It is often in the nature of humans to cleverly hide their true nature or character when they are dealing with fellow humans. This is particularly true of a typical courtship between the opposite sex, where either of the sexes would strive to appear pure and untainted. In the stretch of the period leading to their eventual consummation of the relationship, each of the partners would appear to be perfect and unlacking in character perfect for a life long relationship. Ironically, such dress rehearsal relationships have often ended in chaos. No sooner than the relationship has been consummated, either of the partner will now show his or her true colour. The tiger amongst them will now bare it’s fangs to devour the other leading to regrets. We have often heard such lamentations as “I didn’t know you to be like this” or “How cleverly you have covered this aspect of your behavior… If I had known you were this or that”. It is an endless lamentation and gnashing of teeth.
Other interesting group of humans who would do everything to lure you to their den and then sting you in a manner so devastating are the political class. Politicians could be described as leopards who never changes it’s spots. As predictable as an average politician could be, people have continued to be enmeshed in a dilemma of sort having to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea. Like a partner in a courtship, an average politician would appear meekly, humble and unassuming. The same politician seeking to take the people’s vote for the exalted political position of his or her choice by mingling with the ‘poor’, the dregs of the earth would immediately after securing such position courtesy of the people’s votes will turn into an overlord who must be worshipped. What an irony! The macabre dance of the political class is on again. Many of these politicians have suddenly turned into puppies and appearing in some unusual places all in a bid to appear good in the eyes of the people.
Of course there are few out of the bunch of the political class who have shown uncommon character to move away from the norm and have remained as God created them. It is often easier to observe the true nature of a man when he has gotten his desires either through some kind of subterfuge or fake meekness. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Executive Governor of Enugu State has remained an unrepentant man of the people. Through Ugwuanyi’s political trajectories, he has been able to demonstrate in more ways that the permutations about the political class remained largely individualistic and not applicable to all and in all cases. At the present, it is not immediately clear if Gov. Ugwuanyi is aiming for further political position, what is easily discernible is that he is more focused than ever to finish the race he started in the Enugu Lion Building some seven years ago and would give an arm towards that and not for any political ego seeking, lurerage or otherwise.
One therefore must applaud Ugwuanyi’s uncommon agreement with his true nature. Since his assumption of office as the Executive Governor of Enugu State seven years back, he has largely debunked the notion about the true nature of the politicians generally. Carrying out the responsibilities of governance with such an uncommon responsibility is something that has stood him out from the crowd. With the much envisaged year 2022 already in our grasp, governor Ugwuanyi chose to start the new year in his usual style of identifying with the dregs of the earth. It is therefore heart warming to see the true Leader of a people paying an
unscheduled visit to the Nigerian Red Cross, Enugu Branch, then the children’s ward of the Mother of Christ Hospital, Ogui Enugu, the Cheshire Home, Uwani, Enugu and the Home for the Elderly managed by the Little Sisters of the Poor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, located at Ufuma Street, Awkunanaw, Enugu, where he joined Bishop Callistus Onaga of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu and the elderly in the celebration of the New Year Eucharistic Mass.
It is truly important to burtress that governor Ugwuanyi has remained largely altruistic while embarking on these routine voyages to identify with the haves not, but equally setting a benchmark for the future leaders of the coal city state. As the 2023 inches closer to the reality that governor Ugwuanyi must yield way to another expected selfless leader, it is incumbent on Ndi Enugu to pray and fast for this to happen. Only time will tell. Happy new year to all of us!
Bibian Anekwe news added; “The leader’s Attitude is like a thermostat for the place she works. If her attitude is good, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the environment is easy to work in. But if her attitude is bad, the temperature is insufferable.”
© Austin Okechukwu Chijioke.
Public Affairs Commentator.
Media Team Member for EDNAC.
