The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Umahi

  • Umahi praises CBN on agric funding

    The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi has praised agricultural financing schemes initiated and implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) including the anchor borrowers’ scheme and the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS). He also praised the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the prudent ways he has managed the nation’s economy.

    Umahi spoke at the weekend in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State at the gala night of the Finance Correspondents and Business Editors seminar that held in the state.

    Passing a vote of confidence on the CBN Governor, he said the CBN was doing a lot as many states would not have been able to pay salaries without its intervention.

    “We urged naysayers to desist from playing politics with national issues saying that the nation needs patriotic and God fearing people to succeed,” he said.

    Umahi said the country will not need to import rice going forward due to the ongoing programmes of the CBN, which are several states including Ebonyi to improve and enlarge its rice production. He explained that the state inaugurated an agricultural scheme called one man, one hectare so as to attain food security for the state and country.

    The Ebonyi State governor, who just came back from China on foreign investment tour, said to ensure that agriculture ventures in the state become profitable, a Chinese system of irrigation would be deployed. He said the ongoing recession presents opportunity to diversify the economy from overdependence on crude oil.

    Also, the Chairman, Ebony Agro Industry Limited, Charles Ugwu equally praised the CBN for sustaining rice milling business in the country.

    He spoke during a media visit to his mill in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He recounted that Ebony Agro Industry was one of the several rice mills established by the Federal Government in 2008 due to the recorded food shortage occasioned by the global economic meltdown. He added that due to policy reversal and challenges of infrastructure such as power, road and finance, only four of the 17 proposed mills were eventually established.

    Ugwu further said the stringent measures put in place by commercial banks on loan procurement had scuttled the project but for the intervention of the CBN. He commended the CBN for providing the start up funds through the CACS and the Anchor Borrowers Programme, which are helping farmers to realise their dreams.

  • Umahi increases workers’ salaries

    •Pardons 32 inmates, commutes 14 death sentences to life

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has announced a five percent increase of workers’ salaries in the state from this month even as he pardoned 32 prison inmates and commuted the death sentences handed down to 14 inmates to life imprisonment.

    The inmates are drawn from the prisons in Ebonyi and Enugu states.

    The governor made these declarations yesterday at the Abakaliki Township Stadium during the celebration of the 56 independence anniversary celebration of the country and the 20th anniversary of the creation of the state.

    He, however, directed the Attorney-General of the state, Rt. Hon Augustine Nwankwegu, to monitor the freed inmates and bring periodic reports to his office on their behaviour to ensure they do not constitute further threat to the society

    The governor also announced the recall of workers of Ebonyi State College of Education and 37 staff of Ebonyi State Environmental Protection Agency (EBSEPA) who were sacked following the proscription of the law that created the agency.

    “Let me also announce the release of your promotions immediately,” Umahi told the elated workers of the state.

    The governor also said his administration has mapped out funds to give to workers as soft loans to start up agricultural ventures of their choices, adding that interested workers will get up to N200,000 loan.

    He assured staff of Ebonyi State University that his administration has no plans to withhold their promotions as being speculated.

    “We will not also stop the gazetting of the staff of the institution but be patient while we finish our investigations in the school and you will get what is rightfully yours.”

    He also warned various government task forces operating in the state to stop harassing people.

    “We don’t want harassment of our people; we promised freedom, that people will be allowed to express themselves. And if somebody is supposed to pay tax and he is unable to pay tax, that person should be told in a civilised way to comply but nobody should be harassed,” he warned.

  • Uzoamaka:  In defence of Umahi

    Some weeks ago, the news of the torture of a teenager from Ebonyi State, Uzoamaka Chukwu, went viral with a retinue of gusto speculations, falsities and other condiments the major cooks added to it to whip up negative sentiments against Governor David Umahi and his government. The issue here is not the indomitability of the said crime visited on the 15-year-old girl, it is the other cooked-up propaganda  political hunters and rumour mongers have come up with to give what would be described as a show of executive apology by Governor Umahi a bad perception to the public.

    This article stands as a rejoinder to a provocative publication by The Nation newspaper on Thursday, 25th  of August 2016. The piece was authored by an anonymous scribbler dubbed ”Our Reporter.” by the newspaper.  The title of that piece was: “Ebonyi’s strange (human) property law.”  The   question every conscious-minded reader should ask is why the writer chose to be anonymous if he  was sure that he  had written facts devoid of public scrutiny? Or was it wise for him to tell the truth in anonymity?

