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Tag: Umahi

  • I am not perturbed by workers’ strike threat – Umahi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Wednesday, said that he was not perturbed by the industrial action threat by workers in the state, especially such from staff of the state-owned higher institutions.

    Umahi disclosed this during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), its affiliate unions and managements of the state-owned tertiary institutions over the disbursement of the second tranche of N7.6billion-Paris Club refund to the state.

    The governor remarked that the threat did not bother him as it was the legitimate right of the workers to make agitations but advised that it should be done peacefully.

    “The state-owned institutions for instance, are autonomous and instead of embarking on strike, I feel that the workers should instead dialogue with their managements to find solutions to their problems.

    “The government does not inquire how the institutions manage their funds because it has problems managing its own funds and spends 10 per cent of its gross earnings on the institutions.

    “The institutions are at liberty to recruit or reduce their staff but the government’s own duty is to offer subventions in which the state ranks the highest in the country.

    “In a situation where you embark on strike, we will transfer the students to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo and use the augmentation due to you to pay their fees,” he said.

    The governor noted that N1.56 billion had been allotted to workers from the second tranche of the refund, noting that it could either be used for the contributory pension scheme or health insurance scheme.

    “We can use the funds to offset what the government and the workers are supposed to pay from the contributory pension scheme because both sides do not have the ability to pay the funds.

    “This will ensure the commencement of the pension scheme but you can still deploy it for the National Health Insurance Scheme if it is convenient for you,” he said.

    He noted that the first tranche of N8.3 billion was put in a fixed deposit account, pending the appropriation for its usage by the state House of Assembly.

    “The government received an interest of N700 million within the period the money was fixed as its policy is to fix any fund that would stay over 24 hours in the bank before being used.

    “We have generated over N3billion within three years of our administration as interests from fixing such funds and I will never cheat civil servants or tamper with their funds even at the point of death,” he said.

    “We gave the Local Government Areas N2.9 billion which was used to pay over 40 per cent of gratuities, offset pensions and workers’ salaries.

    “The state government used N4.6billion to also pay over 40 per cent of gratuities, outstanding pensions, promotion arrears and leave allowances,” he said.

    Mr Leonard Nkah, Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state thanked the governor for his favourable disposition towards workers which had enhanced the relationship between government and workers.

    “This is the first government that will grant workers audience to discuss pressing issues and ensure the payment of their salaries before the 15 of every month.

    “We however, suggest that funds appropriated to workers for the Paris club refund be used to commence the contributory pension scheme while the health insurance scheme will follow suit.

    “We however, make special case for the parliamentary staff workers union and the review of arrears of promotion and leave allowances due to workers,” he said.

    Chief Frank Ogbuewu, Pro Chancellor of the EBSU, which received N1.1 billion from the second tranche called on the government to grant the institution more autonomy to run its affairs.

    “We assure you that our staff will not embark on strike because they are more mature presently as no one wants to stay without salaries nowadays,” he said. (NAN)

  • Umahi gives NYSC N400m

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has given N400 million to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the renovation of its Orientation Camp in Afikpko North Local Government Area.

    This is separate from the N5,000 travel allowance given to each of the 2,200 Batch B Stream I Corps Members who ended their orientation course yesterday.

    The governor made the donation also gave the corps members who took part in the parade another N2 million and various cash sums to NYSC officials and military officers who trained the corps members.

    Umahi urged the corps member not to allow themselves be used by politicians to thwart the country’s democracy.

    He said: “I am sure you were motivated and sensitised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on your participation in the 2019 elections.

    “Your participation in that important assignment is a rare opportunity for you to contribute your quota towards enthroning credible leadership, good governance and engender peaceful and prosperous country.

    “I, therefore, urge you to discharge the INEC assignment with utmost sense of responsibility and good conscience by not allowing yourselves be manipulated by desperate and unscrupulous politicians.

    “Do not give in to their antics, desperation and lure of cash or kind, especially when you have to consider that posterity will judge you for the role you will play, either positively or negatively, during the elections.”

