THE SINS OF GBURU GBURUEdited by Hon. Ifeanyi Arthur Edeh.

THE SINS OF GBURU GBURU

Edited by Hon. Ifeanyi Arthur Edeh.

Aside his outstanding performance in providing good governance dividends to the people of Enugu State. One major aspect it is the state of safety, security of lives and properties in the state, and his distinctive description of wisdom and character in discharging his duties as the governor, which is crystallised with humility, fairness, and all inclusive governance, that the people of Enugu had never witnessed in time past. 

For this, they say, he's weak and clueless. In fact, they say he's more like a woman, which some disgruntled elements went as far as putting up several mock portraits that pictured his face in female attire etc. In view of all that has happened, he has remained humbled, and focused! 

On May 29, 2015, the good people of Enugu State, friends and well-wishers gathered in large numbers at the popular Michael Okpara, Square, Enugu, to witness the inauguration of a pragmatic leader and true friend of the people, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as the third  executive governor of the new Enugu State.

And his first tenure was crystallised by great performance and delivery of good governance. 

The governor, in keeping with his inaugural address,  within three months  after his inauguration simultaneously flagged-off construction and reconstruction of over eight massive road projects in 9th  Mile Corner, Nsukka, Abakpa Nike and Emene, among others.

This was in addition to completion of works on projects started by the previous administration, such as the state-of-the art Enugu State Diagnostic Centre, the first of its kind in the South East geo-political zone, established to create hospital chains to make Enugu the preferred destination for receiving high quality and affordable healthcare delivery in the country. He settled a committee on urban renewal, which was situated to actualise the governor's well thought out programmes in line with his "four point agenda".

Regular payment of workers salaries and 13th month (Christmas Bonus) salaries.

URBAN AND RURAL ROAD PROJECTS

* OVER 300 KILOMETRES ROAD was constructed in his first tenure, including the two 9th mile bypass in UDI LGA which now serves as alternative roads for travellers from northern parts of the country to Onitsha and Western States. The Agbani-Amurri road in Nkanu West LGA-ogonogoeji ndiagu-Akpugo road ( from Atavu bridge to Afor Onovo), Ngenevu road, which was constructed with the provision of two 500kva transformer; Iva Valley, Ugbodogwu off phase 6 Trans-Ekulu, Ogwuagor, Eha-Amufu, Isiuzo LGA, 8.8km of Nkalagu-Eha-Amufu road after over 35 years neglect. 

Others include, Nike lake road, which started from Peenoks fuel station to T-junction, and Abakpa Nike road down to T-junction, Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway, Ogbaku road in Awgu LGA, New market-miliken hill Ngwo-9th mile road, Ebonyi river bridge construction in Isiuzo LGA, with numerous projects in Enugu urban such as HolyTrinity street Independence Layout, Mount Crescent GRA, Orofia Street, off Nza street, Dental School-Tipper garage road Trans-Ekulu, Loma-linda-Timber shed road, Maryland, Nawfia street Independence Layout, Mbanefor street, Newhaven.

Others include, the Secretariat GRA, Court Avenue, by New State Secretariat, Ibuza street Independence Layout, Owerri road, and Poly Clinic road Asata. He also launched operation ZERO potholea in Enugu, and 1000 youths has been engaged into Enugu Clean Team Project.

The Ugwuanyi's administration has also intervened swiftly on the rehabilitation of failed sections of federal Roads in the state such as the 9th mile-udi-ojiriver-Ugwuoba-Anambra state Border by old road, Aguabor interchange slip road to New Market roundabout, Enugu, with the installation of solar powered street lights, Opi-Obollo Afor- Small road construction and rehabilitation. Governor Ugwuanyi has also taken steps in other spheres of development in keeping with the promises to diversify the economy, to improve the living standards of the people and economic fortunes of the State. These saw to the first ever Enugu State Investment Summit (Oganiru Enugu) successfully organized to showcase the economic potentials of the state. 

The State government in its frantic efforts to address the issue of Housing accomodation , through Enugu State Housing Development Corporation has actualised the site services of the following houses, estates: the Valley estate, GRA Enugu, the WTC estate which has 22 number of two bedroom flats, newly built, the Victory estate by Ebeano Tunnel, which is currently undergoing massive erosion/flood control work. 

EDUCATION: The state government within its first tenure in office constituted an administrative committee on full and proper execution of Enugu state Universal Education Board (ENSUBEB) projects, headed by the deputy governor, Her Excellency. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo. The committee in line with its mandate ensured that over 276 primary and secondary classroom blocks were constructed and renovated. The State Government also provided 12,480 writing desks and chairs for primary school pupils in the state and 868 tables and chairs for teachers to improve the standard of learning, the state higher institutions were not left out.

