HUNDRED DAYS OF CLEAR STATEMENT OF INTENT.

To the glory of God, Ebonyi State was created on 1st October, 1996 by late Gen. Sani Abacha (God rest his soul). It was at the time least expected that the state would be created, not a sign of body movement by the junta indicated it will materialize; in fact it was later learnt that the late dictator decided on his own to create the state and the people will always thank God for Abacha. The people were least prepared for leadership especially those from the old Abakaliki block (North and Central Zones) who were more populous and most backward educationally and stricken by water borne diseases like guinea worm, cholera and their likes. Those of the south zone (Afikpo and Ohanivo) were better off comparatively.
At inception, Navy Captain Walter Feghiabor became its first administrator as a state, he duely handed over to Comopol Simeon Oduoye who was incharge till 1999. They both did their bits in bettering the lots of the state and its indigenous owners.
Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu became the first indigenous governor of the state, being an academic he dedicated a huge chunk of the state resources to free education and scholarship, human empowerment and enhancements. He.also asphalted the streets of Abakaliki the state capital. He served his term in 2007 and Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi succeded him. For the records, circumstances that threw up Chief Elechi as standard bearer of the then PDP was covert, however he was accepted by all in part because he was one the literary soldiers whose pen became mightier than the sword in 1996.
Whatever the circumstances were that brought him, he became the emperoe wielding servitude across the land with his thrft and frugality. However though, he built bridges of unity in the hinterland to his credit he named them 'bridges of unity'. An octogenarian, but was not in any way deterred by age in his steadfastness and astutely delivered what he believed was best for his subjects.
The melodrama that ensued in the laat months of his term, when he single handedly anointed a successor in the person of Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu erstwhile minister of health; without recourse to the stake holders(the people) saw his deputy governor Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi pitched against him and eventually became the standard bearer of the PDP.
In May 29th, 2015 Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi was sworn in as the third executive governor of Ebonyi State. In his inaugural speech, he did not mince words in telling the people of his covenant with God and the people. There is a 'new normal' in Ebonyi today, he has shown prospects in choking squandering and impunity, giving a facelift to Abakaliki the state capital by taking some very difficult, stern painful decisions and standing by them; I dare say there is hope with what I have seen, one might say it is too early to draw conclusions; I am however emboldened by the testimonies of his close associates who say that he frowns at mediocrity, he has a plan of what he wants to achieve organized long ago and ofcourse I know engineers to be disciplined and docile. The issue of labour is however a sore that must be treated properly and quickly too. It has been indeed a hundred days of clear statement of intent. Kudos your Excellency and be relentless in driving the development of the state capital and the people of the state.

Nwali Theophilus Chinedu