AWESTRUCK by the infrastructural masterpiece of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Nollywood superstar, Pete Edochie rhetorically asked if Governor David Umahi has a minting company for production of legal tender.
The Nollywood icon made the enquiry when he led other actors and actresses to present an award to Governor Umahi in Abakaliki as the best performing Governor in 2019.
Edochie who while being conducted round the Ecumenical Centre, Margret Umahi Int’l Market, Waste Pulveriser Plant and the Mohammadu Buhari Glass Tunnel in Abakaliki metropolis said the level of development being witnessed in Ebonyi State can only be achieved by one who perhaps, have a minting coy because the allocation of the Federal Government is nothing compared with the level of works being executed by the Governor David Umahi led government.
Speaking to the Special Assistant to Governor on Media, Hon. Francis Nwaze, who took him on a tour to the projects sites, Edochie said:” the level of development going on Ebonyi State defies description.”
“Where do I borrow words to explain the magnificent of what he is doing”.
“I come to Ebonyi State regularly. I was here when Sam Egwu was the governor and also came when Martin Elechi was the governor, the development is incomparable”.
“I pass through this place to Ogoja, it was not like this I must tell you”.
To avert goverment -labour imbroglio and maladministration allegedly going on in other states, he said there is urgent need for other State Governors to copy Umahi’s approach to governance in the areas of infrastructure and social contract with the electorates.
“Has other governors come to visit Ebonyi State? The reason I asked that question is because for a man to be executing projects of these dimensions and be able to honour his commitments to the civil servants at the end of the month, is an incredible achievements”.
While commending Umahi’s evergreen legacies in Ebonyi State, Edochie said he has not seen Umahi face to face, only his work has endeared him to many.
“Each time we sit down to discuss in Enugu where I stay and you mentioned Ebonyi, the next thing you hear is have you seen what Umahi is doing in Ebonyi?
“It is the spontaneity of Umahi’s complement that engages your attention, and it is not as though there was a meeting that these things must be said, it is the spontaneity of the complement that is convincing”.
The Nollywood egghead added that whoever succeeds Umahi in 2023 has less task ahead because the weight of governance has been made light by Governor Umahi
“Whoever succeeds him after his tenure should go and ‘sleep’, no less worry because greater part of the task has been reduced by Umahi”.
Earlier, Nwaze who took time to explain critical interventionist areas by the Governor, called Chief Pete Edochie to use Abakaliki as a Nollywood centre because of the massive infrastructures in the State which he said engender entertainments.
The presentation of best governor award to Governor Umahi by the Nollywood Movie Industry hallmarked the visit of the movie stars in Abakaliki.