Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.” Speaking on the need for compassion, Ken Poirot asserted, “Give Compassion: Every day the average person fights epic battles never told just to survive.” Karen Armstrong rightly opined that in compassion, when we feel with the other, we dethrone ourselves from the center of our world and we put another person there. This is exactly what Governor Ugwuanyi exemplified on Thursday in his timely intervention in the welfare of the mourning wives of the officers who were gruesomely attacked and murdered by some unidentified gunmen at the checkpoints in Obeagu-Amechi, Enugu South Local Government Area and Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA, residing at the suburb of Ugbo-Odogwu, Trans Ekulu and Edward Nnaji Street, Abakpa Nike, in Enugu East LGA.
The insider account has it that His Excellency, Rt Hon Dr Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi who couldn’t bear the tragedy and its imposing ugly realities in the standard of living of the families of the affected officers paid condolence visit to the respective families of the slain victims. He firmed the visit not with the usual known platitudes but expressed government’s deepest concerns while he intuitively offered automatic employment to the wives of the deceased and paid three months salaries of their late husbands’ including other cash donations. The governor extended the employment offer and cash rewards to all the wives of the affected officers with the option of scholarship of their children through secondary school level which they could choose in place of the automatic employment.
Governor Ugwuanyi’s leadership style, especially his humility, candor and genuine manner at which he makes painstaking effort to identify with Ndi Enugu, whether during celebrations or mourning hours, including the manner at which he treats those who unnecessarily have chosen to make themselves detractors of his led people centred-administration, portrays him as a true believer in Barbara Kingsolver’s teachings, most especially, when he wrote, “empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It’s the capacity to understand that every war is both won and lost; and that someone else’s pain is as meaningful as yours. Which agrees with the Igbo maxim, “anya bewe; imi ebewe”. That is, whatever affects the eyes, affects the nose.
At this juncture, it is imperative to align my thoughts with those of Mrs Nwadi Nnaji, Mrs Janet Tion, Mr Christian Nnaji, other wives of the affected officers, their beautiful mourning families and the host of all concerned Enugu residents to appreciate His Excellency, Rt Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, Nwoke Obioma, Akidi-Ama-Oke-Ana, a man whose heart is large enough to love and accommodate all. My sincere prayer is that God in His inifinite mercy continue to keep, bless, and shower Gburugburu with peace, good health and more opportunity to serve humanity more and more.
In the true words of Leo Buscaglia, “too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Hence, set of people who might find it hard to appreciate Gov Ugwuanyi are those who lack the understanding that kindness begins with the knowledge that we all struggle as opined by Charles Glassman. What Governor Ugwuanyi gives is not just transformational governance but, one wrapped in love and compassion for all. TRULY, ENUGU STATE IS IN THE HANDS OF THE AWESOME GOD.
Bibian Anekwe News added …”Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.”
Written by
Izuchukwu Ochenwari Eze
A Political Analyst
Media Team Member: Enugu Di n’Akachukwu Movement
