By Maxwell Okechukwu- Guidepost News International

The Honourable Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi State, Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji has commended the contributions of 2021 Batch corp members who has served in the the State, mostly those in his ministry, he also charge them not to relent but should rather extending it to any State they found themselves, in promoting the good image of Ebonyi State where they served.

The Commissioner stated this while congratulating the 2021 batch corp members, applauded them for carrying out their primary assignment in the ministry. This event took place on Thursday, February 17th, 2022, in his office Abakaliki, the State capital. He also extended goodwill of the State Governor, His Excellency Engr David Nweze Umahi. whom he said has done creditably well by placing Ebonyi State in the hit map on infrastructural developments in the country.

He also urged the corp members to be good ambassadors of peace while channeling their energy towards productivity in their respective states of origin.

He further tasked them to spread the good news of governor’s rapid transformation agenda to national light.

On her part the permanent secretary to Ebonyi State Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Mfon Williamson, while addressing the Corp members, said “she was posted to Ebonyi State for her national youth service programme and was later retained, meanwhile charged the corp members to be good ambassadors, adding that, the State Government accommodates people who are willing to contribute for the development of the state.

Responding on behalf of other corp members, one of the crop member, Mr. Ekong Patrick commended the executive governor of Ebonyi State for his enviable infrastructural revolution in the State, he also appreciated the hospitable nature of Ebonyians which he said was visible in the good manner corp members are been treated in the ministries , mostly in the ministry of Information.”

By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International

The Ebonyi State Government, under the leadership of Governor David Nweze Umahi has held its annual end of the year thanksgiving amidst praise and worship.

The Thanksgiving service took place at the newly built State of the art Government House Chapel, Ochoudo Centenary City Abakaliki on Sunday.

Speaking at the Thanksgiving service, Governor David Nweze Umahi thanked God for the grace to complete the construction of the new Government House Chapel.

“I feel so excited to be in this place, to be in the House of the Lord, this place is a grace of God rooted through several persons to be. I thank my pastor who has been working day and night to ensure the completion of this place. I thank also my wife, she did the decorations here.

“God said to me to build a garden of Prayers, a garden that we shall be calling Ebonyi garden of Prayers, anyone that is troubled and comes here can receive the instant solution and that is the place we are going to stay and pray for the incoming Governor.

“The Church together with Ebonyi elders will join hands together to produce the continuity Governor, so if you want to be, you can start going there to pray, who knows the anointing could flow.

“It is the time to take stock, it is time to count your blessings, I love that song that says”count your blessings” Many started the year but they couldn’t complete it but by the grace of God we are alive and kicking.

“As a state, we came first in so many areas, we came second in so many areas, in SFTAS, just last week, we got a grant of 7million US Dollars, so we are grateful to God.

“We are determined to complete all the whole ongoing projects, there is no State in Nigeria that has completed the number of flyovers we have in a single administration, so we are no longer competing with any State in Nigeria, we are rather competing with Dubai.

“I must commend my EXCO members for the wonderful monitoring day and night, I will be lifting the suspension on all Exco members and Civil Servants except those from Effium and Ezza Effium.”

He commended his wife, Mrs. Rachel Umahi for always standing by him to succeed in his onerous duty as the Governor of the State.

“In every fight, there should be a window for reconciliation, my wife is my window for reconciliation, and for other First Ladies, do not meddle in the affairs of the State.”

Governor Umahi thanked the Deputy Governor Dr. Kelechi Igwe, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru, the Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene, and other leaders of the other organs of Government for the maximum cooperation offered the State in the outgoing year.

The Governor also announced the lifting of the suspension of Acting Auditor General of the State, Mr. Samuel Uduma and his subsequent confirmation as the substantive Auditor General with immediate effect.

He said the administration hopes to complete the International Airport and the Stadium and other projects within the coming year while the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu and the Hospital would take off next year.

