Governor David Nweze Umahi at 53

July 25, 1963, the family of Joseph Umahi welcomed a new baby to their home in Umunaga, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The child is the sixth of the eight children seared by Joseph and Margareth Umahi, both of the blessed memory. And that child was called David, a name that unwittingly makes his admirers and followers to see him as the Biblical David of our time. When he was born, there were no trumpets blown except the usual announcement by women in the larger Umahi family and neighbours who wore white powder or native chalk (nzu) on their foreheads and wrists indicating that a new baby had arrived.

Like every child, little Umahi grew stealthily, imbibing solid family, communal and religious virtues and values. These helped him to fit well into and cope with life outside the family. David Nweze Umahi was enrolled into the Umanaga Primary School in Uburu in 1971 where he obtained a First School Leaving Certificate in 1977. In 1978, young David headed for Ishiagu High School in Ivo Local Government Area. He however left the school in 1979 for the renowned Government College, Afikpo where he obtained a West African School Leaving Certificate with distinction One in 1982.

Encouraged by their little boy’s brilliance, his parents ensured that he moved further educationally by encouraging him to take the Joint Matriculation Board Examination. The young lad did and again excelled thereby gaining admission to the Anambra State University of Science and Technology.  He graduated in 1987 with a Second Class (Upper Division) in Civil Engineering and thereafter undertook the mandatory National Youth Service with a multinational engineering company, Saipem SA in Benin, Edo State.

After his national service, David Nweze Umahi started his professional engineering career with SCC Nigeria Ltd. In the firm, he supervised the massive and historic Umuahia Water Project in Umuahia. He left SCC for Norman Engineering and Construction Nigeria Ltd where he served as General Manager.

In 1990, the ever-restless but focused engineer felt he had acquired enough practical experience to enable him establish and operate his own company. He named the company Brass Construction Nigeria Limited.

Within  a couple of years, Engr. Umahi set up more companies among which are Fucus  Investment Nigeria Limited and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd. The companies have over the years not only provided employment opportunities for hundreds of Nigerian youths; they are key players in road construction, hospitality and tourism industry as well as the petroleum sector.

In the Engineering profession, Chief Umahi has reached the pinnacle having been conferred with the prestigious fellowship of the Nigeria Society of Engineers and fellowship of the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering.

Like a golden fish that cannot be hidden, Umahi caught the eyes of political gladiators who lobbied him to return to Ebonyi State from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to contribute his quota to the development of the young state. Within a short period of his entrance into Ebonyi political turf, he became the acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state. This was in 2007. In 2009, he was appointed the substantive chairman of the party having shown versatile leadership qualities and discipline. During his four years in office as chairman, he transformed the once troubled party into a highly political machine made up of high level membership. Umahi also built a new state headquarters for the party, which stands among the best edifice housing a political party in West Africa.

While serving as chairman, he had a taste of federal service as he was appointed the board chairman of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, Delta State in 2011. Before he served out his tenure, destiny again beckoned on him to   put more of his energy and resources at the disposal of Ebonyians. Thus on April 2011, Engr, Umahi was elected the deputy governor of his dear state, Ebonyi.

When the whistle for the 2015 governorship poll was blown, the Uburu-born savvy politician did not hide his desire to become the next governor of the state. Many felt his desire was a pipe dream as no deputy governor in Nigeria had ever succeeded his boss in office through an electoral process. In spite of opposition from outside and within, including the then incumbent governor, a confident Engr. Umahi kept faith in God and in the people of Ebonyi State.

He contested the PDP governorship primary and the April 11, 2015 governor election and won, thereby putting his critics and even his then boss, who vowed he would never succeed him, to shame. By winning the election, Engr. Umahi wrote his name in the political history of Nigeria as the first serving deputy governor to be elected governor. He also proved a point to his detractors: God’s will can never be truncated by mortals.

