Engr. David Nweze Umahi : Changing the Narratives in Ebonyi

By Anya C. Anya

I have concrete evidence to believe poor leadership is a intentional act , there is neither a spirit causing leader s to perform poorly neither is it possible to curse a leader such that he will perform poorly


As much as poor leadership is an intentional act , so also is quality representation ,good service delivery and the delivery of good and qualitative dividend of democracy to the electorate an intentional


It is the choice of every leader to either offer quality leadership or engage in abysmal performance , irrespective of how brief or long the period of transition is in administration , it exclusively the intentional act of the leader to choose to do well or not

Qualitative Leadership is not a product of your exposure to enough or excess  resources , it is not the resources you are exposed to that determine the quality and quantity of service you offer to your , leadership is all about having a  Forsight  and a vision concerning the future

It is also the  need to change the narractive from negativity to Positivity , every good and reasonable leadership is fuled by one among the two .a leader who has a future he envisage will strive to get there . Also a leader who desire to change an already negative image to a positive image will strive to erase what is negative by introducing positive project commisurect with his goal

This is what Engr. David Umahi has thought me .with the level of work he has done in Ebonyi state within and in the past five years of his  administration , he has not only succeaded in changing the narractive in Ebonyi state  but he has also foisted a new image in the south East and Ebonyi State in particular

The man HE Engr. David Umahi  (known popularly as Dave Umahi, born January 1, 1964) is indeed another breed of a  Nigerian politician who is serving as the current Governor of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

David Umahi who is the current Governor of Ebonyi State Assumed office on 29 May 2019 with
Eric Kelechi Igwe as the deputy Governor . He was Born
25 July 1963 (age 56) in
Uburu, Eastern Region, Nigeria(now Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria) under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party


Born January 1, 1964, Umahi is the son of Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze and Margaret Umahi of Umunaga.Umahi received his secondary education from Ishiagu High School and the Government Secondary School of Afikpo before entering the Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1982. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. In 1990, he co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nig. Limited with Ombo Isokarari and served as its general manager until 1993.In 2011, he served as chairman and CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd. Focus Investment Nig. Ltd., and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd.

Umahi entered public service in 2007 as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the People's Democratic Party.From 2009 to 2011, he served as state chairman of the party. During that term, he served a year on the governing board of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba as its chairman

In 2011, Umahi became deputy governor of Ebonyi State on a ticket with the-then Governor Martin Elechi. However, in 2014, Governor Elechi supported Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, as his successor, which Umahi stated violated an understanding that he would take that role.unrelenting as it is  Umahi went ahead to defeat Chukwu in the primaries.The remainder of Elechi's term was chaotic, with arson hitting the House of Assembly in February 2015 and motions taken to impeach him later that month over alleged unconstitutional gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds and anti-party activities. Umahi was elected to the role of Governor on 12 April 2015 in an election that has been challenged by the Labour Party, All Progressives Congress and All Progressives Grand Alliance on the basis of "widespread irregularities, killings, and wanton destruction of property".but In October 2015, the legitimacy of the election was upheld by the Governorship Election Tribunal.

On the 16th day of March, 2019, David Umahi was re-elected as Governor in the Ebonyi state governorship election. He polled 393,343 votes to defeat APC's Sonny Ogbuoji who polled 81,703 votes.

It is the fifth year of his administration and One year Anniversary of the second term in office but after every necessary assessment I submit to you that Engr. David Umahi has secured and  Retain Top Flight As One Among Best Performing Governor in Nigeria

This is no small achievement , History would be incomplete if in the future references are not made to what Engr. David Umahi The Governor of Ebonyi state has done and is doing in the youngest state in South East. He has  maintain the tempo of a  top flight state chief executive and gradually racing to be the best performing Governor in Nigeria as they mark thier one year Anniversary.

May 29, 2020 marked one year since the current administration in Nigeria took over the mantle of leadership. For a number of the governors elected in 2015, it's now five years and counting with legacies already built or destroyed. For those who first tasted power in 2019, one year gone is a reminder that the time to make needed impact is fast counting.

Notwithstanding, the challenges leaders are confronted with , one year is long enough to take stock of what have been achieved by various state chief executives to ascertain who are on track and who are not. And clearly, the past 12 months and five years have largely separated the men from the boys in terms of capacity to deliver quality leadership.

A concerned Nigerian and a public affairs analysts Mr Obinna Chigwe  who did the analysis of this past twelve months  looking at governors who have, within the past one year or five years, performed credibly well, in a series He titled  'Best of the Best.' Chosen on account of their achievements, but in no particular order,pick few  governors who made the cut as having performed creditably well and in the list Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum; Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Ebonyi State governor, Engr Dave Umahi; Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki; Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Ekiti governor, Kayode Fayemi.

With particular emphasis on Engr. David Umahi, Mr Obinna Chigwe
While commenting on the performance of the above stated Governor , he said  Engr David Umahi "the Ebonyi State governor has courted controversy following his run-in with journalists. And conceded that he has tended to display dictatorial tendencies,but it takes nothing away from his giant strides. Indeed his accomplishment in terms of infrastructure, placed side by side with the revenue profile of the state, Umahi arguably stands shoulder high above his peers."