Governor Umahi debunked insinuations in the Social Media that the IPOB would not allow Mr. President to visit Ebonyi State, saying that the publication is a piece of fake news from opposition elements.

He also trashed the rumors that he is planning to return to the PDP, saying he is satisfied with the peace he is enjoying in the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“They said I want to return to PDP, with all these achievements? that man that does not even have a road to his house, I say may God not forgive him.

“I say thank you to the opposition in Ebonyi State, opposition in Ebonyi State is about bitterness and that is not how it is supposed to be.”

The Chaplain of the Government House Chapel, Pastor Eunice Oyeyemi thanked Governor Umahi for constructing the ultramodern Chapel for the worship of God in the seat of power.

She attributed the successes of the State Government in the outgoing year to the direction of God and praised Governor Umahi for submitting to the Divine directions of God almighty.

“In 2021, we are in a befitting structure to the glory of God, if you know what grace of God can do, then it is certain that it is the product of the grace of God in Ebonyi State.

“Some State Governments are still in their old Government House Chapel that is not befitting but Ebonyi State State House Chapel is the finest, I want to thank His Excellency the Governor for his visionary leadership, this is the finest Government House Chapel I have seen and Your Excellency I am glad that you made me the Chaplain of this beautiful Chapel.

“Today we are here to thank God for the kind of Governor that we have, His Excellency Deacon David Umahi, and above all, we are thanking God because we are all alive to witness this day and end of the year.”

The Thanksgiving service which witnessed the presence of State Government Functionaries featured special prayers for the first family and the State Government for God’s continued guidance in the incoming year.

By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International
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The members of Freedom Chariot Church (FCC), on Sunday 12th December 2021 held their 11th Annual Harvest and Thanksgiving Service in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

“We organise this annual harvest and thanksgiving service to thank God for his blessings, wonderful works in our church, even a woman who was blind, can now see, the one who was not able to walk but can now work, and the testimonies are going as we talk,” he said.

Interacting with newsmen, the General Overseer of the Freedom Chariot Church, Very Rev. Edward Obumneme Joseph, said the event was organized to thank God for the wonderful works He has been doing in the church.

The occasion according to him, was used to thank God for the gift of life and restoration of the life of his esteemed wife, Pastor Chinyere Obumneme and his daughter, Folu Chinyere.

Rev. Obumneme said that his wife, “after delivery via C-Section, was gradually loosing energy and life. Days rolled into weeks, she was still loosing blood. New baby was also admitted. Bills were pilling up. Baby was said to have two holes in her heart. Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. She was unable to grow or do anything that normal kids will do including seating down, crawling and normal growing up”.

“Then, while weekly medical check-up continued, we took her for encounter, prayers were offered for Baby and Mother. Bleeding stopped. With the special Prayers by God’s servants, Prophet Isa El-Buba, Pastor Kalu Ndukwe, Assistant Continental Overseer of RCCG, Dr Paul Eneche, Dr DAVID OGBUELI, the two holes were gone, total normalcy returns to mom and child. JESUS Healed my family through the instrumentality of his great servants mentioned above.”

He charged the people to be very committed in prayer, which he described as scaring weapon to Satan and its agents, while advising them against evil practices and unguided living, with strong faith that nothing would stop divine intervention in their lives.

He also advised the people to be God fearing, and to avoid ostentatious living as they celebrate the Christmas and new year season.

Speaking at the event, the MD NOFIC, Abakaliki, Prof Dr Johnson Obuna charged Christians to strive to remain unquenchable light, chosen to be the theme of the day.

Prof Obuna, the Guest Speaker of the day, said, “Jesus is light of God and of the world, and Christians should know that Christ is their source of light. So, a child of God should not allow his light to be quenched because if the light of God is allowed to quench, the whole world will be in darkness.

“The world is in chaos today because many of us have allowed our light to be quenched. We must redeem our light to keep burning for Jesus, to rescue us from the dark side of the world.”

