Recently, Governor David Nweze Umahi, inaugurated his new cabinet, charging them to discharge their duties diligently and to be productive.
This is even as the governor during the inauguration of the last batch of his senior special assistants and special assistants lamented that the number of exco members have increased from 70 to 83.
Some of the newly inaugurated commissioners are returning commissioners who worked with the governor in his first term and who are part of the success and challenges recorded so far in the Umahi’s led administration.
Although, the successes of the previous administration out way the challenges, but the challenges cannot be overlooked as they are yet to be surmounted.
Some of the commissioners were adjudged to have done extremely well which earned them a higher portfolio as they graduated, so as to say, from their previous ministry to another, while the likes of Obinna Nwachukwu, the former commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Ugo Nnachi, former commissioner for Commerce, Prof. John Eke, former commissioner for Lands, Hon Sabinus Nwankwegu, former commissioner for Education who is now a member of UBEB Board. Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, former Commissioner for Information and state Orientation who Governor Umahi acknowledged opted out of his government to give way for the younger ones and Hon Euphemia Nwali, former commissioner for Water Resources did not make it to Umahi’s second term as commissioners.
For those who made it, congratulations to them, while the sacrifices of the likes of Sen. Onwe will stand the test of time because he has shown what true leadership is all about.
However, the newly sworn-in commissioners should know that they have a task ahead. There are some challenges that the government of Engr. David Umahi led administration are still battling with in some sectors and some of them were part of his campaign promises.
One of the challenges that faced and still facing the present administration is non availability of drinkable water in the state. This poses a great challenge to this administration as the residents depend largely on borehole as well as sachet water from Enugu state, which ought not to be so.
The this government in the first administration performed poorly in water reticulation, as it is known that the State has pumped in billions of naira to ensure that the Oferekpe water scheme and the Ezillo water schemes become functional, and that water is reticulated in the capital city. But despite the huge sum pumped into these water projects, the state still suffers from lack of drinkable water with no lasting solution on sight.
Therefore, the commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Uchechi Wendy Okah has to ensure that Ebonyi citizens are supplied with drinkable water to prevent the return of water borne disease which was prevalent in the state in the 80’s and 90’s. We hope that this present administration would provide drinkable water which is one of the basic needs of every human.
Another major sector Umahi’s administration should look into is health. Enough sensitization should be carried in the rural area mostly as it concerns deadly viruses such as Lasser fever and yellow fever which has killed so many people in the state.
Our health centres should be fully functional so that those in the rural areas can access treatment for malaria, typhoid fever without coming into town to be treated at the tertiary health institutions.
In some places the health centres are there but they are not equipped and no medical doctor is even posted in those areas. Government needs to do more in this sector. In Ebonyi State no year pass without the outbreak of Lassa fever which shows that more sensitizations need to be done.
Also, attention is needed in the area of Border Peace. The State has witnessed series of communal crises in recent times, one of the pathetic incident witnessed early this year was the killing of nine family members from Ikwo who attended their brother’s matriculation in EBSU. Apart from communal clashes, the farmer / herders clashes are another great challenge the State needs to tackle. Herders seem to be living happily with farmers in Ebonyi but a closer look at their activities proves false to this claim.
While commending the governor on his effort to curb cultism in State, this newspaper still believes that more needs to be done to eradicate cultism in the state. While inter state boundary clashes are not left out.
The State needs to tighten it’s loopholes in security, and ensure that no foreigner invades to unleash mayhem on the citizens of the State.
It’s also known that the Umahi administration has outperformed his predecessors in infrastructural development; we hope that this new commissioner for Works will look into those streets that are yet to be constructed. Streets like Nibo leading to mechanic village, Ebonyi Voice, completion of Orekeonuoha road as well as others. Attention should also focused on the construction of rural roads.
However, the level of poverty in the State is gradually increasing despite efforts by the State government to empower its people. Children and women are seen on daily basis begging for alms especially at Union bank roundabout. That roundabout has turned to a strategic point for begging. The present government should do something about this, as these people use innocent children to beg for alms due to the increase rate of poverty.
It is our take that these commissioners governor Umahi has assembled to work with him should as a matter of urgency work diligently and nip this challenges facing the state to the bud, and give no room for laziness.
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