There also over 750 youths selected from the 17 LGAs who attended a one year free vocational training organized by the state government under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme. And several appointments for the indigenous youths, which made him the best governor so far in the areas of appointment.

There is also One Community One Project which he has earmarked the sum of N10Million each to all the autonomous communities in Enugu state. All these landmark achievements too numerous to count has given our governor several recommendations from several quarters, which in a large extent made him the best 1st term governor ever produced in Enugu State.

HIS SECOND TENURE

In his second tenure development at the heart of good governance. Hence, the renewed vigour, zeal and sustained pace of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration in delivering more dividends of democracy to the good people of Enugu State, following his reelection, remain awesome and tell a vivid story about his focused leadership style geared towards the wellbeing of the people of the state.

Away from rhetoric and flattering political remarks, Gov. Ugwuanyi, through his actions and inactions in the last eight months of his second tenure, has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is in governance to alleviate the sufferings of the people and impact their lives positively.

Having earned the confidence of the electorate who overwhelmingly gave him their massive support to win his reelection with unprecedented 95.54 percent of the votes cast, the highest in the history of the country, Gov. Ugwuanyi remains grateful to the people of Enugu State, reiterating his vow to continue to reward them with good governance as the true heroes of democracy.

In fulfilling this, in spite of the nation’s security and economic challenges, the governor has taken decisive actions that have brought meaningful development to the state. His administration’s peace and grassroots development initiatives have ensured rapid transformation in the rural communities where the dwellers had hitherto been neglected and denied their right to enjoy democracy dividends.

This development strategy was no doubt largely responsible for the 95.54 percent votes Gov. Ugwuanyi got from the electorate to win the last governorship election. The landslide victory was indeed a referendum on his first term achievements.

The victory became a motivation for the governor to bountifully reward the people with more dividends. Consequently, immediately after his second term inauguration, he constituted 12 Sectoral Adhoc Committees that reviewed all sectors of governance for effective service delivery.

Upon inaugurating the State Executive Council (EXCO) to drive the weighty recommendations of the committees, Gov. Ugwuanyi charged members of his cabinet to hit the ground running as he was in a hurry to fully deliver on his promises to the people.

Eight months down the line, it is worthy of note that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration has sustained the tempo of peace and good governance in the state, awarding multiple contracts for execution of more critical infrastructural development across the state, worth over N9 billion.

The state government also approved the sum of N1.5 billion, N244 million and N200 million for payments of required counterpart funds for the Universal Basic Education scheme for construction and renovation of more primary and junior secondary school buildings, the APPEALS programme for women and youths agricultural empowerment and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for comprehensive basic health services for every eligible resident in the state, respectively, totaling over N1.9 billion.

This is in addition to the N4.9 billion and N100 million counterpart funds paid by the present administration for the Universal Basic Education and Universal Health Coverage, respectively, during its first tenure.

Still on infrastructure, the projects awarded within the eight months period under review, which are ongoing with some concluded, include the completion of the Nike Lake junction – Harmony Estate Road – Amorji Nike – Adoration Pilgrimage Centre, Phase II and III, in Enugu East LGA, which will link Abakpa and Emene and serve as a critical bypass that will decongest traffic gridlock at Abakpa T-junction; the asphalting of a 22.443km inter-community link road – the Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti road – that connects Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGA, under the Rural Access and Mobility Project II (RAMP II); rehabilitation of numerous internal roads in the University town of Nsukka and the flood routing/erosion control works at Achi Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Others include the construction of access and internal road networks at Golf Estate Annex, located  at Abor, in Udi LGA, which will cost the state government a whopping sum of N2.08 billion;  the rehabilitation of Orie Market-Nkwo Ida-Afor Inyi road junction in Igbo-Eze North LGA; the Agbalaenyi junction-Enugu-Onitsha Expressway link road at Oji River LGA; the Amaeze Street outflow to Enugu Road catchment box culvert and the New Anglican Road – Obechara Road junction in Nsukka; the Akpabio Street, GRA, Enugu (completed) and access/internal road at the old Governor’s Lodge, GRA, Enugu (completed).

Others also include the beautification, fencing and provision of works of arts in major roundabouts in Enugu City as well as in the forest reserve adjacent to the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, now known as Unity Park, to serve as a tourist attraction and centre for relaxation and recreation.