    The governor said the N400 million will be used to rebuild the road leading to the camp, renovate dilapidated structures, dredge a drainage, regrass the camp’s parade ground, connect the camp to the national grid, provide solar street lights etc.

    State NYSC Coordinator Ann Ngozika Ibe said the corps members were posted to all the local government areas except Ishielu.

    “This decision is an aftermath of the 2008 Ezillk/Ezza-Ezillo communal crisis. We remain open-minded to post corps members to Ishielu council as soon as we receive government approval and clearance from relevant security agencies via the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja, to do so,” she said.

  • Asking for apology over stadium misplaced, Umahi tells Oshiomhole

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has lambasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole for demanding an apology from him for his alleged refusal to grant the party permission to use the Abakaliki Stadium for last Saturday rally.

    Oshiomhole was addressing APC faithful in Ebonyi State at the rally, which later held at a playground beside the Offia Nwali Flyover at Presco Junction in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    He said the governor should not overuse his powers, adding that he (Oshiomhole) felt bad when he heard that Umahi, who he called his friend, could deny his party the use of the township stadium.

    “…If we were to take it in other level and the Federal Government decides that the governor should not drive on the Federal Government roads, what happens? Somebody said he will fly. What if we stopped him from flying through Federal Government airport? What happens?” Oshiomhole said.

    But the governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, described the statement as baseless.

    The statement said: “It is very shameful for Oshiomhole to have made the statement credited to him while in the state.

    “…Oshiomhole and Umahi have shared great friendship before this rally, and as a sitting governor, Umahi, while in Edo State to conduct governorship primary of the PDP in 2014, did not only pay a courtesy call on Oshiomhole but also had personal interaction as brothers, despite their differences in political association. This is a pure example of political maturity exhibited by Umahi.

    “One would have expected Oshiomhole, as a senior comrade, to show respect to a sitting governor… But he decided to fly into Abakaliki, enjoyed the ambience of a serene environment and drove round a beautiful city with the best road network in the country and then mounted the podium and started spewing his usual political blackmail.”

  • Ebonyi APC dares Umahi, vows to use stadium for rally 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi, says the Pa Oruta Ngele Stadium Abakaliki remains the official venue for its mega rally on Saturday (today).

    The chairman of APC in the state, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, made this known at a press briefing yesterday in Abakaliki, in reaction to media reports that the state  government has denied the party access  to the stadium.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Dave Umahi, Mr Emma Uzor on Thursday while hosting members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), said that the stadium would not be used by APC for its rally due to ongoing renovation works.

    But Nwachukwu said that neither Umahi nor his privies can stop  APC from using the stadium for its rally.

    He explained that the party applied for the use of the stadium following all the laid down procedures.

    He said: “We officially applied for the stadium in line with laid down rules and clearance was given to the party to use the stadium for our mega rally holding on Saturday.

    “For anybody to wake up and say that the venue is no longer available for the party to use, to us in APC is huge joke and we regard it as rumour.

    “But if the report is correct and actually coming from the state government, all I will say is that no man can stop the rally from holding in the Abakaliki township stadium.

    “The stadium was built and renovated with tax prayers’ money and owned by  Ebonyi people irrespective of  party affiliations.

    “I want to urge the teeming party members and supporters to discountenance the said report as venue for our rally remains the Abakaliki stadium, “ Nwachukwu said.

    Another chieftain of the party, Chief Egwu Chima, said that the  report was a ploy to undermine APC in Ebonyi.

    Chima told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the statement allegedly credited to CPS to Gov. Umahi was borne out of fear of the rising popularity of APC and desperation to emasculate the party.

    According to him, the mega rally was aimed at receiving high profile defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including senators, adding that  PDP was  jittery.

    “The governor, Chief Dave Umahi knows that allowing APC to use the stadium for the mega rally where many members of his party are expected to announce their defection to APC amounts to committing political suicide.

    “Though the stadium is a public facility, it is under the watch and control of the governor and he will not allow it to be used by a party that has repositioned to take over power from him,” Chima said.

    Chima who noted that he predicted the development, however urged the state governor not to engage in actions that could generate political tension in the state.

