By Theophilus Keme
If there is one thing I have come to understand about the human nature, it is the fact that there is always a dual narrative about every human, about their good, bad and supposedly their ugly sides. This duality isn’t just narrowed to humans but also does it extends to other things created by nature and every other thing that supposedly have some sort of existence in them. Like the day and night.
By a fixated nature and character exhibition of Nigerian politicians and every other politicians in the world, it is generally known there must always be a group that bespeaks their unreserved support and likeness for a party partisan and another group that will utterly show their distain displeasure and hate on virtually everything about a party partisan.
This as sensitive and ambiguous this topic is, have I chosen but to narrow to the political personality, of the man I call ‘Happy Face David’ and interchangeably call ‘jolly David Umahi’.
Jolly David Umahi is from a home of nine, comprising two females and seven males, to which some members of his siblings are quite prominent and well known of their services to the nation.
His Excellency, Senator David Nweze Umahi unorthodox personality did caught my interest some time last year when he had actually honored a Channels TV interview on making his intentions for the APC Presidential ticket. His jolly disposition actually caught my interest to have moved me into making further research on him and deep in my research I also discovered he is oddly a lover of bright colors, and also a chorister, whom at every slightest chance sings praises to the wonder of God’s loving kindness. This does he accompany with his signature dance of swaying to the left and right with both arms slightly above waist length. I’ve quite followed up his tv events and other news stories about the EBONYI state immediate past governor thus far.
POLITICAl LIFE
Jolly David Umahi was elected to the role of Governor in 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in an election that had been challenged by other party, on the basis of “widespread irregularities, killings, and wanton destruction of property”. This despite all the petitions that were levied against him, and all that were allege against him to have worked for four years between 2015-2019 without Permanent Secretaries to assist in the checks and balances in the governance of the state, He still won in 2019 reran and was re-elected as governor in the Ebonyi state governorship election. Something I find uncommon.
Like every smart politicians who forecast their political future, Jolly Umahi, did take the ceremonious carpet crossing, which is known as defection, that our politicians are known by, to join the All Progressive Congress and this which caused a fuss between him and his PDP political party as at then took it to Court for redress of his defection, to which in 2020 he officially successfully defected in joining the APC for reasons according to him. One of them being that “the People’s Democratic Party” has been unfair to the Southeast Geopolitical Zone and secondly, “. That it has being hijacked by one or two individuals”.
Jolly Umahi also doused the speculation against him that he joined the APC because he wanted a presidential ticket which wasn’t promised to him in the PDP by saying that he would quit politics in 2023 after leaving office as governor. Quite a man who sees the future I must say.
During the heat of the 2022 APC Presidential primaries campaign, Jolly Umahi was most confident of what he could offer if given the party ticket, as he had purportedly claimed that he is loved by everyone and he would defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, before 12 noon on election day if he gets the presidential ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC).
This also did he pick up interest in the position of Senate President in the 10th NASS but he however later withdrew from the race but never withdrew to getting a spot at the Nationals. Reasons for withdrawal did he say was out of respect for his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, that he suspended his ambition to become the next Senate President. According to him, he had always wanted the South East to be at the centre, and that informed his brand of politics to keep the region at the centre of discussion. He assured other regions that Nigeria would be better as a united entity than divided.
And Today, from being a Governor of Ebonyi state has he cleverly find his way to into Senates, and from yet completing months in the Red chambers, has he wittingly sorted his way to getting a Ministerial appointment of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. This he aforementioned that it is the strategic move to reposition South East, collapsing opposition in the zone. Indeed aiming higher.
JOLLY DAVID PROVING THEM WRONG
From my little observation of the uncanny political character of David Umahi, i will tell you he has always had an eye for the nationals and by this I mean in once been the political head figure and representative of the south-east. This I mean by being Chairman of South East Governors Forum, he had found pleasure being the figure representing people of the region. As he also in countless times stressed that his desire for any top position his to pave way for the South East people even as they had underestimated his political journey. Perhaps this ministerial position he has bagged of recent states he love been in charge rather than be controlled.
THE VIEWS OF EBONYIANSON HIS EIGHT YEAR TENURE
The eight years tenure of His Excellency, Senator David Umahi were one from hindsight I will call a roller coater like I had mentioned in the beginning of this article, a political duality. One which a lot extol to be the best yet that they have experience. One which according to some Ebonite, that he has placed the state on the map of fastest developing states in Nigeria with a catalogue of multi-sectoral projects doting the nooks and crannies of the state, as a model for good governance.
Umahi’s classic projects, which include, the King David University of Medical Sciences, Nigeria Best Ecumenical Centre, Saint Margaret Umahi International Market, Nigeria’s most outstanding government house, flyovers, part of Ebonyi International Airport, among others.
This however does another set grief that it has been the worst that have ever happened to ebonite. That the former governor is a propagandist! He is not a humanist. Anything he does, he blows out of proportion. As they allege the former Governor lacks taste but use every project development as costume in engaging useless paintings and decorations. His own priority is to develop conduit pipes for diverting funds, they say.
These from my conducted interviews did some Ebonyians allege that they had witnessed a lawless and oppressive government; one in which only the governor’s companies are awarded all the major contracts in the state, and they fear David Umahi to have endorsed former Speaker of Ebonyi House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, who is now the current governor to succeed him, it’s a cause for greater fear as they feel inadvertently the decisions of the state may still be under the influence of the immediate past governor, David Umahi.
This aforementioned ministerial position that is conferred on Senator David Umahi, is unbeatably and has perhaps proven how far the former Governor who started his public service journey in 2007 has come. By starting as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party to this present feat of a Senator and a ministerial position simultaneously. This he has achieved proving all wrong that never believed in his Journey and doubted him.
