the baby were taken to the hospital.

In an interview on Friday at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Mrs. Patrick from Amagu Izzi in Abakaliki Local Government Area, said she and her baby were in stable condition.

She explained that she did not get any sign of the baby’s arrival when she arrived Abakaliki until 2pm when she started noticing some changes and decided to rush to a nearby hospital.

The lady was full of praises for the Governor and his wife for their kind gesture and prayed God to promote them to a higher level.

She said: “We went to the stadium because they told us to go there that the Governor wants to see the widows and it was by 2pm that I started having pains. I was trying to go to hospital but when we were about to come out, there was big traffic and I gave birth there.

“They told me that Governor and his wife gave my baby N1 million and gave her scholarship. I am so happy because of how God remembered me through the Governor and his beautiful wife. I am thanking him and his wife and I am praying that God will elevate them more.”

While she confirmed that her husband died six months ago, she revealed that she has five children. Her first son, she said, was electrocuted not too long ago.

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