In the popular 2009 Bollywood movie, “3 Idiots” directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the central character in the film, Aamir Khan trying to explain why it was easy for him to be the most unbeatable outstanding student in their school and to quell their bewilderment at his exceptionality in all he do, advised them thus: “make your hobby your job and work will be play.” In order words, the ingenious actor was saying that when you do what you ordinarily loves doing, you will attract excellence seamlessly.
This belief finds its fulfilment in His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state. His venture into political leadership can best be described as a square peg in a square hole. His effortless disposition to pursue lasting solution to people’s concerns is legendary. The first impression anyone who encounters him takes home is that provision of social amenities and advanced rural urbanization is his watchword.
For quite a while now, some portion of Nkanu West LGA had lamented the menace of gully erosion in the Amechi-Agbani road by Amodu Awkunanaw. Little did they know that their cry had reached the governor who is always close to his people. Ugwuanyi’s proximity to Ndi Enugu paid off for Nkanu West as he stormed the Atavu Bridge erosion site to have first hand information on the worries of the people few days ago, on Tuesday, 9th November 2021.
The people’s governor, inspected the erosion menace in the area and directed the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to immediately commence remediation on the infrastructure to restore it to good condition for safety of motorists and other road users, amid cheers from residents. The ministry was ably represented at the site tour by the commissioner himself.
Those who had been keeping tab with the state of affairs in Enugu since the inception of this administration will recollect that swift intervention in matters of public emergency has been customary to Gov. Ugwuanyi. He maintains personal touch with ongoing projects across the state. He detest mediocrity in execution of contracts.
Recall his on-site visits to several road construction sites located in Enugu north where the residents complained against the contractors’ perfunctory attitude to duty. The new Anglican road project Nsukka was a living testimony. The Governor ordered that the original master plan of the road network be revisited and that the contracting firm stick to it. The case of Agalla-Obollo Eke Market-Ugwu Allelua ring road in Udenu LGA where the people lamented that flooding was ravaging them following the completion of the rural road rehabilitation is also another evidence in point. Governor Ugwuanyi personally placed a call to the community leader, Prof. Anthony Ugwu and promised him that their demand will be met with expedited action. He ordered the workers back to the site and got the situation fixed.
All these realistic intervention were possible because the governor ensures transparency in the bidding, awarding and execution of projects in all sectors of the state. If he had left grey areas of sharp practices and corruption in any stage of the process, it would have been hard to order immediate remediation as he usually do.
Another didactic lesson from His Excellency’s uniqueness in his rural development drive is his conformity to the ideology of Martin Luther King, Jr that “all labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” To Ugwuanyi, the contractor is not done with the project if the people are not satisfied with his works. He is excellence-minded public servant.
Since the days of Chief Sen. Jim Nwobodo of old Anambra state, Enugu is seeing another workaholic rural development crusader in Gov. Ugwuanyi. He has had his signature of rural urbanization in all the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
In the words of former baseball player for the Chicago White Sox, Sam Ewing
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi rolled up his sleeves since May 29 2015 at the inauguration of his regime in the state, and the evidence are everywhere.
It is certain, Enugu state is in the hand of God!
Written by
Hon. Mrs. Bibian Anekwe
Senior Special Assistant on mobilization and empowerment to Enugu State Governor.
ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT ( DG)