    “I want to urge the governor to shun acts capable of plunging the state into needless political crisis as the 2019 elections draw closer.

    “The actions and utterances of key political actors can make or mar smooth and credible elections and electioneering activities in Ebonyi, “ he added.

  • APC does not have my permission to use stadium for rally — Umahi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi says he has not granted permission for the use of Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally on Saturday.

    Umahi made this known at a media briefing after a meeting with heads of security agencies in Abakaliki on Friday, saying that two factions had applied for the same venue on the same date.

    “You cannot be at war over your property as the stadium is not the Federal Government (FG) or APC property with both not contributing in any way to renovate it.

    “I have the right not to give them the stadium in the first place and why should I give it to them when they do not acknowledge it?

    “They would not have seen it to be good to use if I left it the way the preceding government did but they should realize that wonders are happening in Ebonyi.”

    The governor said he had never insulted President Muhammadu Buhari or any APC stakeholder, so he would not allow them to insult him at the stadium.

    “I would not allow them to ride through the good roads we constructed and mount our stadium to insult me because they might be attacked.

    “I have told heads of security agencies to warn the leaders of the APC faction seeking to hold its rally on Saturday, not ignite crisis in the state through their utterances.

    He noted that while on a working tour of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he received a letter from an APC faction that it intended to host Buhari inside the stadium.

    “I quickly approved and copied heads of security agencies and was later informed on my return, that it had been shifted to Aug. 11.

    “This made us fix the training and recruitment of personnel in the Neigbourhood Security Watch for Aug. 3 and 4 but unknown to me, another faction had fixed its rally for Aug.4.

    “They requested through the commissioner for youths and sports development and I advised them to seek an alternative venue because I will endorse the one I am aware of, that is Aug.11,” Umahi said.

    However, Chief Nwachukwu Eze, APC Chairman in Ebonyi, maintained that the party would use the stadium on Saturday for the rally because it belongs to all citizens of the state.

    “The Eagle Square in Abuja is used by both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the stadium in Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s hometown is used by other political parties.

    “The government cannot say that the stadium is undergoing reconstruction because it was one of the projects listed for commissioning by President Buhari during his visit to the state in November 2017.”

    He noted that the government was jittery because several state governors, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman, among other bigwigs would attend the rally, including the senator representing Ebonyi South zone who defected from the PDP to APC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that tension has heightened in the state over APC’s bid to use the stadium for the rally.

    Government officials who include the governor’s chief press secretary and the commissioner for information and state orientation, noted that two APC factions in the state had requested to use the stadium for rallies. (NAN)

  • Umahi task corps members on national unity

    Ebonyi state Governor, David Umahi on Thursday assured corps members posted to the state of adequate security throughout their service year while charging them to ensure that the aims of setting up the service, which is national unity and integration, is attained.

    He gave the charge during the swearing ceremony of the National Youth Service Corps 2018 Batch B corps members at the Old Macgregor Secondary School permanent orientation camp in Afikpo North local government area of the state.

    The Governor further charged the corps members to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors who he noted have served the state so diligently and contributed in its development especially in the areas of heath, education and agriculture.

    Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Charles Akpuenika, Mr Umahi said the state government has approved the sum of N1m for the four best performing Cops members in the last graduating batch.

    He also revealed that his administration has mapped out 50 hectares of land to be given to the NYSC in the state to use for mechanised farming.

    He said these will enable the corps members and staff of NYSC to key into the administrations agricultural programme especially in rice production and by so doing give the corps members knowledge of the agricultural sector s that when they are through they can go into agriculture full time rather than waiting for non-existent white collar jobs.

    Mr Umahi also said the state government will deploy tech savvy corps members to train the youths of the state so as to improve the ICT capacity of the youths of the state.

    The State Coordinator of the Service, Mrs Ann Ngozika Ibe charged the corpse members to use the service year to promote peace, unity and integration of the country.

    “Let me make it clear to you that the attainment of the much-needed unity and integration of the country Nigeria, rests squarely on the shoulders of the educated youths like you who are the beacon of a bright and prosperous futre for all Nigerians”.

