[OPINION] Why Governor Umahi Will Defeat Other Candidates In The 2023 Presidential Election

• By Ogbuatu Chidi Simbad, Ebonyi State APC Publicity Secretary

These popular adages have it that “the taste of the pudding is in the eating and that the taste of a soup is inferred from its aroma”. These adages are germane, particularly when juxtaposed with the world wonder achievements in Ebonyi State in less than eight years of His Excellency, Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi, Fnse, Fnate as Governor of the State.

This also brings us to the justification of the logic that victory in the 2023 presidential election will be based on scorecards. And Governor Umahi towers above every other presidential candidate in this regards. Having seen the amazing transformation of Ebonyi State in less than eight years, Nigerians hinge their support on scorecards. This is a leverage Governor Umahi enjoys because he has proven himself in performance pedigree more than any other past and present public officer in Nigeria. The records are prestigiously in the public domain.

However, for the benefit of hindsight, let us cite few instances. Infrastructures, health, education, regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, aggressive agricultural revolution, youth and women empowerment, youth inclusiveness in government and governance, women inclusiveness in government and governance; in fact, in Ebonyi State, Governor Umahi has surpassed the 35% affirmative action for women in government and governance as enunciated in the epochal Beijing declaration. On Security Governor Umahi remains the only Southeast Governor that remains firm and courageous on strategies in combating the menace of “unknown gunmen” in the Southeast geopolitical zone by the formation of Ebubeagu Security Outfit which has nipped the murderous criminality of these hoodlums in the bud.

Governor Umahi has contributed so much to the unity and oneness of the country. In the heat of violent agitations for secession of the Southeast from Nigeria, Governor Umahi was among few Igbo leaders who publicly and courageously condemned violent agitations and called on aggrieved persons to engage government constructively to address their grievances. He is the first and only Governor in Nigeria to organize Endsar Youth Summit for the youths of Ebonyi State and thereby doused youth restiveness in our dear state. Therefore, we make bold to say that in all spheres of leadership and administration, Governor Umahi has scored 99% if not 100% on performance scale. Of course, this is further affirmed by the all embracing performance rating of states by the nation’s budget office in Abuja wherein Governor Umahi ranks first in Nigeria in all aspects. The records are also there.

Now that Governor Umahi has declared his intention to run for the presidency, the chips are down. This is the time for Nigerians to rejoice because their best, Engr. Dr. David Umahi whom they have been waiting for has finally declared. For the first time in the political history of Nigeria the Igbos of the Southeast geopolitical zone have got a jinx breaker and a trailblazer. Governor Umahi is set to break the age-long jinx of the presidency of Nigeria that has been eluding the Igbo race since political independence. The time has come and there can be no better time than now.