Buhari, Umahi And The Burden Of 2023

From Odinma Ebonyi Foundation

The drum of war is beating, warriors getting ready. Some, with protective elixir, others with bows and arrows. Which war? 2023!

As we draw close on daily basis to 2023, the Nigerian polity is turbocharged - the power brass chopping for stooge to takeover from the incumbent President Mohammadu Buhari.

Most worrisome, is some irredentists vowing to retain power in the North, while those feeling relegated and marginalised since Independence - the South-East geopolitical zone, lobbying for the ceding of the country's number one position to their region.

The latter's argument is not hinged on the premise of capacity to deliver good governance to the people, rather, it is driven by "our turn" mentality or ideology. This is fatal.
One writer had called for a rethink of that mantra if their agitation is anything to go by.

The year 2023 is strewn with various landmines to Governor David Umahi in Ebonyi State and to President Mohammadu Buhari. Prior to the latter's election into power, corruption held the nation's development on the throat -arguably the reason for her snail speed growth. 
Competence was slaughtered on the alter of mediocrity - was a nation highly nepotistic.
President Buhari has indeed, decimated corruption - a socio-economic malaise, to a lesser degree.

Nigeria is now on the bottom of the table of corruption index by Transparency International. Nigeria is no longer touted or branded the most or in the words of one time British Prime Minister " fantastically corrupt" countries in the world.

This uncommon feat courtesy of President Buhari.
It is said his predecessors never helped the system, rather, they played the system against itself, leading to graft that soiled the nation's image before the comity of nations.

The burden before Buhari as a statesman in 2023 is a quest for a successor - one with the boldness to fight corruption - sparing no sacred cows, a leader with the charismatic candour to run an all inclusive government - ensuring regional integration in the affairs of the country - removing all ethnic regalia.
Can he boldly choose an Igboman as his successor?I will return to this later.

In Ebonyi State for instance, one cannot exhaust Umahi's multisectoral interventions in the state. Ebonyi, one can say, had nothing to boast -even when there are mineral deposits - was eclipsed in the comity of state - described with many derogatory term.

Unforunately political will to remedy their grotesque state was lacking. They relied on Providence to right decades of wrongs and eventually, at the appointed time, came Governor David Umahi - a born homie and a transformer.

Prior to his emergence, the state was in wakeful expectation of one whose intellect and political elasticity cut across the length and breadth of the state as their leader. Umahi  has the requirement.

Within shortest time, the state gained global visibility - became the fastest growing State in the West African subregion! It has 171 political Wards and over 90 autonomous communities and 13 council areas further splitted into 64 Developments.

Of all, his political appointees are  drawn from the 171 Autonomous communities - making him the highest in the country.
Umahi, I make bold to say, is the only governor in Nigeria that has exhibited ownership spirit in the running of government affairs.

In all the project sites spread across the length and breadth of the state, he personally supervises all and issues sanctions against erring contractors.
Having transformed the state infrastructurally and human capital development wise, before Governor Umahi are the crises of a successor.

It does appear there is subterfuge against him on the choice of who succeeds him. This subterfuge is created by some power hawks and subaltern around him.

They are armed to the teeth -battle ready to ensure he meets brick wall in his effort to get who succeeds him.
Why has it become a problem? Some apologetics are already calling for the ceding of power to the Izzi ethnic bloc, not minding if the political elasticity of the would be successor traverses the swathes of the state, rather, it is driven by "our turn" mentality.

On the hand, are those calling on Governor Umahi not to be distracted taken into consideration, the state's embryonic stage by ensuring a student of the state's gory history is chosen as a successor to continue the journey to greater heights.

In order not to falter in the choice of a successor that may transform into a political ghost hunting his predecessor, thereby holding the state's progress on the neck,  governor Umahi reportedly said there is urgent need to convene a solemn assembly where men of God will pray for a revelation of a successor.
He has been pilloried for making the comments, with many saying..... To be contd

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