The Minister of Works, immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, and immediate past Deputy Leader of the 10th Senate, His Excellency Senator Engineer David Umahi, CON, has formally endorsed the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, for a second term.

The endorsement was first announced during a Thanksgiving Ceremony for the promotion of General Igwe Omoke in Okposi and reaffirmed on December 31, 2024, during a gathering with the Ohanivo community at Umahi’s hometown. The Ohanivo community, comprising Ohaozara, Onicha, and Ivo Local Government Areas, also endorsed Governor Nwifuru for re-election.

Speaking during the event, Umahi highlighted the importance of supporting Governor Nwifuru, referring to him as a seed that requires nurturing to fully bloom.

“Leadership is about grace. Follow the grace, and it will lead you to the right place. I thank you for visiting the Governor because he is a seed we planted. If it’s not generating enough seeds yet, we will continue to water it until it does. Let’s thank the Governor for what he has done and continue to support him. On your behalf, we have endorsed the Governor for a second tenure,” Umahi said.

The Minister also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he continues to receive. “I thank you all for coming together. Like other communities, you will see where God will take you. The support I now receive is three times greater than what I got as Governor. Those I helped may have betrayed me, but they could not alter my destiny,” he added.

Umahi further urged the community to prioritize unity and legacy-building. “I appeal to the chairmen: do everything to leave a legacy. If you are working to impress leaders, you are deceiving yourself. Let us bond together and build a new Ebonyi South,” he concluded.

The community led by Hon. Darlington Okereke, the Ohanivo commended Umahi’s transformative leadership, describing his tenure as one that changed the narrative for Ebonyi State and inspired national recognition.

“We love you so much and cannot appreciate you enough,” Okereke stated. “You are a game changer. You took Ebonyi State and introduced innovative approaches to development, especially in road construction. You went to the national, and told them that you are Ohanivo. You brought in the best way of doing road. You went and showed them the way. We are happy with you. .”

Okereke also highlighted Umahi’s divine attributes, saying:
• “You are David, pure and undiluted.”
• “Ecclesiastically, you are a lion because you were born one.”
• “God is with you, and you are the apple of His eye. David is unstoppable.”

Acknowledging Umahi’s unmatched generosity, he continued: “Your giving is beyond measure. You keep giving and giving. Because of you, Ohanivo has become a city. We stand strongly in support of you and are grateful for all you have done. The Lord will elevate you to greater heights.”