    “Be informed too that the nation’s quest to deepen the foundation of her democracy, good governance and the restoration of our cherished positive societal values are in your hands as the successor generation. In view of the foregoing, you must play an active role in ensuring that the nation remains indivisible and indissoluble by emphasizing the merits in our togetherness and unity as Nigerians more than anything else”, she said.

    The state Chief Judge, Justice Alloy Nwankwo represented by Justice benson Ogbu later swore in the 2200 new members into the Service Corps.

    Of the number, 1211 are men while 989 are females and were drawn from all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

  • Umahi denies dumping PDP for APC

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has dispelled the rumour that he had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor made the announcement at a media briefing in Abakaliki, the state capital, barley 24 hours after Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom announced his defection from the APC.

    Umahi said he cannot join APC, which he said is filled with failed leaders in Ebonyi State.

    Th governor said he had benefited immensely from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its chairman, deputy governor and governor.

    He said: “The clarification is that my relationship with Mr. President is because he is Mr. President. He is my boss and the relationship is personal.

    “Mr. President or any other APC stalwart has never asked me to come to the party. They will never ask me. There is no reason for me to leave my party, the PDP, of which I was the state party chairman, deputy governor and now governor.

    “I have always insisted on character. People who jump from one party to the other should examine their characters, except if there is any problem within your party.”

    “As for today, till tomorrow and until Christ comes, there is no crisis in the PDP. Even if there is need for me to leave the party, I can never leave the PDP to the kind of APC in Ebonyi State.

    “This is because of the kind of leaders in Ebonyi APC, leaders who have failed Ebonyi State. I can never be on the same political platform with them.

    “I am focused to do my job. I am focused on governance. I have always insisted that we should leave party politics to our party men and women. As soon as you are elected, you should focus on your job.

    “The fever that has been griping me since the day I was elected was for me to do my job, giving dividends of democracy and alleviating the plight of our people.”

    Umahi said he was focused on how to attract democratic dividends to the people and not play what he called dirty politics.

    “So, they should leave me alone with their dirty politics. I am focused; I am in the PDP. As a member of the PDP, I have benefited from the platform to be a party chairman, to be a deputy governor and now a governor. I am a man of character,” he added.

     

  • Umahi denies dumping PDP for APC

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has dispelled rumours making the rounds that he has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Ebonyi State.

    Governor Umahi, made the announcement at Government House, Abakaliki while speaking to journalists.

    He made the declaration barley 24 hours, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State declared his intention to quit his party, All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Umahi said he cannot join APC which he noted is filled with failed leaders in Ebonyi State.

    According to him, he had benefited immensely from the PDP as chairman, deputy governor, and ultimately state governor.

    “The clarification is that my relationship with Mr. President is because he is Mr. President, and he is my boss and the relationship is personal.

    “Mr. President or any APC person has never asked me to come to APC, and they will never ask me, and there is no reason for me to leave my party PDP of which I was the state party chairman,deputy governor and now governor.

    “I have always insisted in character.

    People that jump from one party to the other should examine their characters, except if there is any problem within your party.

    “As for today ,till tomorrow until Christ comes, there is no crisis in PDP. Even if there is a need for me to leave PDP, I can never leave PDP to the kind of APC in Ebonyi State.

    “Because with the kind of leaders in Ebonyi APC, leaders that have failed Ebonyi State. I can never be on the same political platform with them.

    “I am focused to do my job. I am focused in governance. I have always insisted that we should leave party politics to our party men and women, while as soon as you are elected, you should focus on your job.

    “The fever that has been griping me since the day I was elected was for me to do my job, the dividends of democracy and the plight of our people.

    He said he was focused on how to attract democratic dividends to the people of the state and not dirty politics.

    “So they should leave me alone with this their dirty politics. I am focused; I am PDP. As a member of PDP, I have benefited on the platform to be a party chairman, to be a deputy governor, and now a governor. I am a man of character”, he insisted.