    In the spunky article, many issues best   recaptured in bias and propaganda were raised, among which is: Was it wise for a governor of a state to say an indigene of his state is a property of the government?

    He had said: “It is not clear why the government chose to describe the harassed girl as a state property, whether they mean it in the endearing sense in which great sporting or intellectual assets are described, or in the ordinary and mercantile sense in which slaves or indentured servants were described when the practice of owning humans flourished during the era of slave trade and thereafter.”

    He talked about property in terms of mercantilist and slave sense and concluded that Engr. Umahi ”could not be said to be managing the problem sensibly like a governor.” What a gross disrespect for the office of His Excellency and his person. This anonymous writer needs to be educated more on the definition and classification of a person as a property. Since it is indisputable that humanity has its roots in anthropology and sociology, no enlightened mind would quarrel with the governor’s description of Uzoamaka as the property of Ebonyi State.

    According to Wikipedia, in sociology and anthropology, property can be defined often “as a relationship between two or more individuals and an object, in which at least one of these individuals holds a bundle of rights over the object. I know he may want to find out the meaning of an object but to save him the sweat and time of doing so’ the same Wikipedia lists an object as a being.

    Also, “the Restatement (first) of Property defines property as anything, tangible or intangible whereby a legal relationship between persons and the state enforces a possessory interest or legal title in that thing or object(Wikipedia remains a referencing tool). .

    I observed that the writer willfully did not   admit the governor’s sincere apology to Uzoamaka’s family, including her over 80-year-old grandmother that welcomed His Excellency and his entourage to their home in Umunaga, Uburu, Ohaozara LGA . He also failed to appreciate the empathy shown by the governor by  putting aside  other important state activities to visit the home of the humiliated teenager   immediately he returned from his foreign trip.

    The Nation’s unnamed reporter  saw it abominable, the governor’s sincere  assurance of  his government’s resolve to take upon itself, the wholesome rehabilitation  and  sponsoring of  the young girl  to  university level. He saw black in Governor Umahi’s avowal to ensure that justice ran its full course in the matter.  But I ask here: Was the writer expecting the governor  to have  done all he had done  while away? Nop, His presence was highly needed because that would signpost executive concern.

    Now, it will be good to give a rapt attention to the governor’s speech while in the home of the brutalised girl: “We felt very bad as a people, as a government and as brothers and sisters of Uzoamaka.  We felt that what happened was a gross violation of her right and man’s inhumanity to man.  So, we feel bad about it. Government is asking wherever she is, she should come back so that we can take over her training from secondary school to university level.  We will also be able to rehabilitate her.  For now, we don’t know where she is, but we ask that she returns because she is the property of the state.”

    Going by his posture, one would ask why  the acrid writer had to be skeptical about a pledge made by a government whereupon no such pledge had been made and reneged in the past by any government in the state. One also wonders if the writer was writing with any fact to substantiate his doubting spirit.

    He also continues: “Governor David Umahi has finally roused himself from his lethargy to take some tentative steps”.  What did the writer mean by ‘tentative’ steps?

    The truth that cannot be altered is that the governor on learning of the development immediately ordered the intervention of relevant government agencies while outside our shores.

    One was that the state police command should arrest all those involved in the teenager’s brutalisation. Two, he directed the Ohaozara LGA chairman and the Ministry of Women Affairs to locate Uzoamaka and take custody of her. I know, because I personally spoke with the Governor’s Special Assistant on Women and Child Development, Emerald Akaji, a day after the video of the girl’s brutalisation went viral. Akaji had on getting the marching orders headed for Uburu where she made frantic efforts to locate Uzoamaka.

    Unfortunately, the SA’s efforts yielded no positive results because some   political hawks spirited the teenager away to Abuja where she was hidden until they decided to make a media show of the matter and portray the state government as uncaring. Their actions were purely to settle political scores and   gain cheap political popularity. If the writer meant well, why did he not ask why such politicians did not hand over Uzoamaka  to the state or any of the security agencies in the state capital. Why take her to Abuja? Before his piece, one of the politicians was part of the governor’s entourage that visited the girl’s family. It is the same politician, who is National Assembly member that he quoted as having asked His Excellency to suspend or sack Enekwachi Odii, the Uburu Development Centre Coordinator whose home was   Uzoamaka’s place of torture.