He charged the church to arise and shine in defence of the Gospel of Truth.

He commended the General Overseers of the church and advised him not to allow his light to go deam while carrying out the activities of God.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Orgbu Nweze and Barr. Mrs Chioma Nweze, the Honourable Commisscioner for Trade and Investment in Ebonyi, ably represented by Mr Agwu Nweze described the event as a wonderful one, and urged the people to continue to support the church.

Furthermore, Barr Ben Igwenyi, the Senior Lecturer in Ebonyi State University and others urged the people to be supporting the church, and urged people to avoid sins in order not to quench their light as preached in the church.

By Sen. Ben Murray Bruce

Ben Murray Bruce-The Igbo are the richest in Nigeria and most intelligent, but why do they want a nation of their own?

The answer is simple!

“During Nigerian Civil War, Igbos produced all the weapons they used to fight the war, but Nigeria did not manufacture even a gun.

After the civil war, Nigeria still could not produce even toothpick as a country, but Igbos are still producing cars, clothes, shoes etc.

An average Igbo man believes that Nigeria is suppressing his talents, and that is why they want a separate nation where they can reach their potentials.

The day Nigeria starts to cooperate with Igbo man will be the day Nigeria will compete with the rest of the world”. He affirmed

By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International

Recently in an interview with our newsmen, Very Rev. Edward Obumneme, praised Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State over revamping Goverment sectors that are either not working, not in existence, deteriorated nor in inactive, he added that apart from numerous achievements the award winning Governor of Ebonyi recorded which includes 13 dual carriage Flyover Bridges, innovatively constructing both state and federal roads on concrete, best in Africa Shopping Mall and Ecumenical Center in six years, Governor Umahi did overlook any sector irrespective of its importance, which includes creating new ministries and sectors such as ministry Economic Empowerment, ministry of power, ministry Infrastructure and Concession, ministry of Internal Security, Party and Labour Matters (sector) Religious and Welfare Matters (sector) revamping Ministry of Youths and Sports and standardized the state stadium. etc.

Rev. Ubumneme said ” the Government Printing Press (GPP) under His Excellency, Engr Dave Umahi is doing fine and well. The revamp project is working and it is now gradually showing”.

“For the first time in 25years of its existence, GPP was able to sweep over to IGR Account over 2.5million naira as profits to the consolidated Account.

While some are waiting to see it fail, Government Printing Press is now being  officially licenced by  two Multinational Companies to distribute A4 Paper substrates throughout Nigeria.
The industry is being re-engineered and reorganized to print all Security and important official documents of the State”.

“Even when many didn’t believe it is doable, we have proven within the past eleven months that anything that is printable is possible at Ebonyi Government Printing Press at affordable rate that still yield IGR to the State.”

“What’s more, as a Fellow of Professional Printers in Nigeria, we are now training young graduates and amazing graphics, press, post-press operators in the handling of the various processes of Print Production right here in Abakaliki”.

“The Lord has put laughter in our mouths and Govt Printing Press and other non existent ministries/sectors as well as the already existing ones are currently more productive under this administration has been repositioned to generate revenue for the Govt without making noise about it”.

“I therefore call on well-meaning Nigerians and people of goodwill to give Governor Umahi the opportunity to replicate his innovative leadership style which Ebonyi people has been grossly benefiting from since six years ago nationally” he affirmed.

Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi State.

Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State has urged the supporters of his government and the general public to disregard the rumour making round on the media that he has concluded plans to go back to his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Mr Francis Nwaze, the Special Assistant to the state governor on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement.

Umahi’s Media Aide said that his ‘attention has been drawn to a mischievous publication made in some sections of the media, credited to an acclaimed Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State, Dr. Isaac Nkole in which he hinted that the award-winning Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Engineer David Nweze Umahi is making contacts to return to the depleted Umbrella, the PDP.’