  • Umahi in the eyes of history

    David Nweze Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi State is undoubtedly powerful. And like all men of power, he wards off all real and imaginary threats to his commandeering gusto. As such, his boisterous personality exudes intimidating aura.  By dint of grace and audacity, he is one of the very few deputy governors in Nigeria that took over from their immediate bosses, even against his former principal’s wish. Expectedly, in the build-up to the gubernatorial tussle, the machinery of home state power was mobilized to undercut him, but he had the backing of the then power brokers at Abuja, and the political bigwigs from Ebonyi State who were alienated by the former governor, Martins Elechi. And with deft manoeuvrings and closing of strategic ranks, Umahi exploited Elechi’s little or no aptitude for the intricacies of consultations to galvanize healthy alliances, which snowballed to his emergence as the incumbent governor.

    However, the intoxicating stuff of power is pushing Umahi to the dreadful enclave of fascism. Within the first few months in  office, Governor Umahi, like a Roman judge, disbanded a youth organization for exercising her inalienable right of protest, and ordered the state Commissioner of Police to prosecute them for ‘breaching’ public peace. Gradually, Umahi’s autocratic obsession became elevated to state craft. He abhors opposition. He dislikes alternative views. He tongue-lashes without chewing his words. He broaches anyone who would stand up to engage him. His fiery speeches are usually garnished with hackneyed religious garbs just to appear saintly. So, virtually all the public institutions in Ebonyi State have been emasculated to sing Umahi’s praises to the rooftop. The sycophantic macabre dance reached to a ridiculous level of comparing Abakaliki to Dubai. And it appears that Umahi is swallowing the propaganda hook, line and sinker.

    When it was the turn of Ebonyi State to produce the south east zonal chairman of PDP, Umahi single-handedly picked his little known brother, Austin Umahi to step into the big shoes of party apparatchiks like Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu, Olisa Metu and Austin Akobundu. Thus, when he supervised the last PDP gubernatorial primaries in Anambra State with pre-determined delegates list, protests from the likes of Ifeanyi Uba were rebuffed with anti-democratic sledge hammer. That was despotism in democracy apparel. He had his way, but the party is yet to recover from the festering wound.

    His undeserved elevation to the position of chairman of South East Governors Forum has inadvertently implicated him on the wrong side of history. He misled the governors’ forum to proscribe the non-violent group – IPOB without robust engagement to address their grievances. In order to impress the Abuja lords, he uncritically supported the Operation-Python-Dance that unleashed the most grievous psychological torture to the republican spirit of every full-bloodied Igbo man since the end of the civil war. Few days after, he joined President Buhari on a trip abroad as a pat on the back for a job well done while the Igbo hinterland reeled under great distress occasioned by military invasion. It was a metaphor of Haman dining with the king at the palace while the Jews faced imminent annihilation. Not done, Umahi hurriedly arranged a chieftaincy title for President Buhari through a section of southeast traditional rulers. This was after a controversial ex-parte order had guillotined IPOB as a terrorist group, while Fulani herdsmen that were declared as the fourth most dangerous terrorist group in the world as far back as 2014 were spared and pampered by their grand patron.  As agreed by not a few informed minds, IPOB had its shortcomings, but the zestful demonization and strangulation by the federal government is an overkill. It is a gross injustice and selective morality that would haunt both the executors and the undertakers.

    Having lost his voice, Umahi joined forces to plunder and dance to the whims of up-country oligarchs. What Umahi and his co-travellers in the display of raw power forgot is that a society that momentarily thrives on stifling the rights of protests and agitations, is incubating subversion and insurrection as tools for ventilating grievances. In a gadfly experiment, Umahi endorsed President Buhari for a second term even against his party (PDP) position. Such anti-party activity is usually greeted with severe disciplinary action but his stooge, Austin Umahi, the south east zonal chairman of PDP is obviously incapacitated.

