On Wednesday, the 15th day of September, 2021, the highly egalitarian leader of Enugu State played host to about sixteen other leaders from the southern flanks of the country under the aegis of the Southern Governor’s forum. Perhaps, what easily appeals to one’s subconscious is the new synergy amongst the leaders of the different states in the Southern flanks to provide the required leadership thrust for the growth of the region within the federating units of the Nigerian nation. Then perhaps also, the vigour and the passion with which these leaders have united in the pursuit of the goals that will not only fast track fiscal federalism within the Nigerian project but one that would strengthen equity, fairness and justice in the area of socio-political and economic realities cannot be overlooked. One must therefore, commend the efforts of these leaders for remaining steadfast in the pursuit of the aforementioned goals and objectives. It is important to mention that the resolutions reached during their previous summits have far reaching results to strengthen participatory democracy, economic and political growth and security of lives and properties of not only the citizens in the southern bloc but the entire nation if diligently pursued and implemented. Equally important which gladdens the heart is that a lot of these leaders from the South are beginning to take responsibilities to what happens to their respective states and their people in response to the humongous outcry of the people of these states.
However, one must not fail to decry the attitude of many other leaders who are still beggaring for the political will to do the needful in response to the resolutions reached by the political leaders during their previous summits. While some have continued to play to the gallery, others have chosen to act out only the script which they considered political correctness in difference to what would affect positively the socio-political and economic development of their states.
Deriving from the above reality as it were, one must not fail to notice that governor Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has consistently maintained the lead and in response to any generally agreed position of the Southern governor’s forum. With the benefit of hindsight with regards to Ugwuanyi’s prevailing experiences as an egalitarian leader, one would not equally miss the mark if one volunteer to assert that most of the recommendations or resolutions of the leaders of the southern states bore visible marks from Ugwuanyi’s template. His robust participation and engagement in the forum has given the southern governor’s forum a sure footed impetus to reach decisions quickly for the benefit of the region and it’s people. While ideas are necessary visionary templates, giving such ideas life of it’s own through practical Innovations remains sine qua non in our contemporary society. Ugwuanyi has enough ideas running through his medulla and has demonstrated in more ways than one that he is in government to offer practical indices to the governed. For Governor Ugwuanyi, all extant governance mode is activated at all times through the effective drive of tested and trusted technocrats in his employ. Therefore, implementing the resolutions agreed upon by the larger governor’s forum in his state has never proved too difficult for him. For instance, Ugwuanyi was among the first four governors who activated, enacted and signed the anti open grazing law after the southern governor’s forum gave themselves this task with a time-line after their last summit in Lagos state.
Enugu state today has remained one of the most safest state in Nigeria courtesy of Ugwuanyi’s uncommon and passionate efforts to tackle the issues of insecurity bedevilling other areas in the country.
The meeting of the Southern governors once again which held in Enugu from the 15th and ended on the 16th of September 2021 must be seen as another bold step to appreciate Governor Ugwuanyi’s uncommon effort to support the cause of the political leader’s forum visavis his undiluted passion to implement programs aimed at fostering the collaborative efforts of these leaders to enthrone good governance and true federalism. It is therefore important to sound out the leaders among this forum who have remained rather rhetoric than implementing actions and programs to better their people in the overall interest of the region to borrow a leaf from Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Good a thing, the communique issued by the leaders after their meeting in Enugu after reviewing the state of the nation, reaffirmed its earlier commitment to fiscal federalism, while still re-echoing their position to have the next president of Nigeria come 2023 to come from the Southern region in the interest of equity, fairness and the enthronement of an egalitarian society among other far reaching resolutions.
Governor Ugwuanyi must be commended for standing tall at all times among his peers and in the interest of the Nigerian project and his society.
Bibian Anekwe News added – “Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control.”
Written by
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke.
A Public Affairs Commentator.
Media Team Member of ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