    Since the politician was there when the governor said his government was not aware of  the girl’s  whereabouts,   why did The Nation’s biased writer not express surprise that National Assembly member did not disclose the location of the teenager to the entourage? Does he think that common sense required him (Our Reporter) to have done just that in his piece?

    Let me inform the writer that in news stories published August 16,  Governor Umahi had said:” I watched the video online and I felt terrible about it. It is very inhuman to have so acted. I personally directed the police to arrest and prosecute all those involved.”

    His directive was carried out. All   the suspects, including  Odii, are currently facing trial by a competent court of law. Odii is  on bail and is assumed innocent in the  eyes of the law. Like erratic social media goons, emergency social commentators and human rights activists, what peeves The Nation’s anonymous  writer  the most is the governor not listening to their calls for the coordinator’s suspension or sacking. Engr. Umahi has chosen not to do either of the two for now because he believes that the police and the judiciary must be allowed to perform their duties.He definitely is not the one to pass judgement. The anonymous writer and his ilks must wait for the judiciary to pronounce Odii and other suspects guilty. It is only when the governor fails to wield the big hammer on the coordinator  if found guilty that  he and his co-critics, would have a justification to lampoon my boss.

    I urge the Nation to be circumspect in providing pages to veiled writers. Being one of the nation’s most revered news organisations, it should  constantly toe  the line of objectivity like another newspaper which on Monday, August 29 wrote:”Where some other governors would have played politics, the Ebonyi governor chose the path of justice.”

     

    .Anya is the Chief Press Secretary to Ebonyi State Governor

     

  • Uzoamaka: Umahi condemns stripping of teenage girl

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has condemned the stripping and battering of a 14-year-old girl, Miss Uzoamaka Chukwu, by some people in Ohaozara Local Government Area.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, the governor said he had directed the police command to ensure that the perpetrators should be properly investigated with a view to bringing those guilty to justice.

    The statement reads: “The Ebonyi State Government condemns the inhuman treatment meted out to a minor, Miss Uzoamaka Chukwu, by some people in Ohoazara Local Government Area.

    “Government encourages the state police command to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident and bring to book the suspects, some of whom are already in detention.

    “Governor Umahi will not, in any way, condone the violation of the rights of any Ebonyi resident, especially minors, by anyone, be he in government or the private sector.

    “The pollicisation of this pitiful situation cannot benefit the little girl concerned nor the politicians parading her on national media. The naked images of the child splashed on newspaper pages are utterly condemnable.

    “Government has already taken action to locate the minor in order to ensure that she is properly rehabilitated and made to overcome the trauma she has passed through.”

  • How Umahi is transforming Ebonyi-Aide

    How Umahi is transforming Ebonyi-Aide

    Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi’s development strategy is a subject of deep discussion within and outside Ebonyi State. According to Hon. Onwe Gideon Ifeanyi, the governor’s Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, the governor’s development efforts have become an issue not just because of the quantum of work done but also because it seems difficult to reconcile it with the financial capacity of the state. How is he carrying out these development projects at a time like this?

    Speaking to our reporter recently in Abakaliki, he said the secret is the governor’s realisation that oil, which used to be the main stay of the country’s economy is not what it used to be in the past and his decision to rather make a shift to agriculture and other sources to boost the internally generated revenue of the state.

    He also attributed the success story so far in the governor’s ability to effectively utilise the little resources at his disposal and also cutting down wastage of funds and plugging all loopholes used in siphoning money in the past.

    He said: “While many states are already crying that they are unable to pay workers, here in Ebonyi state, the case is different because we are not talking of non-payment of salaries because before 20th of every month, every worker in the state have received his or her salaries.

    “There are lots of infrastructural development going on in the state to the extent that people ask whether the economic meltdown  that has affected the country is not affecting the state. The secret is ability to manage yourself, ability of taking cognisanceof the situation and to make do with what you have in any condition you find yourself”.

    “When we talk about this economic problem, some people think things will still be going smoothly the way it used to be and they will still be living the way they have been living. But it can’t continue to be like that because if you don’t adjust to suit the reality, it will be difficult for you to survive. This is what our governor has been able to do and things are moving on well in the state”.