He said that ordinarily, he wouldn’t have bothered responding to ‘that phony publication from the fly-by-night but he  has freely elected to make a few clarifications to save the public especially users of the Social Media space from noise pollution. According to the publication, Nwaze said that “the acclaimed PDP’s Chieftain claimed that the moves by His Excellency to return to his former Party is due to discovery that he was deceived into joining the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“First, I like to confirm that the statement is completely false, it is aimed at painting our Governor black and causing bad blood between him and the crew members of the next level train in Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large.

“It is worthy of note that His Excellency made a landmark departure from the opposition political party out of personal conviction and freewill volition last year for the obvious irredeemable marginalization of Ndigbo.

“It is understandable that those on the other side of the divide still miss the leadership acumen of Engineer Umahi hence the reason they are now praying hard that the unexpected happens to bring back the genius to their fold.

“But His Excellency has since moved on and has made the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC his home, enjoying the full compliments of being a party at the center, and does not need to even contemplate returning to the perforated umbrella.

“While charging Dr. Isaac Nkole to beware of the existence of the laws on fake news, I urge the general public, especially the Stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ebonyi State and across the country to disregard the hoax which is one of the antics of opposition political desperados to severe the social cohesion and harmony existing in the Party out of jealousy.”

Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News

The annual harvest and special thanksgiving service of the Freedom Chariot Church for the year 2021 has been slated to hold on December 12.

The General Overseer of the Freedom Chariot Church, Very Rev. Edward Obumneme Joseph disclosed this to newsmen in Abakaliki during the weekend.

Rev. Obumneme said that the event would be held at the FCC Premises located at 17, Ogabga Road in Abakaliki town, between 8am to 11am.

The Clergyman said that this would be the 11th Annual Harvest and Thanksgiving Service of the Freedom Chariot Church since inception.

The occasion, according to Rev. Obumneme, would be under the distinguished chairmanship of Chief Orgbu Nweze and Barr. Mrs Chioma Nweze, the Honourable Commisscioner for Trade and Investment in Ebonyi State.

It was gathered that the Royal Fathers of the Day are HRH Eze Charles Mkpuma – Chairman, South East Council of the Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Onyibe Chuku Agwu – Odenigbo I of Okposi Okwu, Elder Barr. Emenike J. Okorie – National President, Okposi e-8 and the Special Father of the Day.

While the Special Guests of Honour for the event include Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji – the Honourable Commisscioner for Information and State Orientation, Hon. Orlando Nweze – the State Commissioner for Finance and Dr Sunday Z. Nwangele – the State Commissioner for Education, Bobby Uchenna Edeh, EFCC Commander Akwaibom State, Prof. Ben Igwenyi, HAG Emeritus.

Other Special Guests of Honour are Prof Dr Johnson Obuna – MD NOFIC Abakaliki, the Speaker of the Day, Prof. Uzoma M. Agwu – the Executive Secretary EBSHIA for special music appearance and Dr Chinyere Nwoye – Chairman Living Well Brands and Security, USA.

“We shall be thanking God for the gift of life and restoration of the life of my esteemed wife, Pastor Chinyere Obumneme and my daughter, Folu Chinyere.

“After delivery via C-Section, she was gradually loosing energy and life. Days rolled into weeks, she was still loosing blood. New baby was also admitted. Bills were pilling up. Baby was said to have two holes in her heart. Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. She was unable to grow or do anything that normal kids will do including seating down, crawling and normal growing up.

“Then, while weekly medical check-up continued, we took her for encounter, prayers were offered for Baby and Mother. Bleeding stopped. With the special Prayers by God’s servants, Prophet Isa El-Buba, Pastor Kalu Ndukwe, Assistant Continental Overseer of RCCG, Dr Paul Eneche, Dr DAVID OGBUELI, the two holes were gone, total normalcy returns to mom and child. JESUS Heals!,” he said.

