Looking at governor David Umahi’s tremendous achievements as recorded in Ebonyi State, one would not but acknowledge the fact that he actually came to serve the people.
For me, he came with a genuine desire to liberate the people of Ebonyi State from the state of hopelessness, lack of social infrastructure and human capital development.
Ebonyi people are no longer taken for granted. No wonder the divine mandate mantra of his administration. Before the coming on board of Umahi, Abakaliki the capital city of Ebonyi State was a glorified secondary school, and a shadow of itself with dilapidated or no solid infrastructure put in place.
He started with road revolution and Urban renewal to make the capital city a befitting city that one would be proud of. All the roads linking the 13 local government areas of the state had within a twinkle of an eye been reconstructed and asphalted, together with the internal roads of adjoining minor cities across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Bridges and over 17 Flyovers have been constructed and put into use, including the wonder Edda Iyere Flyover, Afikpo south local government area, which can better be described as the third Niger bridge of the south east. The reconstruction of International market, one of the largest markets in Africa, construction of world class shopping Mall, a replica of Dubai Mall, the Ecumenical centre(non denominational place of worship), and reconstruction of Abakaliki township stadium, all were started and completed during the first tenure of governor Umahi.
He reconstructed and equipped the 13 general hospitals of the state into an enviable status to meet the health needs of the people, and in addition, constructed the ultra modern King David University of medical Sciences, Uburu—a world class health institution—which has since been taken over by the Federal government.
The National University Commission (NUC) had described the health institution as the most beautiful university in Nigeria. Just recently, the signing of Memorandum of Understanding by the federal government was perfected through the federal ministry of health.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery Uburu is another giant stride of the Umahi led administration, aimed at training health manpower for both the state and federal government. The industrial clusters constructed by governor David Umahi located at Ohaozara local government area of the state is yet another milestone of Umahi’s led administration.
Also very strategic and quite commendable is the construction of Ebonyi International airport, otherwise known as Muhammadu Buhari International Airport which has reached 85 percent completion.
The airport when completed will no doubt boost the economic fortune of the state through revenue generation. Governor Umahi had earlier promised to complete the project by the end of October this year and work is on steady progress to actualize the promise.
Governor Umahi had also built Africa’s biggest Light Tunnel named after President Muhammadu Buhari at the Akanu Ibiam Flyover. All these are just the tip of the iceberg.
