The gap-toothed, ever-smiling and comely Governor of the coal city State means different personality to different folks. Just like the different persons touching different parts of an elephant will describe the gargantuan animal based on their perspective of it, the personage of the peace loving governor ever democratically elected in the history of Nigeria is not different from the elephant syllogism – Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is the elephant of Nigeria’s political space.
The case with Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (Gburugburu) as he is fondly called, is that of a celestial kismet that cannot be undermined regardless of whatever shenanigans, whether ethereal or terrestrial done to circumvent it. His becoming the People Democratic party (PDP) eventual candidate in the 2015/2019 gubernatorial election in the State was purely divine. There is no denial of the incontrovertible fact that Enugu State is one of Nigeria’s best-kept secret with goldmine and fortunes. The Governor has in the last five (6) years turned around, and still improving, the fortunes of the State. Since he assumed office, the Coal City state has achieved unprecedented Midas touch different from what the State was known for.
The emergence of Rt.Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was a blessing in disguise to Enugu State(042) as he swung into action immediately he was sworn into the office by putting up a blueprint that would put the State on a path of steady progress. His landmark achievements can be seen in security, economy, finance, investment drive, politics, Diaspora engagement, women empowerment among others.
SECURITY
Before he assumed office, insecurity in the State was at a level, Robbery and kidnapping were perpetrated with reckless abandon. Travellers who usually would pass through the State to link to other states of the country were under constant siege. From Enugu capital to Okigwe,Aba,Port Harcourt expressway road, Nsukka to Okenne road among other routes were nightmarish for commuters on transit.
Today, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has changed the security narratives. He provided over 400 utility vehicles for security patrol against criminal activities in the State while over 600 motorcycles were provided for forest guild security operations to allow security agents access to the hinterlands where most of the heinous crimes are committed. The Forest guild servicemen uses the motorbikes to access difficult terrains where criminals reigned as terror lords since those locations are inaccessible. Aside from this, Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration procured sophisticated gadgets for Operation Total Security, established by the administration to stamp out criminal activities in the State.
This heavy investment in communication gadgets and training of security operatives, the introduction of the Enugu State forest guild Policy exposed a lot of the criminals. The Forest guild Service Operation and the domestication of the Criminal Justice Code were all instrumental to the excellent security of lives and property in the state. The gesture further stimulated the gathering of Intelligence as it became seamless and properties that were proceeds of crime were destroyed to serve as a deterrent to others. Statistically, criminal activities in the State dropped by over 60 per cent complemented to the zero tolerance of the Governor towards any form of criminality and his insistence on not negotiating with criminals, A synergy geared towards complementing the efforts of the Federal Government on security architecture saw the construction of Army Forward Operation bases at different places across the state to enhance the security of lives and property.
POLITICS
Sequel to Gov.Ugwuanyi emergency as the governor of the People of Enugu State under People Democratic Party, (PDP), the State was sharply divided along groups lines colouration which was further exacerbated by the disunity the politicians planted in the minds of the people against one another. However, on the assumption of office, the first three appointments of the Governor immediately after his inauguration, were spread across the three Senatorial Districts in the State, unlike what was obtainable with the former State leaders before Gov.Ugwuanyi, he would go-ahead to alter the status quo. It was a new dawn in Enugu State, a fresh beginning and a break from the norm. It was time to jettison individual differences, reshape the mentality of Enugu people. The people were glad to have a unifier, rallying point as Governor. Projects were distributed across the three Senatorial Districts of the State and the institutions of government were ushered into a new path of growth and development. All appointments under his administration were spread across the state– a situation which has helped break down the barrier of senatorial chauvinism.
HEALTH
One other sector in the State which has received a huge commitment from the State Governor is the health sector. Quality healthcare has enjoyed tremendous support from Governor Ugwuanyi. A lots of other health benefit programmes have been going on in the State, one of which is the Healthcare concept that has been applauded as one chef d’oeuvre intervention health scheme across the Federation.
The Healthcare was an intervention mechanism introduced to help pregnant women and nursing mothers. The Minister for Health, Dr.Osagie Ehanire described the scheme as one of the best healthcare policies in the country at large as it were. The program has made it possible for pregnant women to have access to no-cost medical services across the State. This was conceived to confront the huge number of child and maternal deaths which was prevalent not in Enugu State but across the country. This is notwithstanding the provision of free maternal and new-born healthcare services including referrals where and when necessary.
The Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration in Enugu State has embarked on a massive revamp of the entire health paraphernalia of the State some of which include renovation, remodelling and re-equipping of 40 existing Primary Health Care Centres (one per Local Government) with solar-powered electrification to help the success of the Healthcare Programme. It also is stated that the Healthcare was a microcosm of the Governor’s State Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS). The administration has done lots of recruitment, training and re-training of Health Workers on various specialities.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture has witnessed massive and unprecedented revolution under the present administration in the Coal City State. The State Government under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s honcho ship keyed into the Agricultural Renaissance Policy of the Federal Government which was aimed at ensuring food sufficiency and promotion of non-oil sector wherewithal for economic transformation. Today, Enugu State has become one of the agricultural state of Nigeria with the provision of a conducive environment and necessary support by the State honcho to make the sector the driver of the state economy.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s-led leadership has succeeded in encouraging the youth to key into farming through orientation, sensitization, mechanization, subsidy inputs, fertilizer, continuous training and many other supports. In the State today, many youths can boast of a career in farming and are proud to be called farmers contrary to what was obtainable in years past. This has, in effect, drastically helped in changing the mind of the youths across the 17 Local Government Areas in the State to engage in agriculture.
ECONOMY
Recognizing the daunting task ahead of him at the inception of his administration in 2015, the Governor needed a blueprint that would gear the State to the path of economic el-dorado. The Governor would therefore reposition the State’s Bureau of Public/Private Partnership to engage the private world in businesses that were hitherto used as conduit pipes to defraud the State. Today, the Bureau has been able to facilitate some blue-chip deals that have added value to the State as well as elevate her respectability in the business community. Governor Ugwuanyi has used this bureau initiative to improve Enugu State’s acceptability in the business world and the international community.
The State’s Tax Reforms under the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s Administration has impacted positively on the finances of the state. Suffice to state without equivocation that without the reforms, it would have been impossible to survive the many undercurrents, especially when the country herself slid into recession. The State would have been worse off having been wrecked with financial depression occasioned by the reckless borrowing and stealing of the past. On assumption of office, the Governor granted the State’s Board of Internal Revenue autonomy. It became the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS)competent hands were employed to drive the State’s tax reform that would later increase astronomically the revenue base of the State using a digital application.
Enugu State as of today has moved from that State with a ridiculous paltry monthly Internally Generation revenue, The massive result in the revenue base of the State was a corollary of a purpose-driven leadership of a sagacious governor with a clear vision of repositioning the State holistically.
DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT
Only recently, in a highly-subscribed regular Conference, virtual conference, organized by the United Kingdom Chapter of the People Democratic Party PDP, via Zoom, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was a guest where he held every participants spellbound about his administration’s investment drive to bring Nigerians as well as foreign investors interested from the Diaspora to come and invest in the State. The high-profile hugely-subscribed virtual town hall meeting saw the Governor highlight his stewardship in the last five (6) years as well as what his administration intends to do for the Enugu people in the last part of his progressive leadership.
At the virtual conference which was attended by Nigerians living in Germany, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, the United States as well as other countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and America, the Governor listed some of the areas interested investors could come in to take advantage of the State Government’s business-friendly environment to include agriculture, power, mineral resources, culture, health, education among others.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
If there exists any governor or state government that has given prominence to women in politics, no one can rival the numerous of the Coal city State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The self-styled, soft-spoken progressive governor shocked the country in 2015 when he chose a women as his deputy . It is to display his uncommon valour for empowering the female folks.
In conclusion, Enugu State Governor Rt.Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu) has performed creditably well for the people of the State. His progressive and laudable activities have been grossly under-reported by the mainstream media. However, the state media machinery especially the new social media team have tried their best to project a Governor of enviable calibre and his milestones on the socio-political and economic landscape of the Coal City State. The stage is now set for the white lion to roar at the national level, and also to support whom ever God directs him to choose to succeeds him as the governor of our dear Coal City state.
Enugu State is hands of God.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS ADDED…The biggest determinant in our lives is culture, where we are born, what the environment looks like. But the second biggest determinant is probably governance, good governance or a certain kind of governance makes a huge difference in our lives
Written by
Benedict Chibunna Eze
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