By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International

Very, Rev. Fr. Dr. Abraham Chukwuma Nwali, the Chairman, South East hapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),has called on leaders in Ebonyi State to ensure continuous equity in rotation of power, to avoid bizarre experience in the 2023 gubernatorial elections. Fr Nwali, said this while delivering a lecture on the theme: “Consolidation of the Grace of Good Leadership in Ebonyi State,” in a mass service marking the seventeenth anniversary of Regina Pacis foundation in Abakaliki.

He commended the founder of the foundation and his wife, Sir and Lady Edward Okereke Nkwegu, saying that since 2005 till date they have been investing charitably through the Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO. He however, explained that he was called to critically and constructively defend the theme of the lecture bordering on grace of the good leadership in Ebonyi State, prior to the second phase of the assignment – sustainability, which he considered as the epicenter of the activities in governance. Nwali noted that Ebonyi has been a favourable child in her governance since her creation in 1996 while comparing her to her counterparts in the South East Zone.

He said his invitation to reflect on the consolidation on the grace of good leadership in Ebonyi State is an affirmative one, pointing that the organisers of the programme, preemptively have approved good leadership in the state. Nwali recalled that Ebonyi State was created in 1996, now 25years old, courtesy of the then President of Nigeria, Sani Abacha and within the period has been served by two military administrators and three executive governors. Speaking on the pattern of their leadership, Nwali said, Walter Feghabor – the Ebonyi State’s First Military Administrator laid a very solid foundation, but his successor – Late Simeon Udoye emphasized on the role of functioning and functional civil service. While the first Executive Governor of the state – Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu in his observation, restructured and emphasized on education, his successor – Chief Martins Nwanchor Elechi built the bridges of unity and championed on discipline in civil and public services whereas, his successor and the sitting Governor today, Engr David Nweze Umahi focuses on infrastructural development, religious relationship and care of the indigent persons in the society. He said that Ebonyi leaders both in the past and at the present since the creation of the state might not be without records of some blind spots while delivering services, hence, in his words, the state has been enjoying the proverb of “half cup full” of good leadership. “No one is completely bad and no one is completely perfect on Earth, because we are ongoing (Matthew 5:48)….,” he hinted.

He further enumerated the criteria for good leadership which according to him, included transparency, accountability, observance of the rule of law, equity and inclusiveness, consensus oriented and responsiveness. Nwali said the criteria for good governance were affirmed by many astute scholars in leadership to determine good and bad leaders in human environment, whether in politics, church and other sectors.

Emphasizing more on equity and inclusiveness, he said Ebonyi State is characterised by zoning system of leadership, and urged Ebonyians especially their stakeholders to adopt a fair play in the governorship position of the state. “If Ebonyi State doesn’t dwell on equity, the people will diminish, because, unfavorable treatment and marginalization will automatically become the case of one zone or the other. In Ebonyi, we have North, Central and South. If it’s so deserves that equity – two years ago, we were about to have that problem, a group come to Bishop Michael Okoro that they would want the zoning to be cancelled. “If the Bishop had consented to that request, we would have destroyed the peace of this state. I thanked God that the Bishop said ‘no’ we will respect the equity. “Any government that is not supporting equity and inclusiveness is actually not on good governance.

