When Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State mentioned in one of his official outing that he will surely leave Enugu State in the upper rungs of the developmental ladder, not many including this writer doubted his sincerity about the statement. It was not just a political statement, but one strewn with the audacity of promise to Ndi Enugu.
Since his assumption of office in 2015, Governor Ugwuanyi have never left anyone in doubt about his determination to make a difference where others merely scratched the surface. It was therefore his doggedness that saw Enugu moving grass to glory and from glory to more glory. A leader who is down to earth and understand how things used to be should be applauded for not just sitting behind his massive mahogany table to listen or read reports, some of which might have been tilted to make him feel that things are moving in the right direction. No! Governor Ugwuanyi will move around to discover things as they are for himself.
Touring around Enugu metropolis albeit informally have become Ugwuanyi’s favorite past time. I’m certain that something must have nudged him to check out the locations where many relaxation parks that have become somewhat like a signature in the years gone by. After the enormous park opened up recently at Independence Lay-out in the heart of the city, governor Ugwuanyi must have considered and rightly so that Ndi Enugu deserves more than just one big park in the city center. For those familiar with the city of Enugu, there are several designated places where relaxation parks and gardens were located back in the days.
We have recreation parks like Ngwo, Eze and Onwudiwe parks all in Uwani area, Murtala Mohammed park around new market, Ejindu park at coal camp, Ude Ubaka park at Agbani road, Nnaji park at New Haven, Ranger’s Avenue park at Independence layout, Polo Park and another park at Nwodo street in GRA and many more like that. These parks was created in recognition of the fact that man really need a place to cool off and unwind after a hard day’s job. They were designed in mind also to enable people to have a serene environment where they can hibernate to do critical thinking away from the noisy streets and residential quarters.
It is unfortunate that as time went on, those recreation centers were neglected and abandoned by successive administrations in the state. Today, some of these facilities have been converted entirely to other purposes while the abandoned ones have been taken over by hoodlums.
On return to democracy in 1999, it was believed that those parks will be given attention by the new civilian administration in place, but alas! that was not the case. One of the previous administration even sold off the Murtala Mohammed Park to a private investor who converted the facility to a different thing entirely. Ranger’s Avenue park is today a site for a multi million naira private building while Polo Park facility have been converted to a shopping mall, while hoodlums have taken over Nnaji park and Onwudiwe park. Ejindu Park is in shambles too and have shops on some part of it while Ude Ubaka Park at Agbani road have part of it occupied by church and residential buildings and workshops. At Ngwo park Uwani, a big private school have been built in a part of it purportedly by a notable church while another part have been converted into a market. The remaining part is a playground. Eze Park was completely overgrown by grasses and taken over by hoodlums before Ugwuanyi’s intervention.
Gov Ugwuanyi knows the importance of rest and relaxation in the mental, psychological and social life of a people and is therefore determined to resuscitate some of these Parks. This is why he embarked on visits to some of these parks.
At Ejindu park coal camp, Ugwuanyi was furious that such a beautiful place that used to bubble with activity and vibes is in shambles and converted to another use. Eze park was in a terrible state and a den of thieves until Ugwuanyi came to it’s rescue some months back. Today Eze park is fully restored to a relationship spot and is full of life. It shocked Gov Ugwuanyi and his entourage that Onwudiwe park is fully overgrown by grasses. Some part of it have been converted to workshops while the main entrance is blocked with abandoned vehicles. At Ude Ubaka Park, Gov Ugwuanyi met residential buildings, churches and workshops and the occupiers claimed to have bought their portion from an unmentioned landlord.
Presently Eze park and Onwudiwe parks at Uwani have been remodeled and is serving the purpose it is originally meant for. Gov Ugwuanyi promised that this administration will bring back more recreation parks to life. This shows how environmental friendly this administration is.
We remain hopeful that governor Ugwuanyi will walk this path of sanity till the end. May God continue to bless and keep him from harms way. Enugu State is still in the hands of God.
Bibian Anekwe News added; “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”
Written by
Leonard Ugwu
A political Analyst
Media Team Member of ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT.
