Ebonyi is one of the states we hardly talk about in the South East. It is populated primarily by the Igbo. It’s the capital and largest city is Abakaliki. Ebonyi was carved out of parts of both Enugu and Abia States.
Other major towns in the State include Afikpo, Onueke, Ezzamgbo, Edda, Effium, Aba Omege, Amasiri, Unwana, Echara Ikwo, Egu-Ubia, Abårå, Onicha.
It was one of the 6 states created in 1996 by the then federal military government of General Sani Abacha. Ebonyi State includes the Abakaliki division, from Enugu State and the Afikpo division from Abia State respectively. It has 3 senatorial zones, the Abakaliki division, makes up Ebonyi North and Ebonyi Central senatorial zones, while the Afikpo division makes up the Ebonyi South senatorial zone. Ebonyi has 13 local government areas, as well as Local Development Centres created by the state government. It is home to 6 prominent higher institutions of learning: Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (EBSU); Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo; AkanuIbiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana; Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu; Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo (EBSCOEI) and College of Health Sciences, Ezzamgbo. Below City People reveals the story of the Governor, who has transformed the State.
Gov. David Nweze Umahi, fondly called Engineer Dave is the governor of Ebonyi State. He was born to the humble family of Elder and Deaconess Joseph Umahi Nweze in Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He attended Umunaga Primary School in Uburu from 1971-1977 where he bagged his First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction.
Engr. Umahi started his secondary education at Ishiagu High School in 1978 and in 1979, transferred to the prestigious Government Secondary School, Afikpo, where he completed his secondary education and passed his WASC Examinations in Division 1 with excellent Alpha performances in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Statistics, Physics and Chemistry. While in Government Secondary School Afikpo, young Dave was made a Library Prefect. This was predicated on his academic exploits in spite of the fact that the tradition in the school was that only students who started in class 1 were qualified to hold any position in the school such as School Prefect.
In the quest for higher education, the young, but hardworking Dave got admission into the Anambra State University of Science and Technology where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He was in school from 1982 to 1987. While in Anambra State University of Science and Technology, he was elected into the student’s parliament as a Senator representing Engineering Faculty and was very outstanding in all proceedings of the school’s Students Union Government senate. At the completion of his university education, he enlisted for the NYSC scheme. Between 1988 and 1989, he did his National Service in SAIPEM SPA in Benin City. While serving there, he was made a Sectional Head (CATHODIC PROTECTION ENGINEERING SECTOR) in the N2.8 billion gas pipeline project from EXCRAVOS in WARRI to EGBIN GAS PLANT in LAGOS. He was honoured with the NYSC State Award for his outstanding performance. After his National Youth Service Programme, the vibrant Engr. Dave worked with SCC Nigeria Limited; an Israeli Company (Water Engineering Giant) and rose to the position of Project Engineer. It was there that his managerial and technical competence was brought to the fore in his supervision of the historic Umuahia Water Project and the Ndiegoro Aba Flood Control Measures between 1988 and 1990.
From 1990 to 1993, he became General Manager and Shareholder in NORMAN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION NIGERIA LIMITED, a company which he co-founded with the then MD of NAFCON Port-Harcourt, Dr. OmboIsokarari. Chief Engr. Dave Umahi was also the Chairman and CEO of the following companies until March 2011, when he resigned his position and membership of all the companies, owing to his election into public office.
They include; (a) Chairman and CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd (b) Chairman and CEO of Fucus Investment Nig. Ltd (c) Chairman and CEO of Osborn La palm Royal Resort Ltd.