The equity is that the North has completed her period. The equity is that the central has completed her period and the equity is that, South is about to complete her period. “If in 2023, and the north is cut off from taking her turn, by producing the governor of the state, it means the equity has been destroyed, and nothing will make anybody from the south to be the governor of the state in the next twenty years. “To the government if you destroy equity, you have become poverish and that’s the worst never expected to happen because the South will never smell governorship position again in Ebonyi State. Any attack on equity in Ebonyi, is attack against fairness and justice in the state. “Nigeria is suffering today because of disrespect of zoning and all the parties today are clamouring, and if equity is not maintained, the youths will take their stand and take over the leadership of the country. “If Ebonyi State plays with equity, fairness and justice, Ebonyi State will experience bizzare in leadership found in some Igbo states today,” he said. Fr. Nwali, who is also the Chairman of CAN in Ebonyi State and Senior Special Adviser to Governor David Nweze Umahi on Religion and Welfare Matters, said that a good leader must have a listening ear – being a consensus oriented and responsive, commended those who had served as the governors of the state, and recommended that the next administration come 2023, should focus on ‘civil service and industrialization.’ The Catholic Priest recalled the challenges of the time, which in his words stand at a chance to pose a great threat to human existence and the leadership system in the whole world. “Our time distinct from Kairos is Chromos, it’s a generation, global age, of 5G network, technological era. Age dominated by Facebook, Twitter, Google, ISP and Vsat. It’s an age battling with the virtues of gratitude and contentment. It’s far easy to be ungrateful, discontent, destructively critical, than be on the positive. “It’s age of chronic unemployment, youth revolution. It’s an age challenged by corruption, social vices and moral decadence. In it, we are conquerors,” he said. He equally called for the sustainability of good leadership in the state, through a regular practice of maintenance culture. He observed that the society has its peculiarity on maintenance culture, ‘although, in his words, ‘it is not easy to build’, but ‘far more challenging to maintain.’ To sustain, according to him, requires sustainable leadership matters – the importance of a good successor and ensuring legacies. Also, sustainable leadership spread (equity), in justice, in resourcefulness, promotion of diversity and activism are required. Fr. Nwali as well urged all the ministers of God to continue to pray for the leaders, saying that the church should see as its first priority by praying for the government in power, preaching true words of God as the second and modeling truth, justice and righteousness as the third roles in service delivery.

By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International

Barrister Uchenna Orji, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ebonyi State. In this interview with our newsmen, aaaaahe spoke on developments in the state, how the government is tackling insecurity and why 2023 presidency should be zoned to South East.

Generally, there are agitations in the South East for Biafra, which has led to insecurity in the region. As someone on ground, how bad is the situation?

INSECURITY in the South East has been a source of concern to the various governments. In Ebonyi State, we have made very frantic efforts in engaging the stakeholders, especially the religious and traditional leaders, as well as the agitators to lay down their arms and play by the rules. The truth is that violent killings and destruction of properties has no justification at all. The economic crisis in the South East will worsen if we don’t get these actors to consider dropping their arms.

The leaders are very much open to engage all the authorities, especially at the national level, to ensure that all those issues of agitation are addressed; they cannot be addressed in an atmosphere of violence.

For us, it is better to discuss all of these issues. It is true that we have not had very good placement by administrations of the past, and the South East has been marginalised. I think that with constructive engagement with the current administration, we can actually make headway.

A lot of people are of the opinion that the sit- at- home is not good for the Igbo economy. How much has this affected the South East economy?

The issue of sit- at- home has been a source of worry to the entire people. It is a situation where people who are very enterprising are made to stay at home twice or thrice weekly. It spell doom to the economy of the South East. It is not going to augur well with the economy if allow to continue. Any day that people don’t go to work, it counts. That is why we have been appealing to all the actors to reconsider their stance.

I can say that people in Ebonyi State have appreciated the clarion call by our Governor that they should no longer be sitting at home when everyone is working. Government is also doing everything to engage the actors, and also fortify the security architecture to ensure that whoever wants to come out for business is not molested for any reason. In Ebonyi State, we have a viewing centre that connects to all the major junctions from the metropolis to the 13 local councils.

On the issue of crime, anywhere a crime is committed; it can always be tracked and cracked. With the presence of Ebube Agu in Ebonyi State, I am also sure that the people are policed. The government would do everything possible to protect its citizenry.

Christmas is a time when South Easterners go back home, but from the look of things, it seems that might not happen this year. Are you worried about this development?

