No Cake to Share, Umahi Tells Ebonyi Commissioners

Umahi, while lamenting the state’s economic predicament, said he was glad that all political appointees had signed an undertaking to make sacrifices.

He told them that since he was in a hurry to develop the state, he expected them to hit the ground immediately and run.

He advised the new appointees to carry the people of their areas especially those that worked for his election  along, warning that refusal to do so  would lead to their automatic sack.

The governor  said: “I expect the appointees not to create divisions because they are a lot of people that hate us and if you start pushing up your shoulders and refuse to recognise them, then you will be putting a lot of pressure on me.

“So I expect you to carry everybody along not necessarily by sharing money but by bringing them together. If you create division you will lose your position and if you have electricity generator and put on light in your home and next three, four compounds around you don’t have light, it means you will lose your position.

“You should not mark anybody as an enemy. Those that worked against us did so out of loyalty and instead of hating them we should love them, embrace them, integrate them and lets move together as one people.’’

He directed the Commissioner for Works, Fidelis Nweze, to set up a committee to look into the certificates of contracts   generated and check how the government could downsize volume of the jobs being carried out.

The commissioners are: Emmanuel Onwe, Information and State Orientation; Mrs. Euphemia Nwali,  Culture and Tourism; Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbaga. Commerce and Industry; Mrs. Rebecca Ogbuewu, Women Affairs and  Augustine Nwankwegu,  Justice and Attorney General.

Other include: Hon. Uchenna Orji (Agricultre),Chief Emma Uguru-(Power), Chief Sunday Inyima- (Lands, Housing and Urban Development), Obinna Nwachukwu (Border Peace and Conflict Resolution), Chief Donatus Njoku- (Solid Minerals), Dr. Umezurike Akuma Daniel- (Health) Akpunike Emeka Charles- (Sports and Youth Development) and Engr. Francis Udu Orji (Water Resources).

Dr. Dennis Ekumankama will oversee Ministry of Finance while Chief Ogodo Ali Nome, Environment; Prof. John Eke Ubochi, Education while Mr. Solomon Okoronwko, Local Governments.