March 14, (THEWILL) – Executive Council members of Ebonyi State government has passed vote of confidence in the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Engineer David Umahi, adducing that the Governor has the capacity and believes that he is competent and imbued with the capacity to adequately address the economic, political, security and socio-cultural challenges of Nigeria, if elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
Briefing the press on behalf of other executive Council members, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Hon Cletus Ofoke, commended the informed consistency of the Governor on the task of responsive governance, ensuring fiscal discipline, infrastructural expansion, economic growth and the consolidation of the tenets of democracy in Ebonyi State.
Ofoke while reading a fifteen paragraph press statement signed by the executive Council members, further expressed confidence in the judges and the courts to discharge their legal responsibilities without fear or favour on the federal high court judgement that sacked Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe.
He said the Executive Council members were satisfied with the order of the federal high court of Ebonyi State, that Governor Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe to remain in office, even as he commended the steps by the Governor to appeal the judgement of the Abuja federal high court.
“That the Council respects the rule of law and has implicit confidence in the ability of the courts and judges involved in the cases related to the defection of the Excellencies Engr. (Chief) David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State and Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe (Ph.D), to the All Progressives Congress to discharge the legal responsibilities involved in the case without fear, intimidation or favour.
“That the Council is satisfied with the judgement of the High Court of Ebonyi State, Abakaliki Judicial Division, in the matter and the consequential orders of the court that the Governor and the Deputy Governor have the legal right to remain in office.
“That the Council commends the immediate steps that have been taken by the Governor and the Deputy Governor to file an appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the purported removal of the Governor and the Deputy Governor from office, and the attendant application for a stay of execution of the said judgement.
“That the Council wishes to remind all the parties and, or, individuals interested in the case that pending the final and exhaustive judgement on all appeals on the matter, His Excellency Engr (Chief) David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE remains the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State as provided for by both the 1999 Constitution (as amended) the 2022 Electoral Act and every other relevant extant law.
“That the Council condemns in unequivocal terms the antics of destructive politicians in their failed bid to distract the functional government of Ebonyi State from its avowed objective of setting Ebonyi state on the exclusive list of comity of viable Nigerian States.
“That the Council is aware that the present avoidable and absurd assault on the intelligence of Ebonyi people and the politics of Ebonyi State by some entrenched self serving elements with unbridled ambitions is part of a grand design to truncate the peaceful and logical disposition of the Governor to the well established culture of rotation of elective political offices in Ebonyi State.
“That the Council believes in and supports the determination of the Governor to complete the economy stimulating projects that are already at their various stages of completion. The projects include, but not limited to, the Abakaliki ring road, the Ebonyi international Airport, the Iyere wonder bridge in Afikpo South Local Government Area, the King David University of Medical Sciences, Hausa quarters junction overhead bridge, rural feeder roads in the 13 (thirteen) Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the Ebonyi State Liaison Office building, Abuja and many others that are still under construction.
“That in view of the massive infrastructural and human capital transformation that Ebonyi State has attained under His Excellency, Engr. (Chief) David Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE despite the paltry revenue allocation to the State from the federation account and the ability of the Governor to initiate policies and legal frameworks that have ensured sustainable economic growth which has been attested to by numerous World Bank monitored peer group review indicators, the Council hereby passes a vote of immense confidence in His Excellency, Engr (Chief) David Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE, and believes that he is competent and imbued with the capacity to adequately address the economic political, security and socio-cultural challenges of Nigeria if elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
“That the Council enjoins all Ebonyi people to sustain their unflinching support for the Governor as he works towards a peaceful and equitable political transition in the forthcoming general election in Ebonyi state.
“That the Council further enjoins Ebonyi People to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as nothing has happened to alter the existing political structure in Ebonyi State, particularly as Their Excellencies Engr. (Chief) David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE and Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe (Ph.D) are still the Executive Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, respectively.
“That the Council calls on the various security agencies that have been working very hard in the State, with the support and encouragement of the Governor, to ensure that the peace, law and order that Ebonyi State is known for are not compromised by the nefarious activities of a few individuals on a failed political voyage.
“That the Council believes that Ebonyi State will emerge from this ephemeral distraction as a stronger, better and a more united people”, he stated.
About the Author
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
