The Trouble With Nigeria: David Umahi Is The Solution

From Onyekachi Nwebonyi

The renowned African novelist and critic, Chinua Achebe in his booklet, "The Trouble With Nigeria" stated that the problem with Nigeria is the failure of  leadership. In the booklet, he professes that with good leaders this country could resolve its inherent problems such as tribalism, lack of patriotism, social injustice, the cult of mediocrity, indiscipline, and corruption. Nigeria needs a selfless leader who would value the country above self and give to Nigeria the leadership that could lift the country out of the throes of poverty amidst plenty of natural resources. What Nigeria at the moment needs is a person who will be able to manage the enormous resources endowed her by nature, and, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Chief David Umahi has that charisma. Governor Umahi has shown that he is capable of turning Nigeria into a developed nation by what he has done in Ebonyi State. He has reshaped the state significantly in the areas of infrastructure, human resources development, economic development, agriculture, and the security of lives and property of the citizens.

To come to specifics, the governor has introduced a number of innovative approaches in every facet of the polity such that has got everyone astounded. The introduction of the reinforced rigid pavement in road construction has solved the perennial problem of roads in the state. He had undertaken gigantic projects like flyovers which has eased traffic gridlock in Abakaliki, the state capital. He introduced streetlights with standby power generating sets for uninterrupted light all through the night in the state capital and every town in the state. This has in no small measure reduced crime at night.

I cannot enumerate all the infrastructural projects the governor has completed or embarked upon but few are worthy of specific mention. In the area of road construction he scores first in the country. With the reinforced pavement concrete technology in road construction, the governor has had all the street roads in the state capital reconstructed, with asphalt overlay on some of the roads. Every local government area in the state has a fair share of the road infrastructure, and every major towns in the state has been connected with the rigid concrete road network. This is one feat unquantifiable.

I have come to understand Governor Umahi's mindset, he believes nothing is impossible. That is why it had been possible for him to achieve the much he had achieved despite that the resources that acrue to the state is meagre. In fact, Ebonyi State is one of the lowest in Nigeria, both in terms of federal allocation and in terms of internally generated revenue. Yet with all these, no worker is owed in the state.

At present, the governor has embarked on the construction of an ultramodern sports stadium of international standard in the state capital. He has also embarked on the construction of an international airport not only to enhance revenue but to improve the general economic outlook of the state. In the area of security, Governor Umahi has been able to put up security architecture that is both discreet and preemptive in curtailing crime in the state. This has made Ebonyi State near crime free and the safest state to live in Nigeria. In agriculture, he has brought Ebonyi State to the top notch through incentives, agricultural inputs, and prodding on citizens, especially civil servants and public office holders. And in the area of human resources development, he has empowered countless Ebonyians through soft loans, grants, and so numerous appointments as never experienced in any state in Nigeria. Ebonyi State governor has appointed senior technical assistants, technical assistants, and in this second tenure, executive assistants, in addition to the numerous other political positions existent in the government. Of course, nobody in this country has shared more money than Governor Umahi in terms of human empowerment in lieu of the financial implications of the emoluments of such a volume of political appointees. Yet, unimaginable infrastructural projects continue to spring up daily. In terms of market development, the eyes can tell the story better. From the Magareth Umahi International Market to the City Shopping Mall, no state has it better than Ebonyi State. Who could have done it better than this? In deed, Governor Umahi is not an ordinary person, he is extra ordinary.

Nigeria at the moment needs his likes if we must change our  sorry narratives. Engr. David Umahi as president of Nigeria will in two years connect the six geopolitical zones of this country with rail network. And, l am optimistic that in four years time, he would solve permanently, the power problem of Nigeria. He has the innovative capacity, the shrewdness, and the will power to do it. When you come close to him you will appreciate my point. Nigerian youths will have the employment opportunity that can lift them above the poverty line. He has the ingenuity to turn the economy away from the underdeveloped to a developed economy.

To fix the myriads of problems facing Nigeria and lift the country out of the economic quagmire in which it is currently mired, David Umahi is the solution. For us to grow as a nation, we must keep aside sentiments of religion and ethnicity. We must go for a person with the capacity and know-how to drive  the economy. The question of whether one is a Northerner or a Southerner to rule Nigeria is immaterial. What is most important is the substance of the would be leader.  Let's not be educated people and still behave otherwise.

If an lgbo man can solve Nigeria's problems, let him have the chance. The Igbos have had the endowment of turning the desert into city. Of course the history of the development of any town in Nigeria is intertwined with the entrepreneurial exploits of the Igbos.
In Dave Umahi Nigeria will see a Lee Kuan Yew. Nigeria's history will be rewritten in such a way that the world will reckon with. In Dave Umahi the Igbos will as well have a record inefacable.