Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has said that going by the desire of the electorate to hold leaders accountable, no leader can afford to disappoint his or her own people while occupying the seat of power.

The Governor stated this on Wednesday while delivering a lecture titled “Changing the Face of Governance through Infrastructural and Human Capital Development: Ebonyi State as a Case Study” at Princess Alexandra Auditorium of University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Umahi, who was represented by his Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, added that leaders should work towards providing the environment for private sector initiatives and social security required for prosperous and healthy living of its citizenry.

“This is because as leaders, we can no longer afford to disappoint our people. The society requires from us security and safety of the citizenry, we need to engage our teaming graduates and youths in dignifying means of livelihood, we need to provide the environment for private sector initiatives, we need to provide the social security required for prosperous and healthy living for our population and the enablement to take our destiny in our hands.”

According to him, “Good governance entails initiation and maintenance of rapid socio-economic growth, the establishment and development of a free market growth, establishment of a basic organisational framework to act as a springboard for further development, the creation of an absorptive capacity for capital and other inputs.

“The organisation and promotion of private sector investment, the raising of the productivity of the people by improving their skills, enterprise, initiative, adaptability and attitudes, guaranteeing the tenets of democracy and principles of constitutionalism.”

Giving an overview of the condition of the Ebonyi State before 2015, the Governor noted that: “Ebonyi State, upon creation was faced with developmental challenges ranging from lack of physical, social and economic infrastructure, and also lack of Human Capital Development.

“We had the worst road infrastructure, health care was in a shambles, rural communities were cut off from the urban and that encouraged rural-urban migration and street hawking. Communal conflicts were high, agriculture was still by crude practice, empowerment and security had negative profile.

“We had no confidence in ourselves. This was our situation until the coming on board of the 3rd Civilian Governor of Ebonyi State.”

On road construction, the Governor explained that his administration had fixed the so many road projects including: “300 km concrete pavement in all the Local Government Areas with bridges where not already connected; 500 km Federal roads especially the major routes some of which are by concrete pavement.

“Over 1500 km State roads within the metropolis and the satellite towns 12 number fountains, beautiful roundabouts and branded perimeter fencing of Major Streets were constructed.

“Built the longest and most aesthetic flyovers in the South-East, with three-number of such having a total of 96 span built in 3-years and has commenced another construction of 8 flyovers in strategic junctions with dual carriage way done in concrete pavement in major highways of the three Senatorial zones to attract investors.

“Built a President Buhari light Tunnel with 29 spans, with aesthetic lights that shines in the night to make Ebonyi State investment friendly and promote night trading. Renovated the State Stadium with ancillary work and built Guest House for accommodation of athletes and has commenced construction of one of the best Stadia in Nigeria.

“Is constructing the biggest shopping Mall that will be the microcosm of the macrocosm of the Dubai Mall, to create market and stimulate provision of goods and services. This Shopping mall will attract international trade and investment and shall create not less than 3,000 jobs and generate thousands of wealth.”

The Governor recommended the principles of governance and leadership style that gave rise to the infrastructural and human capital development in Ebonyi State, as a model for the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria.

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