Recently, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi swore in the leadership of all the 68 Development Centres which cut across all the 3 Senatorial zones in the state. One may wish to question the rationale behind the creation of the development centers in the first instance and the subsequent appointment of the leadership of these centers. Would that not amount to the duplication of duties as these centers are already embedded in the existing local council authorities? But if the proponents of this argument could even be fair to themselves, they would readily admit that serious advocacy efforts have been made before to even officially include the traditional institutions as the fourth tier in the government hierarchy. This move was considered a clear move and intent to bring the government closer to the people. Relying on the current structure of the local council authorities as presently constituted, governor Ugwuanyi must have reasoned that creating extra fragments from the existing local government areas with large area coverage would be a sure way of engendering an inclusive government and making the people feel more the impact of the government. Governor Ugwuanyi an repentant rural adroit could not have been wrong after all for embarking on this model to actualize his objectives of deepening democracy in the State.
One thing we cannot take away from military incursion into our histo-political firmament is the provision of both direct and indirect employment through the creation of additional states in the country. It must be recalled that it was the administration of the former governor of the state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani who initiated the creation of Development Centres in the State. This move led to the creation of additional job opportunities across the state. The creation of additional development areas by Gov Ugwuanyi marked a deeper in road to give the citizens a sense of belonging in managing their affairs. The development centres have helped to ensure that the people become aware of the environmental goals and aspirations. It is much easier to educate and get a better response from a smaller class than a bigger one. Government can easily reach the people through the development centres, feel their pulse and obtain quicker feedback.
Another thing Gov Ugwuanyi have done through development centres is political education. Many people wrongly believe that politics is for some group of elevated folks in the society. For some others still, politics might not be meant for the decent members of the society. With the political education engaged by the development centres, it is getting clearer to the people that politics are supposed to be for the sound minds and not the other way around. It is interesting to see that the development centers aside pursuing other developmental goals peculiar to their domain have taken the issues of voter education very seriously.
People have been made to understand why they should vote on any election and why it is important for them to keep their PVC handy and even register to get their PVC for those who have not registered before. Gov Ugwuanyi through the Chairman and critical stakeholders of the Council Areas have been as strident in their sensitization efforts to encourage the people to either get their PVCs or revalidate them just so that they could speak with their cards come 2023.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s avowal to deepen the process of democracy in Enugu have flattened the feet and hues of the opposition political parties. It is indeed rare to find opposition parties openly acknowledging the good deeds of the ruling political party. No one should ever be in doubt, that even as the 2023 general elections come closer and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi would have completed his second and final term in office as governor of the coal city state, Nigeria would surely demand his services at a higher realm. So shall it be in Jesus name, Amen.
Enugu state is truly in the hands of God.
Bibian Anekwe News added …”Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder, but if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader”.
Written by
©️ Leonard Ugwu
A Political Analyst
Media Team Member ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