We are greatly worried; everyone in the region is worried. That is why all hands have to be on deck to reoriente our brothers and sisters, including those abroad, who are fanning embers on the issue. In itself, the agitation is not bad, but the approach is what we are appealing that they reconsider. It is going to affect the economy.

A lot of people back home depend on the resources from returnees during Christmas. What do you think will happen if these people don’t return this time?

If we don’t sheath our swords at this time, our brothers and sisters may not come back if the situation aggravates. There is hope that their issues can be resolved, but if we continue doing this disservice to ourselves in the South East, other regions will just be watching. We will enter into an unnecessary bad situation.

What are the measures being taken by your government to ensure that we find a lasting solution to this challenge?

Apart from our manner of dialogue with the agitators, the government has also provided a lot of engagement for our youths and women. After the ENDSARS protests, Ebonyi government engaged these folk in a 7- day summit. Some of the resolution was to launch N3billion empowerment fund; it is available to young people and women. It is also going to be a solution to unemployment.

We also have other empowerment programmes, including Civil Servants Empowerment programme, which helps to cushion the effect of unemployment and insecurity. We have 5,000 job opportunities at the local councils and state level; the application process is on going. By January 2022, the government would have shortlisted its beneficiaries; that will take people off the streets. The truth of the matter is that part of the problem is unemployment, and it is the reason for these clashes here and there. When people are meaningful engaged, it will help to reduce the scourge of violence.

Ebonyi State is like a construction site at the moment; it has created a lot of facilities that will trigger a lot of employment. For instance, the shopping mall that is one of Africa’s best and biggest has a lot of shops; it will provide a lot of jobs. Then, the University of Medical Sciences has the capacity of providing not less than 10,000 jobs. Through that university, jobs will be created to enhance the economic base of the state. The International Airport that is being constructed by the present administration is being built by Ebonyi indigenes through. When it is ready, we can concession it and more Ebonyi

indigenes will be engaged. Of course, our rice processing plant has a 32 metric tonnes capacity per hour. There is hope that when it is privatised, more job opportunities will be created.

Lack of basic infrastructure, particularly roads, is a crucial issue in the South East. How far has Ebonyi gone in this regard?

When the governor came on board, we had a dearth of infrastructural deficit. When he started, his programmes heavily focused on opening up the communities. Today, we have nothing less than 1,500 kilometres of Federal Roads done by the state government. If you are coming from Enugu, Imo or Abia to Ebonyi, wonderful networks of roads will greet you; these roads were made of concrete base tilling. Ebonyi State is the first government to introduce this building technology to road construction. From any part of Nigeria that you are coming from into Ebonyi, you will be greeted with a flyover; we have nothing less than 13 flyovers. That is to enhance investment.

I want to say that as I speak with you, we have nothing less than eight ring roads, which we expect to open up agricultural activities in the areas. I can tell you that each local council has nothing less than 25 kilometres of concrete paved roads. We recently opened up three more satellite towns. We have streetlights in almost every town, and that has discouraged crime and opened up nightlife and trade. The government is also putting up a lot of facilities, including industrial clusters that are aimed at empowering our youths and women to go into businesses of their choice.

One of the states that seriously got involved in rice production is Ebonyi State. How did that happen and where are we now?

The governor has done a lot to transform agriculture in Ebonyi. The Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment has pronounced that Ebonyi is the largest producer of Rice in Nigeria. We started by introducing a mechanisation of agriculture at all levels. In the area of rice processing, which is where we have comparative advantage, the government reactivated the existing rice milling plant and installed a parboiling plant. This was to ensure we have quality rice that is better than even the imported ones. We can assure you that our rice is free of stones; we have a de- stoning machine for even individual milling plants. The government also assisted those individual milling clusters with de- stoning machines. That is why we had to ban the consumption and sale of imported rice in Ebonyi State.