And since his inauguration on May 29, Ebonyians have remained happy. The refrain in the state today is that ‘’Dave is working, Ebonyians are happy. ‘’ What you hear and read in the media are no propaganda. Take a trip to Ebonyi State and you will see the Umahi magic. Roads in both urban and rural communities are either being constructed or reconstructed by the Umahi-led government. Some, especially in the state capital are marked making them look like what you find in Abuja as well as in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki in Lagos.

Also, the streets in the capital city of Abakaliki are lit all through the night thus elongating business hours and minimising crime rate. Water and sanitation are equally receiving attention in the city.  All urban towns and major communities are having street light being put in place and road wearing a new look.

Hospitals are also looking different and enthusiasm among the medical personnel returning. Agriculture, education and human capital development have been given the most attention as has never before under Governor Umahi.

An assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Baba Bola Bolanta, summed up the general feeling of visitors to Ebonyi State when he said: I used to come to Ebonyi State to buy the popular Abakaliki rice nearly every year. But on this visit, I have seen transformation in this state under the leadership of Engr. Umahi.”

Engr. Umahi’s political astuteness and sagacity are legendary. No wonder, the national leadership of the PDP are also in need of his services. He was appointed the secretary of the party’s national convention which held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on May 21, 20016.

Shortly after that, he was made the chairman of the PDP committee that conducted the party’s governorship election in Edo State. Today, his name has been pencilled in again as the chairman of the August 17, 2016 PDP national convention billed for Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmed Makarfi, had this to say after the governor handed him the result of the Edo primary election: “The exercise was very peaceful and transparent. We watched it live on television. I commend the Umahi-led committee for conducting and ending the exercise before 4pm.There was no room for manipulation. It is the first time that a report is presented without journalists asking questions. You were very innovative. You lived above board”

Engr. Umahi’s development strides and leadership style have also received attention from even opposition political leaders and bank chiefs.  Some of them are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the Acting Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju.

Olagunju particularly had this to say: “Your Excellency, “I must tell you that you are a unique person. Things are changing. It is very surprising to see a sitting governor visiting a prominent institution like ours to seek ways of developing his state and improving the welfare of his people. I am highly impressed.’’

Prior to venturing into politics, Governor Umahi was a known philanthropist. He has used his personal resources to mould and is still moulding youths from less privileged homes in the state. His foundation, Engr. Dave Umahi Education Foundation, has given scholarships to over 1,500 undergraduates. Under a charity programme, he also makes cash donations and distributes essential commodities to orphans, widows and physically challenged persons. Some widows have even had houses built for them by Engr. Umahi.

The governor, like his Biblical name sake, David has unlimited love for God and the things of God. People close to him are not surprised that he is such because he was raised up by a mother, Deaconess Margareth Umahi (of the blessed memory), whose life was 100 percent devoted to serving the Almighty.

Engr. Umahi became a born again Christian in 1979. He was a member of the Assemblies of God Church before he joined Christ Embasy in 1990. At Christ Embassy where he is a deacon, he was once the chairman of the building committee of the church nationally. Umahi’s love for God made him to build a church where his mother worshipped before her passage. He also personally built a multi-million naira church for Christ Embassy in Abakaliki. The church is considered one of the best Christ Embassy places of worship in the country.

The governor plays a brand of politics that is rare in the country. He believes that after elections and announcement of winners, all must have a common goal: The movement of the country or their respective states forward.

He also believes in consultation and robust debate on issues, especially during the state Executive Council meetings. When Governor Umahi raises and makes contributions to issues, he throws them open to members for their input. When he gets no responses, he would ask if the meeting should be adjourned to enable members ponder on such issues.
His eagerness to hear from Exco members have no doubt led to the high quality of policies and programmes of his administration.

As the people’s governor marks his 53rd birthday , let us give him resounding Gbosas and pray for more of God’s wisdom upon him and good health as he keeps to the path to making Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s numero uno economy and Ebonyians a proud and confident people.

Happy Birthday your Excellency, Dike Di OraNma I of Ebonyi South, Ikenga I of Ezza Nation, Ekubaraoha and the David of our time.

By Emma Anya