    Two questions beg for answers: Will Umahi take it cool with a local government chairman in his state that publicly endorses Martins Elechi’s candidate for Ebonyi gubernatorial election in 2019? How would a PDP presidential candidate see Umahi in the long run? This grandstanding to out-compete in currying favour of Aso Villa men of power undermines the corporate ego of Ndigbo in the mainstream of national politics.  During the Handshake Across the Niger summit at Enugu, Umahi ordered ‘Ebonyians’ not to participate, maintaining that he was not consulted. Be that as it may, putting up a picture of a crack in the wall in the confidence-building event between Ndigbo and Yoruba is a joke taken too far. Perhaps, he was not consulted because of his dual loyalty. But who did he consult in disbanding IPOB, and giving Igbo title to Buhari when the fire put on by federal forces was still burning? He neither participated in Ohaneze summit on restructuring nor organised one under the auspices of governors’ forum.  He has failed to provide leadership when it matters most. Indeed, aligning with his colleagues to reject cattle ranching in Igboland is an after-thought bordering on self-preservation, and not conviction. He is a linchpin of the proposal. The tension at home has pushed him to play to the gallery. By now, those relying on him for future political yeo-man’s job would be having a rethink.  His Miyetti Allah friends have already expressed shock. Political expediency is the guiding principle of such characters. My verdict is that Umahi’s leadership leaves much to be desired. Period!

     

    Dr. Uche wrote in from Enugu.

  • I won’t castigate Buhari, says Umahi

    •Governor opposes ‘selective’ anti-corruption fight

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has pledged not to castigate President Muhammadu Buhari just to prove that he is still in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Umahi spoke in Abakaliki, the state capital, at a media briefing and dinner he organised for reporters as part of this year’s Democracy Day celebrations.

    The governor said his decision was a matter of principles, adding that President Buhari remained his only boss.

    He said: “I have left all those issues to political parties, not because the President is doing everything right but because he is not God.

    “He might not be doing everything 100 per cent, but it is not my duty to castigate my boss. I will only face my duties.

    “It is also not my duty to write petitions about the past administration in the state. I am focused towards my duties as a child of God who has a calling and is committed.”

    Umahi noted that corruption was not a party affair but an issue that has to do with the individual engaging in it.

    He said: “The Bible says that with the fear of God, men depart from evil. Without effective tackling of corruption, Nigeria will never develop.

    “It is not an issue concerned with the PDP. If those who defected from the party to the ruling party say it is corrupt, then they have infected their new party with corruption.”

    The governor said his constant mention of opposition members in the state during solidarity rallies in his honour did not mean he was threatened by their activities and antics.

    Umahi said: “No member of the opposition can stand for election with me because they have no base in the state. They are only deceiving the people.

    “They are not working for the President as they deceitfully claim but are big minuses for the opposition party because most of them don’t own houses in the state.

    “They boast of using the federal might to rig the 2019 elections, but the youths have warned anyone planning to execute such an act to write two things: the fake results and his will.”

    The governor listed his administration’s development strides in education, health, human empowerment, infrastructure and security, among others, saying Ebonyi State would be Nigeria’s Dubai after his eight years tenure.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that journalists and individuals across the state and beyond asked questions on state and national issues.

    Top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Chief of Staff, lawmakers and some members of the State Executive Council (Exco), were locked out for lateness.

    But they were admitted into the venue after the interactive session.

    Also, Umahi yesterday warned against a selective method of fighting corruption, if the government was desirous of a successful anti-corruption fight.

    He noted that if the government desired to achieve overwhelming result in its fight against corruption, it must adopt an inclusive approach rather than a selective method.

    The governor spoke at a media chat to mark this year’s Democracy Day at the Government House in Abakaliki.

    He said such approach should also be devoid of any political undertone for the the efforts to have a wide public acceptability.

    Umahi said Nigerians should hail the Federal Government for its determined effort at tackling the ugly monster in the country.

    He said: “I recommend proactive measure for the fight against corruption. President Muhammadu Buhari’s ant-corruption fight is laudable; he means well and he is a man of integrity.

    “I support the call that those who embezzled our money should be able to give account of it. We must have the fear of God in whatever we do.”

    On his administration’s achievement, Umahi said various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) had performed optimally.

    He said his administration focused mainly on people-oriented programmes, especially empowerment and the payment of hospital bills for indigent residents.