Face of a Functional System

                        Onthewatch
The five-month old administration of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State represents a functional system, writes Benjamin Nworie

Since the present administration assumed office, the people of Ebonyi state have begun to testify in favour of the uncommon transformation going on in the state. Though every sector is a priority in the state, the present administration of Governor Dave Umahi is gradually taking drastic efforts to fixing the state’s bad economy. It is believed that through transparency, accountability, project specifications and targets, the lean resources of the state may become a bumper harvest that will cushion the weak economy, compounded by meagre allocation and paltry internally generated revenue.


This feat was possible because the governor is said to have selected his best eleven to the state executive council. In the present administration, gone are the days when political appointments were shared and distributed due to selective and parochial interest.
Bearing in mind that the credibility of the members of his cabinet could make or mar the success of his administration, Umahi has carefully selected men and women of proven integrity to head the various ministries and parastatals regardless of political, religious or geographical affiliations.

His administration equally marks the first to have appointed a revered cleric, Rev. Dr Abraham Nwali into his cabinet to play advisory role to his administration and offer spiritual rejuvenation, due to the governor’s belief that when the righteous is on the thrown, the masses rejoice and for one to succeed, he or she must seek the face of God.

But it is being feared in some quarters that the mass movement or support that greeted Umahi’s candidature during the last election may at the end of the day, after his victory posed a big threat to his administration over clamour for political appointments. However, as a seasoned politician, the governor assured the people that he would compensate anybody that identified with him during the tortuous election struggle. This assurance was evident and accomplished before, during and after the election.

Besides, it was part of the governor’s agenda to invest heavily in human and stomach infrastructure development. This way, he would have enthroned even development in all parts of the state. But one thing striking in Umahi’s appointment is a charge for all appointees to
develop others.

An instance was given that if an appointee has five generating sets and his neighbour is in darkness, the appointee would be sacked. This task was to ensure that the representatives of the people at the grassroots actually package the state government well before their people.
One remarkable blueprint of the last governorship election that is still a pact of unity, togetherness, peace of the state was the oneness of all the stakeholders on the choice of Umahi. The assemblage of all the stakeholders including the former Minister for Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, who is a thorn on Elechi’s flesh, was an indication that Umahi’s administration would be a litmus test of fresh breath of change in the state.

One thing that Umahi has tactically avoided was the usual recycling of “weaklings” into political positions. The new ideas which the governor has injected into the system are believed to have paid off, though the governor is a workaholic himself. He is never tired of official engagements and state functions. And whenever fatigue sets in, the governor relaxes with home videos. Most of his aides and cabinet members may not find this funny, as they stay in their offices, sometimes till 9 or 10 pm daily.

In one of the occasions, the governor gave an insight to the reason for drilling his appointees. He said when they start getting money most of them would relax in their offices or houses and forget their core duties.