According to him "Without much of hype, he has completed an infrastructural revolution in Southeast’s youngest state. Besides infrastructure, the state is also making rapid improvement in education and agriculture. Rated as an educationally backward state only a few years ago, Ebonyi has walked up the ladder, largely unnoticed, and makes top ten in most national examinations. "

He noted that " Ebonyi remains a construction site. Enugu-Abakailiki road is easily the best federal road in the Southeast courtesy of the governor. He has also intervened in other strategic federal roads in the state, including Afikpo Road, Uburu-Amasiri Road among others.The governor's projects are particularly noted for their solidity. Along the Enugu-Abakailiki road, at Presco, Spera Indo junctions and the International Market, are three massive flyovers well constructed and decorated for aesthetic value. The bridges are part of the trans-Saharan route to Cameroon."

"The administration has also completed a huge international market, the Margret Umahi International Market, which was started by Martin Elechi's administration. There is also the impressive centenary city and a new governor’s lodge, ecumenical centre with combined sitting capacity of 12,000, the largest ever built by any government in Nigeria, if not on the African continent, among many other projects. remarkably it is a state with an annual average internally generated revenue of about N4billion, and yearly federal allocation of about N25 billion, is one of the least revenue earning states in Nigeria. But with its little, the state has achieved amazing feats under the governor’s watch. "

He acknowledged the fact that "with little revenue, the governor has not plunged Ebonyi into a debt burden. The state has domestic debt at N42 billion and external debt at about $76 million as of July 30, 2019 according to Debt Management Office (DMO) figures, which is one of the least in Nigeria." All this and more were considered to put David Umahi among the 8 best performing Governor in the last one year

Permit me therefore to shock you that leadership as explained by most Nigerian politician is "amazing illegal wealth at the expense of the people"  while Democracy as interpreted by them is Summarily the " government of the rich by the rich and for the few rich people in the society " leaving the poor lacking and searching for basic life amenities and essentials that will make life sweet and worthwhile for them

Little I wonder why Engr David Umahi has become the talk of the Town , he  has succeaded in translating campaign promises to action: one thing most Nigerian politician do not easily do , the only thing that elude my knowledge is how he was able to do it within 5 years

Rev Kenneth Ubochi while reacting to the news of Engr. David Umahi emerging as one among the 8 best Present Governors in the country  said it is a welcome development, according to him, it would be unfair not to recognize what Engr David Umahi is doing in Ebonyi state, therefore "We join the men and women of goodwill, lovers of  excellence and the entire people of the south east, irrespective of our political divides, in celebrating one of their own, His Excellency, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, who was shortlisted as one of the best performed and performing state chief executive in Nigeria. "

This is a no mean feat coming from  the record setting and infrastructure Governor of the hitherto poverty stricken, overlooked, marginalised, guinea worm infested, educationally backward, dirty, dusty and last created state of the south east. That this great news is coming at a one of the most difficult times in our modern history, with heigthened insecurity and uncertainty, is a very welcome development and big consollation.
Umahi is the only Governor of the south east states who made the list and going by the available statistical data of all development indices, he has  himself to beat to emerge the best in the final excercise slated for later in the year. "


"On record is that Gov Umahi has tranformed Ebonyi from what was a very backword state, to a leading frontline state in the country. This is in tems of physical infrastruture, economic vibrancy to human capital development and a model for Nigeria. He achieved these and more with little or nothing as internally generated revenue, IGR, but largely relied on the meagre federal monthly allocation, financial prudency and good planing. He has offered selfless service to the people through the direct labour work method with the state ministry of works as the biggest contractor in Ebonyi. "

"A close look at the states who made the final list of  8, based on receipts from the federal allocation for the period of January to April 2020, clearly indicate that Ebonyi state received the least amount, but is leading in most of the areas surveyed.
The table bellow, in the order of who received what, among the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, tells the rest of the story; During the the period under review, Jan to April 2020;
1. Delta state got a total of N87.26b.
2. Lagos state N70.36b.
3. Rivers state N70.26b.
8. Kaduna state N39.25b.
9. 0yo state N37.26b.
11. Bornu state N36.80b..
15. Edo state N31.44b. And
33. Ebonyi state N22.56b. "

"Additionally, all the states listed, especially Lagos state generated so much  from IGR, while Ebonyi ranks the least on the table and likewise in the country.
Ebonyi in practical terms, leads the pack. For example where Delta, Lagos or Rivers states, with over 80b, 70b and 70b respectively were able to build 100 km each, if within the same period covered, Ebonyi being able to build 25 km, emerges tops in that category. Ebonyi leads in the lenght & quality of roads built across the state, in the last 5 years.
Gov Umahi has built more flyovers than the rest of the competition combined. Investment in education and health care is second to none."

"Abakaliki, the state capital is presently the most modern, developing beautiful city in Nigeria. It has more lighting sysyems and water fountains than all other cities, outside Lagos and Abuja, put together.
Workers and pensioners are paid promptly and as at when due. Workers in Ebonyi are even paid the 13th month or Christmas bonus, every December. Civil servants and farmers are given loans to establish and expand their farms respectively and this has withnessed phenomenal increase in the food production in the state."

"All these are done from the federal allocation we saw on the table and forms the basis for the assessment.
It is very amazing how Gov Umahi has been able to achieve so much in less than 6 years in office, leaving behind, all the other older states in the south east, some of who receive from the 13% derivation fund as oil producing states.
As we patiently wait for the final excercise that will produce the evential wiiner and best performed Governor in the country, the statistics and achievements on ground, indicate that Gov Umahi is cruising home with victory.Everything we hear or see on videos about Ebonyi state is true. We can only thank Gov Umahi for making us proud while urging other leaders to follow in his footsteps. ".