Parts of the critical infrastructure also include the construction of the Nsukka Township Stadium (Phase One) in the University town of Nsukka; remodeling and renovation of the Abuja Building, Government House, Enugu (completed), to ensure efficient administrative service delivery; construction of fence, pavement, surfacing, landscaping and beautification of the newly constructed State Customary Court of Appeal headquarters, Independence Layout, Enugu; massive renovation of the State Judiciary Complex, Enugu and supply of 300 units of bicycles to complement the 260 vehicles as well as motorcycles purchased by the state government for Forest Guards’ operations in the rural areas, which are being distributed to the 260 electoral wards in the state for effective security engagement.

Also within the eight months of this second tenure, Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration equally purchased 100 units of Innoson patrol vans equipped with communication gadgets, which were distributed to security agencies in the state to aid their operations. It engaged 1,700 Forest Guards, repositioned the Vigilante/Neighborhood Watch groups and purchased 260 security vehicles for their operations.

The state government recently handed over five newly procured Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) fire-fighting trucks to the state fire service, for the five newly constructed fire service stations across the three senatorial districts of the state, to enhance their efficiency and effective response to emergencies. Further, the deployment of automated drones for surveillance is underway.

From the foregoing, it is therefore crystal clear that Ugwuanyi’s administration is truly poised to reward Ndi Enugu with more dividends of democracy in keeping with his vision and in appreciation of their love, goodwill, solidarity and overwhelming support. Enugu State is truly in the hands of God!

Other legacy projects commenced during the last lap of the first term, such as the State Secretariat Annex in Nsukka, the 10-unit Guest Houses, 14 new Court Buildings and Open Registries in the Judicial Divisions and Magisterial Districts across the state, 34 Customary Courts, two per local government area, and the first ever Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters complex as well as the Court of Appeal Annex in Enugu, etc, are nearing completion.

These great feats are in line with the state government’s urban renewal drive, rural development policy and transformation agenda in the State Judiciary, which the governor has pursued vigorously to give every citizen and resident of the state a sense of belonging irrespective of class, political affiliation or religious status.

One fundamental aspect of contract execution under Ugwuanyi’s administration is the start-to-finish policy, which ensures that projects are duly awarded and backed up with funds for timely completion – a scenario that has dissuaded the ugly experience of abandoned projects in the state.

Only recently, the state government approved the report of the joint committee for the negotiation of consequential adjustment for payment of N30,000 Minimum Wage for state civil servants, which according to the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mrs. Adaonah Kene-Uyanwune and the state leadership of Organized Labour, was a product of collective bargaining, based on the economic indices of the state, which the union leaders said they were comfortable with. State workers and retirees have continued to receive their salaries and pensions regularly, even without the receipt of federal allocations.

Going by the highlights of the key deliverables of the 2020 capital budget, the state government, among other legacy projects, proposes to construct the first Enugu Underpass/Flyover at Nike Lake Resort/Nike Road T-junction, Enugu; construct and reconstruct more urban and rural roads; establish small and medium scale industries in the 17 LGAs; construct the Adada Campus of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Nsukka; ensure the operationalisation of the Enugu Medical Diagnostic Centre; achieve full implementation of the Universal Health Coverage in the state; and complete the construction, landscaping and furnishing of the International Conference Center (ICC), Enugu, among others.

From the foregoing, it is therefore crystal clear that Ugwuanyi’s administration is truly poised to reward Ndi Enugu with more dividends of democracy in keeping with his vision and in appreciation of their love, goodwill, solidarity and overwhelming support. 

The governor have in no doubt demonstrated highly sense of humility, and loyalty to the good people of Enugu State. And such shouldn't be taken for granted, in as much as he remained undauntedly focused in delivering the dividends of good governance to the people of Enugu State. There are recent posts and comments by mischief makers to bring the governor in a very bad light, which are totally unnecessary because the governor does not deserve such insults. If it's a sin for someone to deliver his promises to the people of his state, to be humble and never wanted to hurt anybody with his capacity as the governor, then I will say, we need such sinner to sin again and again. We know, the previous administrations wouldn't tolerate all the abuse and insult melted on Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. 

Finally, we must not forget that we are all suffering in the country today, because we foolishly insulted a man who was quiet, and focused to deliver his duty as the president of our country, we demanded for a hard man, a no nonsense president: today we have multiple of it, and we are all crying. May we not encounter such in Enugu State; because by 2023 and beyond, we would all wished we have another Gburu Gburu as our governor.