Following rumoured plans of the Ebonyi state Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stakeholders from Ivo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state have thrown their weight behind his decision.
In a communiqué issued after a meeting of the stakeholders held Sunday at Ivo LGA headquarters, Isiaka, which was signed by 27 members and made available to Blueprint Monday morning, the stakeholders, comprising the LGA chairman, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, his vice, Nwajah Augustina, Commissioner for Information, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ogbannaya Aben, among others, said that the governor has been delivering dividends of democracy to the LGA and deserves total support.
The communiqué reads in part: “We, the Stakeholders of Ivo Local Government Area, made up of all the present and past public office holders from the Local Government Area, Traditional Rulers and Town Union Leaders, Leaders of Youths and Women Organisations, and heads of social and professional organisations, have risen from a meeting held under the aegis of Ivo Stakeholders Forum and resolved to issue this communiqué.
“We have reflected on the level of peace and development in Ivo Local Government Area since its creation and in the history of democratic governance in Nigeria, and have every reason to thank and appreciate the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi, FNSE FNATE, for the unprecedented peace and development we have enjoyed under his administration.
“We have never had it this good in Ivo Local Government Area before, as the administration of His Excellency, Engr David Nweze Umahi, has resolved all the socio- political crises that bedeviled our LGA before he came on board, and has given us a fair share of the social amenities.
“We also thank the governor for the construction of Nzerem/ Okue/ Ishiagu concrete road (which has been completed) and the ongoing Okue River bridge, the 20 km street light, the Ivo Water project, construction of world class classroom blocks in each of the wards, construction of Ogovu/ Etani concrete road, construction of Etani bridge,, construction of Ibegu/ Iyioji 5 km road, Akaeze-Uburu Concrete Road, Ultra Modern Park Ogidi Akaeze, General Hospital Ishiagu, Ultra Modern Market Ogidi Akaeze, numerous empowerment programmes and appointment of our sons and daughters into strategic public offices, among others.
“We consider it a rare favour and first of its kind, the appointment of two Commissioners from Ivo Local Government Area to head the Ministries of Information and Works, for which we are eternally grateful to the governor.
“We are grateful to God that our own is being reckoned with as one of the best governors in the history of Nigeria, whose governance model is a reference point in democratic leadership.
“We unanimously re-affirm our support, solidarity and disposition to the policies, programmes and political inclinations of our dear Governor, His Excellency Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi, FNSE FNATE, and shall stand with him at all times and in all his decisions.
“We applaud the prompt and proactive steps he has taken as Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum to address burning national issues and we commend his brilliant representations on issues of SouthEast interest. We reaffirm our resolve as a people to stand with our dear Governor and to share in his ideology and vision to move our state forward.
“We proclaim as a people that we belong to the Governor; wherever he goes, we shall go. His people shall be our people and his party shall be ours. We pledge our unwavering loyalty and inclination to the Governor: both in the rain and under the sun.”