Izhi Tehu Foundation

By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari has lauded Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State for his monumental mega projects in the State within seven years in office.

Buhari gave the commendation at the Christian Ecumenical Center during a State banquet organized by Governor

Umahi in the honor of a two- day working visit of the President after commissioning some of his quality and mega projects including Margret Umahi International Market, King David Medical University, Uburu among others in Abakaliki, the State capital.

Buhari who expressed delight to be in the State, commended Gov. Umahi for giving him a spectacular warm reception, appreciated the state governor whom he said, had decided to toe the line of his administrative programmes, especially in the area of development and empowerment to meet up the aspirations of the founding fathers of the country.

According to the President Buhari “It is always a pleasure, to come to Ebonyi State, the last time I came, was in 2017 in the second quarter of Governor David Umahi’s administration. I witnessed the commencement of wonderful projects. I saw Governor David Umahi with a strong desire, to change the narrative of the state and meet the aspiration of our founding fathers.

I remember the pleasure, the hospitality and how I was given the chieftaincy title as Enyioha ‘I’ (Friend of all of the people number one) of Ebonyi State and Enyioha ‘I’ of South East Zone of Nigeria by the traditional rulers of Ebonyi State and South-East respectively,” he said.

The President recalled that during his first visit to the state, he commissioned two flyovers, and performed a foundation laying ceremony for the shopping mall and the light tunnel named after him.

However, Buhari applauded Ebonyi people, noting they have made the right choice by joining the All Progressives Congress and commended Governor Umahi for having joined the party at the centre, alongside his contributions towards moving the nation forward.

Speaking further, Buhari said that he has noted ‘the significant projects’ constructed by the governor ‘in the last seven years,’ which according to him, would boost the economy of the administration.

“I have noted the significant projects constructed by His Excellency, you have made your people proud. I believe that the economic robustness of the state recorded by your administration is a wonderful one, the critical infrastructure, and the investment opportunities, that you have created in the state.

“I have noted the progress in the economic performance index of the state, particularly the budget,” that is the state’s records and commendations on its budgeting principles.

“I commend the state for emerging second overall in fiscal performance in Nigeria and for scoring high, in the fiscal distribution, transparency and accountability in the use of public resources. It shows a zero-tolerance for corruption, in the use of the public fund,” he said.

President Buhari also appreciated Governor Umahi for the honour of naming the state airport and the magnificent light tunnel after him and hosting facilities and many more, which in his words, would stimulate the economy of Ebonyi State and Nigeria nation at large.

He assured Umahi’s led administration of the Federal government’s support to complete all the ongoing projects in the state, noting that his reception in Ebonyi state was a spectacular one and a true demonstration by the citizens in keeping faith in the progressive party’s agenda, especially in its development policies and programmes.

While appreciating President Buhari for the visit, Governor Umahi thanked him for his outstanding assistance given to his administration starting from when he was in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP till now, he has defected to the ruling All Progressives Party, APC in the country.

He said Mr President’s indiscriminate assistance to his administration, just the same way to other states of the federation contributed to the avalanche projects built in Ebonyi.

He said that his administration was spurred to build quality projects following its visions and missions to stimulate economic development and social integration, by embarking on the construction of critical infrastructures, agricultural development, business investment, and social integration among others.

He noted that the President has commissioned some of the completed projects including King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, a twin flyover, a 12and -kilometre dualized Federal Road from Mpu in Enugu State to Uburu; the university building and the university medical hospital, facilities and equipment.

Also commissioned according to him, was the 700-metre length twin-flyover, called King David’s University flyover, constructed at the cost of two billion nairas by the state government, the Cancer Centre at the King David University of Medical Sciences, built and equipped by the Federal Government under TETFUND, the Margaret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki, the Presidential Lodge, the State Shopping Mall, President of Muhammad Light Tunnel, among others.

Governor Umahi thanked the President for graciously approving the funding of the Cancer Centre, and said the facility can rank with other centres around the world while emphasizing the economic significance of the projects constructed by his administration in the state.

The Governor also thanked the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi among other distinguished personalities and indeed Ebonyians for their unalloyed support and solidarity in making the event a success.