In the spirit of Christmas and New Year celebration, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr. Ogbonnia Uche Ude, has distributed various gifts, including wrappers, buckets, cash, among others, to over 200 widows and indigent women of Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of Afikpo North, Mr Sunny Nkama, which was made available to Blueprint Saturday morning, speaking Friday in a Christmas get together he organised for widows at Amaekuma playground, Amasiri, Ude appreciated God for the Grace to be alive to witness another Christmas celebration and explained that his intention is to take advantage of the yuletide to put smiles on the faces of widows and psychologically integrate them into the Christmas celebration.
He stated that God empowers people to empower others and observed that if the privileged few overlooked the masses, they would be failing in their responsibility as succor givers, imploring the rich to always show kindness to the poor and the needy by towing the footpaths of Gov. Umahi.
He said: “I want to commend His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State, for being an outstanding leader, who has been resolute in protecting the rights of widows. His Excellency’s widow-care programmes have empowered a lot of widows into becoming business magnets.
“Governor Umahi has done so much for Amasiri people in terms of projects execution and political appointments. The good people of Amasiri should reciprocate this kind gesture by supporting government’s policies and programmes at all times.”
Also speaking, Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area, Hon Barr Oby Oko Enyim, noted that Christmas is a season of love and thanked Governor Umahi for providing a conducive atmosphere for a joyous celebration especially by putting smiles on the faces of the indigents and less privileged in the society.
She said: “Commendations to the Honourable Commissioner for Power and Energy for following the footsteps of His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi and wife, Her Excellency, Deaconess Rachel Ogonna Umahi, who have demonstrated, since the inception of this administration, enough commitment in providing a better livelihood for widows and ensuring that they continue to benefit from other dividends of democracy.
“Widows all over the world face a lot of hardships such as getting their daily needs and catering for their children, so I implore the well-to-do in society to always support widows and their dependants.
“Governor Umahi remains the only true politician and leader any sensible Ebonyian should follow because he has proven himself in public office and the evidences of his stellar performance within so short a time as Governor are everywhere for anybody to see. I assure everyone that, having connected to the centre stage, His Excellency is poised to accomplish greater feats.
“Women of Afikpo North Local Government Area should take good care of their children particularly the girl-child. Women are the determinants of the future of their children, hence the need to always guide them on the right path to follow.”
On his part, the Coordinator of Amasiri Development Centre, Hon. Baron Ogbonnia Enya, disclosed that there is a new dawn in Amasiri as public officers of Amasiri extraction will join hands with one another to move the community to an enviable height.
He stated that Gov. Umahi’s courageous connection to the next level was the best thing to happen to Ebonyi State and indeed the entire Southeast geopolitical zone, imploring the Igbo nation to support His Excellency in his pursuit of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, come 2023, describing the agitating as a laudable project which even the opposition that kicked against Gov. Umahi’s defection had finally found germane.
He applauded the State Governor, Engr David Nweze Umahi for his inspirational leadership that propels his lieutenants to follow his footsteps and thanked the Commissioner for Power and Energy for identifying with widows and the less privileged in Amasiri.
One of the beneficiaries, Madam Ahia Anyina, who spoke on behalf of others, expressed joy over the Christmas Gifts splashed on them by the Commissioner for Power and Energy and pointed out that the gifts have rekindled hope for them as they can comfortably celebrate Christmas and New Year festivals with members of their families.
