Recently Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state was endorsed for presidency 2023 by various groups, in this article, AMARACHUKWU EGWUAGHA looks at the possible reasons why this endorsement is increasing and his reactions.
The clamour for Governor David Umahi for presidency 2023 is becoming louder and more noticeable than before as many groups now spring up endorsing him.
Umahi as one of the governors in the southeast zone has made himself popular through what is described as his developmental strides in Ebonyi state that groups outside his state beckon on him to contest for the Nigerian number one seat of power.
Recall that Igbo people have been agitating for Igbo presidency in 2023 with the belief that it will bring equity and justice to the Southeast region.
One may be wondering why the call on Umahi when there are many other notable Igbo leaders in the zone.
Groups calling on Umahi for presidency:
One of such groups is the Nigeria Youths Assembly under the leadership of Mallam Umar Mohammad.
This group in their statement pointed out the areas they think Nigeria is lagging behind and believed that with what Umahi is doing in Ebonyi state, he will get the country fixed.
The statement reads, “Ironically, Nigeria is a nation blessed with abundant human and material resources, but many Nigerians live in abject poverty. A cursory look at the nooks and crannies of the country will reveal the indices of under-development.
No wonder Nigeria has continued to be described by the international community as the poverty capital of the world. Most of the infrastructural facilities that the people need for a good standard of living are either not available or in deplorable states.
The Umahi magic wand cuts across all spheres of development. There are evidences in school, health, market and road infrastructure
Since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, successive governments seemed to have been paying lip service to the infrastructural needs of the country.
Poor school infrastructure, for example, does not encourage effective teaching and learning in the school system, and this is why most educational institutions in the country churn out half-baked graduates.
Similarly, inadequate health infrastructure does not encourage quality health delivery. This is why few privileged or affluent Nigerians embark on medical tourism in foreign countries like India, United States of America and Britain as the need arises.
The deplorable road infrastructure on the other hand hinders economic and social activities, thereby promoting poor standard of living.
Many scholars and statesmen alike have attributed the ugly trends to poor leadership. According to a literary Icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, “the problem with Nigeria is Leadership.”
The position of professor Chinua Achebe may not be far from the truth, looking at the poverty rate in the country .
The question now is: What is the way out of this economic and social quagmire? The Umar Muhammad group argued that the solution is not far fetched.
According to them, the leadership style of Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State will address the infrastructural needs of the nation.
Since assumption of office in 2015, Governor Governor has provided critical infrastructures to stimulate economic activities, encourage industrialization, promote quality education and health care delivery, improve the way the people communicate, ensure free flow of goods and evacuation of agricultural produce from the hinterlands to where they are most needed and above all enhance the aesthetics of the state.
Driven by the passion to make the state not only the fastest developing state but also the leading economy in Nigeria, Governor Umahi introduced the construction of concrete roads network, constructed long span flyovers, a state of the art shopping mall, an ultra-modern Christian ecumenical centre, a gigantic waste to wealth recycling plant and renovated general hospitals and other health facilities.
He also remodeled Abakaliki Township Stadium and provided more sporting infrastructure, upgraded infrastructure in public schools, constructed a new Government House, remodeled St. Margaret Umahi International Market and relocated traders from the old Abakpa Main market to the international market.
Other achievements by Umahi include the provision of street lights, traffic lights and remodeling the old Government House, constructed water fountains and established special schools, including King David International Academy and School of Vocational Studies.
The governor also created the Department of Private Schools Development, which ensures that private schools across Ebonyi State live up to government established standards and he ensures good maintenance culture to guarantee the durability of these infrastructures.
Observers of the Umahi’s magic wand argue that our nation needs the likes of Governor Umahi to address the infrastructural needs of Nigeria to stimulate economic and commercial activities and tackle the challenges posed by poverty and hunger in the land.
Premised on this, the youths under the aegis of the Nigeria Youths Assembly who said they have painstakingly studied the leadership style of Umahi are therefore clamouring for him to view for President come 2023 based on his antecedents in Ebonyi state as a successful business man and professional engineer before venturing into politics.
Umahi before he became governor was the former state chairman of the PDP, deputy governor and presently the governor of the state.
The Nigeria Youths Assembly under Mallam Umar Mohammad as its National Chairman and Engr.Osita Kalu Ugoji as its National Publicity Secretary believe that considering the antecedents of Governor Umahi, he is the best to occupy the number one seat in the country come 2023.
Again, the assembly believes that such a personality, if given the mandate to be at the helm of affairs of this country, will turn around the fortunes of the country.
Most people across the country have therefore urged the governor to listen to the patriotic appeals of these youths by accepting to present himself as a candidate for the Presidential Election come 2023.
Their argument is that “with what Umahi did and is still doing in Ebonyi state, there is no doubt that if given a higher mandate to preside over the affairs of the country, he will replicate these achievements in the entire country. The implication of this is that the entire country will experience unprecedented development.”
The Assembly therefore appealed, “Let all hands be on deck to actualize the vision of making Nigeria great again by making the right choice when the time comes”.
Another group, Coalition of Igbo Groups and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, recommended Umahi amongst other two to vie for president.
The group in a joint statement said, “Coalition of Igbo Groups and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide met, after a Joint Meeting at Abakaliki on Sunday August 16th 2020,and after fruitful deliberations then reached an agreement that, The Chairman of Southeast Governors Forum and Ebonyi state governor, Engr Dave Umahi, Minister of Transport, RT Hon Chibuike Amaechi and Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu are the best presidential materials and candidates.”
The group continued that both Umahi and Amaechina are, “Widely acceptable and accessible, transparent in governance, with proven track records of achievements and without questionable criticism from any quarter to Become president Muhammadu Buhari’s Successor in 2023.
In a Joint statement signed by, Mazi Alex Okemiri (President World Igbo Youth Congress), Dr Mrs Helen Ogbonnaya (National leader, Southeast Women Professionals),and Comrade Chidi Ugwujo (President Igbo Students Union), had received the recommendation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide on the lists of possibly Igbo consensus candidates with certified Igbo values for competence, ingenuity and corruption-free as the cardinal points of choosing these best candidates for Nigerians at this moment.
Zeroing in on Umahi, the group destined him thus: “The Chairman of Southeast Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi state, Engr Dave Umahi, is the jewel of the Southeast with evidence of infrastructural development in Ebonyi. He is the best performing governor in the Southeast and he is eminently capable to be the PDP presidential candidate in 2023.
These are the best presidential materials and candidates Igbo Youths present to Nigerians at the moment. There are millions of capable prominent Igbo politicians and technocrats who are more qualified to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023, but many of them are handicapped either by pending corruption charges by EFCC or there’s no visible evidence of political structures to actualise their ambitions or linked with incompetence in their stewardship for Igbos”.
Governor Umahi’s Reaction
In all these, Umahi has remained mute, but always said that he is committed to developing Ebonyi state. He has also said that the time for politicking has not come.
However his comment during the grandfinale of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally before Ebonyi state LG elections portrayed that Umahi sought for endorsement from the PDP National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus
The Ebonyi governor said, “You can only be angry with me if you look for my anointing for 2023 because my own anointing is finishing. Chairman, we need your anointing”.
