“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.”
-Sigmund Freud
We live in a world where avarice is displacing empathy and affection is giving way to antipathy. It was a stark corrosion of once cherished native cultural values among a people that needs succour so much. But perhaps, it was a direct product of prolonged reign of military tyranny in the polity; such that at the turn of the millennium in the year 2000 when democracy kissed our soil, many a civilian who mounted power positions ruled with iron fists.
At the fifteenth anniversary of our democratic sojourn, Rt. Hon. Dr. Lawrence Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi happened to Ndi Enugu, and nothing has remained the same again. Enugu never had it so good. He is a man of practical love.
If the reckoning of theologians that charity means “love in action” is anything to go by then Gov. Ugwuanyi is love incarnate. He fittingly sits in historical books of prominence, among renowned Leaders like former Governors Chief Jim, Nwobodo, Sam Mbakwe, Maazi Peter Obi, etc who prefigured servant leadership.
Last week, while everyone was congratulating his Excellency the governor for his successful outing as the principal organizer of the historic PDP national convention in Abuja, a tragic news obstructed the airwaves. It was a fatal accident that occurred at Nza street, Independence Layout Enugu.
From the center of the fury came cries of agony and mournful dirges. A fully loaded truck had collided with an oncoming tricycle, which triggered inferno on both automobiles and set the passengers ablaze. It was a dark day for the people. Rescuers helped save some of the multiple casualties, but some couldn’t survive it.
Upon getting the sad news, His Excellency sprang up and shook off the fatigue of the stress he passed through in the build-up to his Party’s convention and dashed to the scene. His ever dependable deputy, Her Excellency, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo,. joined him. They both went there to feel the pulse of the sufferers and empathize with their grief and pains.
Thereafter, the people’s governor proceeded to Posh Hospital, New Haven, Enugu, to empathize with the survivors and ensure that they receive adequate medical attention.
He didn’t stop at that. He customarily went further to pledge to pay all medical bills of the accident victims and consequently made sufficient funds available with the hospital management to ensure the patients were properly treated without any hindrance.
He condoled with the families of victims who lost their lives in the accident and thanked those who rescued the survivors and brought them to the hospital for being Good Samaritans.
For those who have been keeping watch on the governor’s leadership exploits in the state, this gesture was not new. He had always been the first to arrive at the scene of any public mishaps. Recall his fatherly encounter with victims of fatal road accident involving school children of Presentation Nursery and Primary school, Awgu in Enugu, when he went to UNTH to see how they are faring and commensurate with them.
Somehow, almost all the UNTH community were aware that he was coming. And so, patients in wards different from the pupils for whom he visited the hospital ambushed him on arrival, beseeching him helplessly for assistance in their own bills. And he did!
His electing to offset the hospital bills of the survivors of the Nza tragedy gave back life to the parents and victims alike. And so, it can be seen that Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi made no pretence when he said “I am here to serve and go beyond campaign promises…” in the inaugural speech of his second tenure.
Enugu is blessed to have a servant leader in their governor, and thus Ndi Enugu are the envy of many states.
May God bless Enugu state with many more Ugwuanyis as governor, who are fathers in accordance with Sigmund Freud’s definition in our opening quote above.
Enugu is undoubtedly 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)