    On the challenges in the country he said, “the challenges in the country require divine intervention; it is beyond human and that is what our  governor discovered because he came in through the Divine Mandate. We thank God for the gift of the governor. He has really touched the lives of the people. We want other states and the nation to emulate the state because it has been surviving by divine intervention and doing things with the fear of God”.

  • Umahi redeploys commissioners, appoints new aides

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on Monday announced the redeployment of the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbaga, to the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution.

    Her counterpart in the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Hon. Obinna Nwachukwu, was moved to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

    The Governor via a statement issued by his Principal Secretary, Mr. Clement Nweke, Umahi said the redeployment takes immediate effect.

    He also announced new appointments into his cabinet.

    These included Prof. Ogbonnaya Chukwu, Senior Special Assistant on Trade and Investment, Dr. Ugballa Kenneth Igwe, Senior Special Assistant on Security and Mr. Ali Odefa, Senior Special Assistant on Infrastructural maintenance.

    Others are – Mr. Nnabuife Robert, Special Assistant on Special Project and Mrs. Nwali Helen Chinyere, Special Assistant on Primary Education.

     

  • Fracas as Umahi emerges PDP vice chairman

    Fracas as Umahi emerges PDP vice chairman

    Some delegates to the South-East zonal congress of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exchanged blows in Enugu yesterday following an altercation between Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi and his Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security, Ali Odefa.

    Though the congress ended peacefully, it was marred by fisticuffs over the attempt by Odefa to contest for national vice chairman South east zone of the party.

    A petition by Umahi was read to the delegates after Odefa picked the nomination form. The governor alleged Odefa had not resigned from his appointment before standing for the election.

    In the place of the SSA, Umahi picked his immediate younger brother Augustine Umahi for the post, thus disqualifying Odefa.

    When an enraged Odefa moved to the podium to clear himself, the attempt led to exchange of blows.

    But the manhandled Odefa insisted he resigned as SSA as far back as April 15.

    He was later escorted out of Okpara Square venue of the congress in the presence of national leaders and governors of the party.

    Governor Umahi’s younger brother, Augustine was eventually returned unopposed as the national vice-chairman South east.

    Other elected officers include Casmiir Ugwu as zonal secretary; Victor Asams organising secretary; Mary Omile, women leader; Emeka Okeke treasurer and Chidiebere Egwu youth leader.

  • Umahi’s brother crowned king

    Chief Larz Umahi Nweze, eldest brother of Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, has been crowned king of Uburu, a community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

    Many dignitaries, including those from outside the state, attended his coronation which took place at the village square. The celebrities who turned up for the event included traditional rulers from other autonomous communities in the state, state and federal lawmakers, commissioners, council chiefs, business executives, among others. Chief Umahi is now called Eze Adu III.

    The community, which is made up of four villages namely, Umunaga, Umuanikita, Mgbom and Urobo, was in a festive mood during the coronation.

    The community was without a king for close to 10 years, The Nation learnt.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Eze thanked stakeholders of the community, “who first mooted the idea of my becoming, prodded and nominated me to be the Eze Adu III of Uburu Autonomous community”.

    He also spoke about his plans for his kingdom and beyond.

    He said, “We will support and collaborate with all levels of government to move Uburu Autonomous community and the entire Uburu clan forward. Governor David Umahi who is our son, has been a source of pride. He is doing so well and we will give him all manner of support to do even better.”

    President-General, Town Union Uburu Autonomous Community, Hon. Innocent Uzor expressed joy over the coronation of the new king.

    “As a matter of fact, the people of Uburu Autonomous community have been longing for a day like this ever since the death and burial of Eze Adu II, HRH late Eze David Ekwe Nweze.

    “Our joy is indeed full that God has finally answered our prayers in a profound way. God has given us a generally accepted Eze-elect whose impeccability, probity of character, integrity, education and background are unassailable”.

    The state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Justice Ogbonna described the coronation of Eze Adu III as a welcome development, adding that the king was most appropriate for the position considering his enormous contributions to the development of the community.

    He enjoined members of the community in the state and Diaspora to support the new king so that he will succeed in his vision and programmes of moving the community forward.

    Governor Umahi presented the Eze with his Staff of Office at a ceremony in Abakaliki, the state capital. Four other traditional rulers were given their staff of office at the event.

    The Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Samuel Okoronkwo said that the traditional rulers met all the requirements as required by the constitution before they were installed by their various communities.