Chief Dave Umahi is a unique personality. He is a man of many parts. In Politics, he exhibits outstanding leadership qualities that makes him a credible politician. From 2007 to 2009, Chief Umahi was appointed the acting state Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Ebonyi State. Following his performance as acting Chairman, he was elected the substantive state Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Ebonyi State during the 2009 State Congress of the Party ; a position he held till 2011. From 2010 to 2011, he was also appointed the Chairman, Governing Board of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State. In the year 2011, Chief Umahi was chosen by His Excellency, Chief Martin N. Elechi CON as his running mate in the governorship election of Ebonyi State. Subsequently, he was elected the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State on 26th April, 2011 and was sworn-in on 29th May, 2011. His Excellency, Engr. David Umahi from inception of assumption of office proved himself a very dependable assistant to Chief Martin N. Elechi in the administration of Ebonyi State.
Many don’t know he is a born again Christian. Engr. Dave Umahi became a born again Christian in 1979 when he was at the Assemblies of God Church. In 1990 in Lagos, he converted to Christ Embassy Church and became Chairman of the Building Committee (nationally), a position which saw him in charge of development of church structures throughout Nigeria. He chaired the church development Committees at Ikeja, Lagos, Oregun Lagos, many camp grounds in Lagos, Warri Church, Port-Harcourt Church, Calabar Church, Benin Church, Abakaliki Church and many other camp grounds were proofs of his competence. He was made a Deacon in the Church in 1994. He single-handed built an edifice for God’s worship in Abakaliki Christ Embassy Church. He is a man full of grace of God and could rightly be referred to as the David of our generation.
Not to long ago, he was asked how he became the governor of the state?
He explained “My being governor was not by choice, but by divine calling. It came as a revelation from God to the Church of Christ, which I concurred positively. I started having the inspiration to lead when I was still very small. It was while I was still an engineer that I came in contact with the former governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, who found me fulfilling to his tasks.”
“He invited me to be the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. I was tempted to reject the invitation, but later accepted it. I do remember that the 2007 election was horrific because I kept my duties plain and open. This led to the supporters of Ogbonnaya Onu to burn down my filling station, hotels and residence.
Upon all, through these political hurdles, I was still supporting Chief Martin Elechi, who was the then governor, which led to my becoming the PDP Chairman. Consequently, I was still the chairman of PDP when Elechi invited me to his office and said something striking to me. He said: “Let’s not forget that you will be running the election with me as my deputy in 2011, and after that, I will hand over to you as the governor.”
“But for me then, my eyes were set on fostering pragmatic leadership and not on the promises. So I did not respond to that. Within an interval of one month, he called and reminded me that I have not given him an answer to his proposal. I had a rethink over it and I replied to him that it was an honour for him to have given me such opportunity and yet follow it up, so I accepted his offer.”
He was Deputy Governor of the state before becoming the governor. What did he discover in the past administration in the state?
“There are couples of things I learnt when I was the deputy to Governor Elechi. First, I must say in all sincerity that in the first few years of his administration, he had the future of this state at heart and set developmental targets towards its welfare, he meant well for the state and I was very excited to work with him. Whatever that happened, I don’t know, but he started to be a judge at all times, nobody could advise him, nobody could tell him anything and he would listen to it, but I was so humbled and obedient to his demands and instructions because, I was brought up from a family where respect, honesty and obedience must be ascribed to your elders and Chief Elechi is old enough to be my grandfather. So, I made up my mind not to disobey him, not to quarrel with him or betray him or discuss him in a bad light across anywhere”.
“There was so much capital flight in Ebonyi State, I am not sure that Chief Elechi had seen white people in his entire life, so he was always carried away whenever they brought these people. There was massive looting, so many funny contract jobs, the quality of the jobs was heartbreaking, road jobs that were done in the first tenure and would get damaged in the second tenure and today all the roads projects have all gone with his administration. By God’s Grace, I was able to interfere in some of these mismanagements to see to their improvements. Like the Oferekpe Water Scheme Project. There were fictitious variations. I saw the cankerworm and I went into the supervision, which led to the present quality we have today. If Elechi had continued with the foundations laid by Dr. Sam Egwu, we wouldn’t have been where we are today. Engineer Dave Umahi is married to a beautiful woman, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Rachel Umahi and they have 7 children.
