Since the inception of Gov Ugwuanyi’s administration, he has not hidden his passion to develop the rural communities. Just as apostle Paul said in Gal 2:7
“They saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the Good News to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews”. NLT. Gov Ugwuanyi seems to have got the call for rural development. He has touched more lives in the rural areas much as he has done in the urban centers as well and still does.
The immediate past administration seems to have concentrated it’s focus much on the urban areas. It embarked more on the urban renewal and development initiatives. Much of the social amenities in Enugu today such as Street Lighting, Motorized Sweepers to clean the metropolis, new Secretariat buildings, Roads etc could be attributed to the efforts of the past administration but the rural dwellers got little attention.
When Gov Ugwuanyi came on board, he endovoured to balance the governance approach by shifting the attention of the government to the rural areas. His administration has built over 1000 primary school blocks which over 700 of that is in the rural areas. Old Awgu region and Nkanu areas benefited so much on this.
He has built so many rural roads. There is no LGA in Enugu state that have not got a fair share of the rural roads. Orba – Obollo Afor old road, Obollo Afor – Obollo Eke road, Orba ring roads all in Udenu LGA, Old Aji Road, Amufie Road, Umuidah Road, Japan road etc all in Igboeze North LGA. Iheaka ring road, Ovoko ring road, Ibagwa – Ichi road in Igboeze South LGA, Amagunze Road, Ubaha Road in Nkanu East LGA. He has built roads in Oji, Akpugo Eze, Achi, Nike, Akpuoga, Awgu, Ezere, Nkwe, Olo, Owa and so much to mention. All these are rural roads meant to engender the economic growth, even development and the happiness of the Rural dwellers. His intention is to open up the rural areas to reduce rural urban migration.
This administration has also embarked on building and equiping rural facilities. There is constant supply of drugs and other essentials to rural health facilities. This is to ensure that health of rural dwellers are given adequate attention. Rural areas remain the food bank of any nation, because the dwellers are exposed to farming and they live in it’s subsistence and Gov. Ugwuanyi understands that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. He has trained and employed reasonable manpower to manage the hospital in the rural areas.
In the area of water supply, Gov Ugwuanyi have extended pipe borne water in so many rural areas as Igbelle, Olo, Ugwuogo, Ozalla, Udi, etc.
There is no village that has not benefited from this government in it’s rural developmental trajectories. This is to bring development closer to the people. Gov Ugwuanyi knows too well that bulk of our population is living in the rural areas and they need to be attended to and supported holistically. His government is a government of all.
That is not to say that urban areas are neglected. Many link roads in Enugu, Nsukka, 9th miles, Agbani, Oji and other towns have received attention too. Etudo street in Achara layout, Rehab road to Iji Nike, Akpasha road, Onuogba Road and so many of them have been built or rehabilitated. Gov Ugwuanyi have also built many relaxation spots in Enugu.
Gov Ugwuanyi’s interests in rural development have endeared him to the people. That is why Enugu people have continued to shout it loud that Enugu State is in the hands of God.
Bibian Anekwe News added …”Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Written by
Leonard Ugwu
A Political Analyst
Media Team Member: Enugu Di n’Akachukwu Movement