    They included Chief Livinus Okorie Ugbo (Oso-Edda community), Chief John Okpuru (Amaoffia), Chief Edward Chukwu (Oziza) and Chief Ibe Obani (Umuihe).

    Governor Umahi at the event called on the Ezes to rule with the fear of God.

    He urged the people to uplift the virtues for which the state is known.

    In their acceptance,   HRM Okpuru,  promised that they will use their staff of office to maintain peace and propagate the policies and programmes of the state  government in their communities.

    Eze Umahi Nweze promised to engender peace in Uburu community and to use his connections and contacts in the corridors of power to attract a lot of developmental projects and policies to his people.

     

  • Between Umahi and his deputy

    Between Umahi and his deputy

    Contrary to alleged misunderstanding between Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, Ogochukwu Anioke in Abakaliki reports that their relationship is waxing stronger 

    Has the relationship between Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, gone sour? This question, which became more pronounced since the recent visit of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal, to the state to commission some projects, have attracted reactions from the state government, the governor and other stakeholders in the state like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The matter became a public issue in January, when the governor invited Lawal to commission some of the projects his administration has executed and inspect some ongoing ones.

    The SGF on arrival in January 14, 2016 inspected some projects in Abakaliki, including three flyovers under construction and inaugurated the CBN Road in the Centenary city.

    He was full of praises for the PDP governor, leading to speculations that the governor may be on his way out of the party. At one of the sites, Lawal, who was in company of the Minister of State for Niger Delta and Labour and Productivity, Bar. James Ochili and Dr. Cladius Daramola, observed that the cost of the three flyovers was an indication that “the governor belongs to a cream of leaders in the country who are not greedy and corrupt.”

     Turning to the   governor, he had said rather jokingly,   “Sometimes, we get surprised that people like you are found in the PDP but there is a cliché that says good men are found everywhere.

     “We like such people but we will not envy them if they remain in PDP because they also challenge APC governors to perform. That is the essence of opposition and competition in politics.”

    The SGF appealed to all Ebonyians, members of the State House of Assembly and the Executive to continue to cooperate with the governor to enable him do more, stating that “with the governor’s performances so far, he will win his election for a second term if in the APC.”

    Trouble started when a few days after the visit a group, Ebonyi APC Elders/Stakeholders’ Forum, issued an ‘open letter’ to President Buhari on the visit.

     In the letter, they alleged that the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, refused to attend the airport reception for the SGF because according to them, he didn’t want to “mix with the pseudo-APC members who are now in the official payroll of government.”

     The group further alleged that the deputy governor made the statement in his residence after the departure of the SGF when PDP faithful thronged his official residence.

     But The Nation can authoritatively report that no such meeting took place at the Deputy Governor’s residence.

    APC chairman in the state, Mr. Ben Nwaobashi, and other top members of the party have, both in public and in private, also disassociated themselves from the group and the letter.

     Meanwhile, in a reaction to the letter, the governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, described the allegation that the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, deliberately refused to attend the airport reception in honour of the visiting SGF as a fallacy by the group.

     Anya said: “He (Deputy Governor) was on ground at project sites to ensure a hitch-free inspection of the projects. In fact, if the amorphous group had watched television and read newspapers, they would have seen that the deputy governor was one of the first set of dignitaries that received Babachir Lawal at the Akanu Ibiam Round about, one of the flyover project sites”.

     “It is also a false claim by the so-called Elders and stakeholders of the factional APC that the Deputy Governor was seen discussing with some PDP members who besieged his residence to find out why he was absent at the airport reception. This is absolutely a fathom imagination of the forum members”.

     “Let it be made clear that the Deputy Governor, in company with his wife, Nnenna, was even present at the reception for the SGF and his team”.

     “We have video clips and photographs to authenticate these assertions”.

     So why would the group try to force down the throat of Ebonyi people and indeed Nigerians this lie? “The only meaning we can read from the spurious claims by the group is that they want to cause disharmony or sour the good working relationship between Governor Umahi and his hardworking deputy. This, we are confident, will never come to pass,” Anya said.

    Governor Umahi also alluded to this during a town hall meeting recently when he looked at the deputy sitting beside him and said, “Don’t mind them deputy, they are trying to destroy this relationship, but they don’t know how it all started, so their plans will not work.”