Gburu-Gburu is one sobriquet today that evokes confidence, power, action, adulation and every positive virtue rolled into one in the entire South East of Niger, nay the globe! . Perhaps, a shout of the easy to pronounce sobriquet even by the toothless elderly is a sure traffic stopper or a signal that something good is happening or about to happen. I will not be surprised if parents will in the near future start giving out Gburu-Gburu as natural names to their offsprings something akin to the preponderance of the name “Goodluck” in our society today to associate with Goodluck Jonathan, the man who hold sway as the president of Nigeria from 2011 to 2015. Who would not want to associate with something of immense value?
The celebration of the 57th birth date anniversary of Rt. Honorable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the peace loving Governor of Enugu State on Saturday, the 20th of March 2021 has once again brought to the fore the true meaning of the name Gburu-Gburu which its both surface and deeper meaning connotes an image that traverses the entire globe. It is really interesting to see how one can live up to the true meaning of his or her name. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from a humble beginning traversed his aggragrian village of Orba and environs in the present Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu state doing little things that matters and which has today metamorphosed into an oak tree. It is therefore pertinent to stress that the sobriquet ‘Gburu-Gburu’ which Ifeanyi earned even before joining politics was a matter of correctness rather than self adulation to reflect his right values and uncommon philosophy.
Today, Rt. Honorable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is the governor of Enugu state courtesy of the right values he cultivated in his life trajectories. It was so easy to underscore these right values when a much younger Ifeanyi presented himself for an elective position to represent his constituency at the Federal House of Reps. His people wasted no time in throwing their massive weight behind him and he finished meritoriously while his journey in the green chambers lasted. When it was time to bring in a candidate from the Enugu North zone to occupy the Lion building, the name Gburu-Gburu featured prominently. It was the shouts of Gburu-Gburu in the North, South and West of Enugu that shot the adrenaline of the opposition contestants to roof top, giving them ample inkling that their ambition to occupy the Lion building was dead on arrival. Gburu-Gburu therefore coasted to victory with lesser resistance and that was the extent to which the philosophy of man was cherished and enamored by the greater majority. And to demonstrate the philosophy of Gburu-Gburu in full force, he threw his private and official doors wide open to accommodate all shades of opinion in an audacious move to push Ndi Enugu to greater developmental heights. Today, the ideals of Gburu-Gburu is being showcased in all sectors of the socio-political economy.
To show their unalloyed and undiluted love and support for their governor, both party faithfuls, state and non state actors, opposition figures and well meaning citizens and non citizens alike used the occasion of Ugwuanyi’s 57th birth day anniversary and were unanimous in their belief that Governor Ugwuanyi depicted the ancient Chinese philosophy of doing good to the people no matter how little because man has just one opportunity of traveling a lane at a time, therefore any good that can be availed should be dispensed to the benefit of the people.
The latest of such visible and sincere commendation” came from a group that can be considered as non partisan and non patronizing social forum, The Arewa Youth Forum. Part of the message made available to press and the general public and titled “Message of Congratulations on Your 57th Birthday” read…”On behalf of the National Executive Council and members of the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) in Nigeria and Diaspora… Wish to join you, members of your family and peace and loving Ndi Enugu, Nigerians and other people around the globe to celebrate and congratulate a worthy son of Nigeria, a humane, simple, humble, focused and accessible leader on the occasion of your birthday anniversary”. The group further identified “our Gburu-Gburu as a passionate unifier, bridge builder, peace lover and an inclusive dispositional leader and prayed the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David to continue to strengthen and uphold his patriotic zeal to contribute more to serving the good of Ndi Enugu”.
What other evidence do we need to establish the fact that Enugu state is truly in God’s hands and so shall it be – ISEEE!!!
Once again, happy birth date anniversary to the quintessential leader, the people’s governor.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS ADDED ” Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi remains the best, that was why TARABA STATE WOMEN LEADERS ASSOCIATION (TSWLA) and many association in Nigeria begs Gov. Ugwuanyi for president come 2023
Written by
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke.
A Public Relations Practioner.
Member, Enugu Di N’Aka Chukwu Movement.
