Story : By Bartholomew Ebuka Okoh_
Enugu State, under Gov. Ugwuanyi, has gone beyond the horizon of parochialism, to promote the principles of love, unity and peace among the political, religious and traditional institutions,
The state continues to occupy its pride of place as home for all, a model of peace and good governance and one of the most peaceful and secure states in Nigeria, to live and also harbor economical transactions. As we mark
Enugu @ 29,
The creation of Enugu State, 29 years ago, therefore birthed unbridled excitement and sense of accomplishment for those who painstakingly, doggedly and tirelessly lent their voices and struggled for the emancipation of the Wawa people of Igboland.
These collection of great minds, who are indeed the founding fathers of Enugu State, includes: His Excellency Chief C.C Onoh of the blessed memory,Igwe Charles Abangwu of the blessed memory, Igwe J.U Nwodo, Chief Enechi Onyia, SAN, Justice M.U Obayi, Chief C.U Oputa, Chief Dan Ogbobe, Senator Isaiah Ani, Hon. Petrus Agballah, Mr T.C Chigbo, Chief J.C.P Nwagu, Chief D.O. Nnamani, Igwe Edward Nnaji, Ambassador Justina Eze
and all other heroes and heroines of Enugu State origin.
Kudos must also go to those who has presided over the affairs of the State since its creation. They include, Col Herbert Obi Eze, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Navy Captain Temi Ejoor, Colonel Mike Torey, Col. Sule Ahman, Navy Captain Adewunmi Agbaje, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, and Barr. Sullivan I. Chime.
And the current Chief Priest @ the lion buildings Rt Hon Dr. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
They had courage, made sacrifices and were resolute in their struggle to achieve the desired end,And posterity will forever remember them in highest esteem for they indeed occupy a special place in the lexicon of Enugu State.
Also to be remembered in a special way, are the courage and sacrifices of the likes of Late Chief Onyeama N’ Eke and members of the Enugu Aborigines Improvement Union.
The struggle for the creation of Enugu State came into limelight following the sustained agitation against social injustice meted to a people (Wawa) who were “honest, patient, hardworking and intelligent.”. It was a misconception of these honesty, truthfulness and dignified attitude of the people of Wawa-speaking area (Enugu and Abakaliki) as a complex issue by the people now known as Anambra State and Imo State.
In Building Enugu of our dream
Rt Hon Dr. Lawrence Ifeanyi is making sure that every rural area in Enugu State feels the impact of his rural development.
Since the inception of his administration, Gov. Ugwuanyi has constructed/ rehabilitated over 600 kilometers of road across the state, mostly in the rural areas. Some of the signature road projects include the remodeled ancient, historic and undulating 11-km Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile road – a tourist attraction and state’s natural roller coaster; the state-of-the-art 12-km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with a spur to the UNN gate; the Ebonyi River Bridge, Ikem; the 31-km Udenu Ring road with two high-tech bridges; Iva Valley road, Enugu; the 8.8km Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road in Isi-Uzo LGA, neglected for over 35 years; the 26.66 km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGA and the 22.443km Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti inter-community road linking Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGAs being constructed by the state government in conjunction with the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP-2).
Iva Valley road, Enugu; the 26.66 km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGA
It is on record that the present administration in Enugu State has so far spent over N120billion on road construction and rehabilitation across the state,
Consequently, some of the following road projects were among the projects successfully delivered to standard by Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration with special positive impact on the lives of the people, especially the lowly and long neglected to archive Enugu of our dream.
The two 9th Mile Bypasses in Udi Local Government Area, which now serves as an alternative roads for travellers from the Northern parts of the country to Onitsha and western states.
The Agbani-Amurri road in Nkanu West LGA, newly constructed for a community that has never experienced any form of development on its land in the past 100 years, and also the Ogonogoeji-Ndiagu-Akpugo road (from Atavu bailey bridge to Afor Onovo), in the same council, which has a historic and symbolic attraction as the first state government road project in the entire Akpugo zone since the creation of Enugu State.
For betterment of Enugu State,
Another project that touches the lives of the lowly and neglected directly is the Ngenevu road, which was constructed with the provision of two 500-KVA transformers by the governor for a long neglected suburb of Enugu that had not witnessed any form of government presence. The Gov. Ugwuanyi administration, in keeping with its vision in ameliorating the sufferings of the masses and give them a sense of belonging, has also directed development to other high density areas and suburb such as the Iva Valley; the Ugbodogwu, off Phase 6 Trans Ekulu; the Ogwuagor, Abakpa Nike, Emene, etc.
The story is the same in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area – another long neglected agrarian community that currently witnessed massive reconstruction of 8.8 kilomters of the Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road, after over 35 years were no administration cared to Ameliorate their suffering.
Let it be said in Amaja,Iggogoro & Enugu Ezike that this Goverrnor is Amazing
Others include, the Nike Lake road and Abakpa Nike road in Enugu East Local Government Area, which were hitherto a nightmare to residents and travelers, who usually got trapped in traffic for several hours because of their deplorable conditions. The Opi-Nsukka Dual Carriageway in Nsukka Local Government Area, delivered with the state-of-the-art facilities befitting a University town and the second largest city in the state, to enable it compete favorably with other University towns in attracting technology and knowledge-based businesses and other industrial support ventures. The Ogbaku road in Awgu L.G.A (one of the 35 simultaneous development projects) that was constructed on a difficult terrain that is both hilly and undulating.
Let’s Roll out the drums you good people of Ngwo New Market-Milliken Hill-Ngwo- 9th Mile road that now serves as an alternative gateway into the city of Enugu, from Onitsha-Enugu expressway as well as the Ebonyi River Bridge construction in Isi Uzo Local Government Area, completed and would connect adjoining communities to Ikem, the headquarters of the Council, among others.
Let the loins and lionesses of Akwuke roar as for their great land is being open to great tidings…
The state government has equally executed numerous development projects in the urban area, such as the Holy Trinity Street and Bishop Michael Eneje Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Mount Crescent, GRA, Enugu; Orofia Street, off Nza Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Dental School – Tipper Garage road, Trans Ekulu, Enugu; Loma Linda- Timber Shed road, Maryland, Enugu; Nwafia Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Mbanefo Street, New Haven, Enugu.
On going
Asphalt road @ One day Street Enugu.
Others include, the Secretariat Road, G.R.A, Enugu; Court Avenue by new State Secretariat, Enugu; Ibuza Street at Independence Layout, Enugu; Isi Uzo Street at Independence Layout, Enugu; Owerri Road and Poly Clinic Road, Asata, Enugu; Renovation of the Enugu State House of Assembly Complex and rehabilitation and re-asphalting of the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, and a host of others.
Today Enugu State Under the Dynamic leadership of Rt. Hon. Dr Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has kept faith with the dreams and aspirations of its founding fathers.
Long live Enugu state @ 29 years,
Indeed Enugu State is in the hands of God
