*Photo: Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi speaking during the yuletide visit of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum to the Honourable Minister of Works at his country home, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State*
Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi has assured the people of South East that the year 2025 shall mark a turning point in the efforts of the federal government in tackling security challenges facing the Zone.
He gave this assurance during the yuletide visit of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum to the Honourable Minister of Works at his country home, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Friday, 27th December 2024, according to a statement issued by Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, his Special Adviser on Media.
According to the statement, “Recounting the unprecedented democracy dividends harvested by South East under the Renewed Hope administration, he called for more support and solidarity to the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.”
The Minister was quoted as saying that “We must always be grateful to God, and we must be grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I believe strongly that the Igbo people, the South East people, are now on the right track.We have learnt to talk less. We have learnt to know that the centre belongs to all of us. We have learnt to support the government at the centre.”
Barrister Orji added that “The Honourable Minister hailed the leadership stewardship of the Governor of Ebonyi State, *His Excellency,Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru,GGCEHF*, which he said had deepened the cause of peace and tranquility in the State. While commending the sense of generosity and gratitude of the youths of Izzi Nnodo, he urged all the youths of Ebonyi State to continue to champion the cause of peace and fairplay,. equity and good conscience as that was the virtue that inspired the Divine Mandate’s victory in the 2023 General Elections. He said that the 4+4 terms of the Governor of Ebonyi State is sacrosanct, and no agent of disunity can twart it. “I will continue to preach equity,fairness, and justice in Ebonyi State. We will continue to encourage our dear Governor to be fair to be equitable. God will continue to be with him.”
Earlier in his speech, the President-General of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, Dr Andrew Chibueze Elom said that the aim of the visit was for the youths of the three Local Government Areas that make up Izzi Nnodo where the current Governor of Ebonyi State hails from, to share the joy of the season with the Minister and to thank and appreciate him for being a divine instrument for making an Izzi son the Governor of Ebonyi State.
He said the people of Izzi are people of gratitude and reciprocity and would forever honour the Minister for his invaluable support that made the feat possible.
“For the fire of favour, fire of blessings, fire of development, that you have ignited here, we say thank you, Your Excellency. We don’t have much to say or give you. Silver or Gold, we don’t have. But what we came here with is words of appreciation and heart of gratitude. We are so much happy,Your Excellency. We will forever be happy, Your Excellency,” he said.