Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State shocked his Executive Council members and other principal government appointees on inauguration ground as he announced their dissolution to their utter amazement.
The Governor also publicly removed the Accountant-General of the State, Queen Agwu, and replaced him with a new appointee, Christiana Ukwuta, from Ishielu Local Government Area of the State.
Recall that Umahi had during the valedictory Executive Council meeting on Tuesday told the members to remain at their duty posts, a development that was taken to mean he had no plans to dissolve the cabinet.
The Governor, while addressing the the mammoth crowd that gathered to herald him into his second term in office, commended the former Executive Council members and indeed all Ebonyians for their “unwavering support and confidence” in him and his vision, describing them as worthy partners in the realisation of his productive goals.
Umahi, who recounted his achievements in security and peace in the State; economic regeneration and human capita development; environment, education, commerce and industry; agriculture as well as infrastructural development and others, emphasised that his administration has kept the faith and accomplished exceedingly all expectations.
Umahi added: “It is by looking and marching forward that we have articulated both our mission and vision for Ebonyi State in the years ahead – programme of reformation, repositioned and regeneration.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our mission is to build and consolidate on the foundations we have meticulously and methodically laid in the past four years, with a firm commitment to the ideals of the founding fathers of Ebonyi State.
“Specifically, my administration will be pursuing an integrated policy of economic development and transformation geared towards aggressive prospection/exploitation of the rich mineral deposits of our State, for rapid industrialisation and its multiplier effect.”
The Governor further pledged to construct additional eight flyovers at vulnerable locations across the State, completion of the new Government House, International Market, Industrial Clusters and numerous other projects ongoing in the State, adding that the State work force would be better positioned.
In an opening remark, the Chairman of the event and Senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial district, Obinna Ogba, commended the Governor for his laudable achievements, noting that the second tenure would offer him more opportunities to consolidate in his unprecedented achievements.
However some of the ex-Commissioners, including the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Francis Udu Orji, who spoke to our correspondent expressed great delight in working with Umahi for the past four years, describing him as a man of experience from whom they have learnt much.
Orji noted that the dissolution did not come to them as a surprise as it was expected as a constitutional role of the Governor.
Orji said: “It is the statutory obligation of the Governor that at the end of this tenure, which ended on 29th May, all cabinet offices must be dissolved, and we have expected it before.
“As a matter of fact, we expected it yesterday after the valedictory Exco, but it had to be shifted till today.
“But we are happy that we have served meritoriously to the end.
“That is the most important part.
“We have ran the race and finished the race.
“It is our expectation that His Excellency being the referee, he knows what to do.
“Those who served meritoriously, he may consider bringing them back on board.
“Those who may not come back, it doesn’t mean they didn’t perform creditably.
“There are other genuine political considerations.
“It has been very wonderful working with the Governor for these past four years.
“We all acknowledged it during the valedictory session yesterday.
“He is a teacher and for the past four years, we have gone through another school with the Governor.
“For those of us in the engineering profession, he is a highly experienced professional and we have no regrets working with him.”
The carnival-like event witnessed the administration of oath of office to the Governor and his deputy by the State Chief Judge, Justice Alloy Nwankwo.
There were also march past by some selected schools, youth and women organisations.