What we have got as rice in Ebonyi can even supersede the foreign rice. The government also introduced a project called, ‘ One Man, One Hectare’, which is aimed at commercialising the production of rice in Ebonyi State. It means that every farmer must have at least one hectare of land for rice and cassava production. That has helped in ensuring food security in Ebonyi State. The governor has partnered with the CBN to ensure that we have everything. The government has procured at least 13 bulldozers to boost the mechanisation of Agriculture. We also bought new tractors, harvesters, trans planters and so on, and gave them to cooperatives. That has increased the participation of our youths and women in agriculture. We have only taken advantage of the commercial agriculture- creating scheme of the CBN. We have taken advantage of the Anchors Borrowers Programme of the CBN; we are providing nothing less than 53,000 farmers yearly who go into agriculture; that is the secret of our performance. Rice production is our core commodity, and then cassava and others are the alternatives.

On the political front, it seems the PDP in Ebonyi State is still struggling to put its house in order since Governor Umahi defected to the APC?

I can’t speak for PDP. The people of Ebonyi State have made up their minds to join our governor in APC, except a few who believe they can be Lord of the Manor in PDP. We know a few of them as aspiring politicians who underperformed when they were in leadership positions. There are a few in the National Assembly who believe that they can get automatic tickets. See their outing during the congresses, where there are five divisions. A party that has no leadership is bound to fail. PDP in Ebonyi state has got no leadership; it is just a meeting of never- do- well politicians who are almost perspiring. They are crying foul, because they have lost a man that is capable of giving Ebonyi a face. Their big fish has left and they are now crying foul.

One of the major fortune spinners for Ebonyi State was the initiative to take off hawkers. How much has that helped in human capital development of the state?

When the governor came on board, he identified empowerment and infrastructural development as the twin pillars of development. As he was handling one, he was also handling the other. He also looked at raising the psyche of the people. He introduced the programme called ‘ Street to Skill’ empowerment programme. Before that, he had to create the Ministry of Human Capital Development, which I happen to be the first commissioner to be in charge. The idea of the governor is to empower the people mentally, financially, and morally.

Through the catch- them- young programme, we are looking at even empowering our people from the scratch, enhancing education from even the primary school level. The governor had to also really take steps by going to Lagos and shortlisted 520 people on the streets and empowered them with training and 250,000 Naira each. He replicated it and expanded the same feat in Ebonyi, with 3,000 youths and women. He also focused on the poorest of the poor, especially widows, giving them 100,000 each. When you build women, you have built a nation.

The governor also had to roll out N4 billion for the empowerment of Civil Servants; he did the same thing for different groups of people, including the clergy. He gave 5,008 people N100, 000 each to go into agriculture. He also did the same for wives of security officers, giving them N200, 000 each. These women are mostly non- indigenes, but the governor is very nationalistic at heart.

He also bought 400 tricycles and gave them to the indigent youths and women, especially those living in Onitsha. They were rehabilitated and given the opportunity to go into a dignified means of livelihood. The president has done a lot in the area of agriculture and social investment programmes. We have been tapping into a lot of these programmes, like the poorest- of- the- poor programme, among others.

2023 general election is coming and there’s this agitation on where the next president should come from. What’s your take on this?

My opinion is that it is only fair, just and equitable that the Nigerian people should zone the presidency to the South East, no matter the political party. We believe in equality, but then we also know that it is not by fighting. It is by negotiation and talking to the collective sensibilities of all of us to know that it will only be fair that the president comes from the South East.

In every zone, we have people that have the capacity. In the South East, we have a lot. Nigerians can be rest assured that the South East will never disappoint. We have people who are nationalistic, builders, and spirited. These are people who believe in One Nigeria. Such people can lead us to the desired destination, if given the right opportunities.

We are greatly worried; everyone in the region is worried. That is why all hands have to be on deck. That is why we are talking to our brothers and sisters, including those abroad, who are fanning embers on the issue. In itself, the agitation is not bad, but the approach is what we are appealing that they reconsider. It is going to affect the economy