Many Enugu residents has different view of Governor Ugwuanyi’s led administration. Which is not bad. These divergent views are usually anchored on the perspective one critiques (verb) the present day administration from. Administration, in itself, does not always agree with the maxim, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”. For instance, if one meets the aged persons in the rural areas who have benefited from Governor Ugwuanyi’s GburusCare Initiative (GCI) which is the Enugu state government of the day’s initiative to take free healthcare to the aged persons in the developing (rural) areas in Enugu, those who benefited from it will account (verb) that the Gburus led administration is “e cheta obi esie ike umu-ogbenye” (the hope of the hopeless poor). Don’t cry yet. Let it not choke you. Hold your tears. I don’t want to mention roads he constructed in many rural areas. I don’t want to mention Governor Ugwuanyi’s habit of sneaking out to offset hospital bills for the less privileged in some hospitals in Enugu.
What if you coincidentally meet residents of Nachi community in Udi LGA, a community that the only thing it has benefited from Enugu state government (both old and new) is the grading of an un-tarred road. The truth be told, Ex-Gov Sullivan Chime’s air of infrastructural development did not even touch Nachi Community, including that of Ex-Gov Chimaroke Nnamani, aside grading of roads which dilapidates during rainy seasons, Nachi people will say that they are like a forgotten part of Enugu state, both in political appointment, infrastructural development and elective positions. But, my Nachi people have not lost hope in the Gov Ugwuanyi’s led administration. Nachi people believe that one day, the rural infrastructural development initiative of our amiable Peace Ambassador, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi will touch Nachi in a massive way before he leaves us all come 2023. Governor Ugwuanyi has done it for others, Nachi won’t be an exception, because, our Governor has proven to be a leader who believes in equitable and even distribution of political, economic, and other state resources to foster all-round development in Enugu.
Kindly note that the purpose of the above paragraph is to clearly explain why and how different Enugu residents will have divergent opinions of Governor Ugwuanyi’s led administration. But, there is a political and leadership moral Governor Ugwuanyi’s led administration has taught us all. This is a ground where every Enugu resident who is politically updated and aware should agree on. His Excellency, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, might not have developed all the areas in Enugu state, he may not have reconstructed all the roads with potholes in Enugu, he may not have equipped all the schools in your local government with the modern day state of the art facilities, but, Governor Ugwuanyi taught us how not to crush those who criticise government of the day, instead forgive them, bring them close, and make them part of the system for them to see things themselves and agree that it is easier to be an armchair critic than to be part of the team championing the course of good governance.
I don’t know if Enugu state has experienced this type of system where those who criticise government of the day does not disappear incessantly nor get jail terms before now. From the look of things, it appears like those who criticise Governor Ugwuanyi tends to be loved more and empowered more by him than those who love and appreciate the Priest-In-Politics’ untiring effort towards tackling the ravaging economic and infrastructural challenges of the state.
Sometimes, at my study hour, I do take time to evaluate the current administration to enable me run a comparative study between the Enugu state government of today and those of yester-years, then, project a possible future. Each time, I come face to face with the tears arousing reality that Governor Ugwuanyi has barely two years to spend in office, fear eats deep into me. Why? Ndi Enugu, we may not have a people-driven leadership again. Ndi Enugu, we may not have a government where we can run our mouth like a floating waterproof without expecting to either get killed, maimed, or jailed for it. Ndi Enugu, we may not have a governor who sneaks out at night in search of hospitalised poor people to offset their bills again. Ndi Enugu, we may not have a government where son of a nobody can be somebody without having to know somebody who knows someone again. Ndi Enugu, we may not have it like this again. This is not meant to indoctrinate you, because, even in our divergent view of the present administration’s score-card, Nwa Ugwuanyi has shown unconditional love to his haters and his admirers.
Before, I sum this article up, I want you to have sober reflection now. Think of those working for Governor Ugwuanyi without prejudice nor bias; think of civil servants in Enugu; think of his political appointees, do you see how Governor Ugwuanyi takes care of them? His Excellency, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi’s reward for hardwork has earned him a song that goes thus among Enugu youth folks in Igbo:
“I ruoru ndi ozo oru,
I ga ajo njo ndi egwu,
I ga a di nkirika-nkirika nkirika nkirika,
ngba ahu i buru chimpanzee!
I ruoru Ifeanyi Oru,
I ga ama nma ndi egwu,
I ga a bu omalicha omalicha omalicha omalicha, ngbahu I buru stakeholder.
Ndi Enugu, we may not have the kind of governor we have in Gov Ugwuanyi again, hence, while it lasts, let’s love him, appreciate him and always let him know that we are with him. Enugu Di Happy!
Happy New week to every lover of good governance.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS ADDED… “wisdom and good governance require more than the consistent application of abstract principles ”
Written by
Izuchukwu Ochenwari Udenwaeze
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
