I’ll Always Speak Good Of Buhari – Umahi
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State says nothing will ever make him speak ill of President Muhammadu Buhari because he is a ‘good man’ that means well for Nigeria.
Consequently, the Governor said there is nothing to be apologetic about pouring encomiums on the President who is a man driven by his integrity and “practical willingness to develop the country”.
Speaking when the Central Working Committees’ members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) visited him in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Umahi said; “People have, however, taken advantage of his (Buhari) goodness to do lots of unprintable things.
“There are several great and mighty things he had done for the South-East zone such as the Second Niger Bridge, and durable roads, among others. People don’t talk about these things but I will never be ashamed to talk about them.”
Acknowledging that Ebonyi State has developed astonishingly under Buhari’s tenure and its people would remain eternally grateful to him, the Governor said; “The 16 years of the opposition party cannot be compared to the seven years of Buhari’s administration as it concerns the state.
“People have been saying that he gives me money and loves me but undoubtedly he loves me. I have, however, said even before him that he gives me what he gives other states but it depends on what we do with such money.”
Governor Umahi, who lauded the NUJ and NAWOJ leadership for visiting the state and appreciating his administration’s modest achievements, said; “Nigerians are tired of promises from aspiring leaders and should start demanding from those leaders their stewardship in office.
“I am hoping that you convene your next quarterly meeting in the state by August and by then you will disembark at our new international airport in Abakaliki.”
Earlier in his remarks, the NUJ National President, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, appreciated Governor Umahi for the warm reception accorded the delegation as well as his impressive developmental strides that have greatly transformed Ebonyi state.
Comrade Isiguzo told the governor; “Judging by your performance in office, Nigerians should be imploring you to be their president and not the opposite. From what we saw, your Excellency, I must tell you have done very well as a State Governor.
“From what we saw and what we heard about your Excellency, even if we stay here in Ebonyi for the next two weeks, it will be difficult to appreciably earmark your landmark achievements in Ebonyi State.
For NAWOJ President, Mrs Ladi Bala, the governor’s infrastructural strides are quite commendable, adding that Nigeria needs leaders like Governor Umahi to tackle Infrastructural challenges in the country.
She said given the current economic downturn in the country, many people would be wondering how the Governor has successfully managed the State’s meagre resources to embark on such massive projects.
