Through his copious achievements in less than two years in office, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has proven beyond reasonable doubt that there is no vacancy in the state government house come 2019.
So says Save Enugu Group (SEG), a pan-Enugu socio-political movement in a statement by its convener, Chief Willy Ezugwu.
The group noted that it was convinced that with the performance of the former House of Representatives member, now the Executive Governor of Enugu State in his about 22 months in office has shown unequalled development in all parts of the state.
Chief Ezugwu, who is also the Secretary General of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), maintained the “it is not expected that any person from Nsukka zone, and indeed other zones, would contest the governorship in 2019 having seen that Governor Ugwuanyi is working across the state without discrimination.
“Each zone that had its turn to produce the state governor before now, had two terms in office and the turn of Nsukka zone cannot be different.
“But beyond the zonal arrangement that strongly favours Governor Ugwuanyi in 2019, his outstanding performance has made his case for a second term stronger”, SEG stated.
Listing some of the governor’s achievements, the group said that “today, government presence is being felt in rural and sub-urban communities in all Senatorial Districts in the state, which has never happened in the history of Enugu State that infrastructural development would be going on simultaneously across the state. This fact was attested to by the National Chairman of CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa during a visit to the state recently.
“The Governor just flagged off raffle draw for market traders in the state under the Enugu State Traders Empowerment Scheme, one of the policy thrusts of the government with a package of N60 million annually, and the state government releasing N5 million monthly to be won by 100 lucky winners through an open digital raffle draw as to fulfilling his promise to boost the state’s economic activities for the overall interest of the people, especially the ordinary people in the society.
“The government has approved N226, 684, 216. 59 for the completion of Ebonyi River Bridge at Ikem in Isi-Uzo Local Government, and has completed the construction of the Inyaba Link Bridge, that connects about 10 communities in Amagunze, Nkanu East Local Government Area.
In other to maintain even development across the state, the Governor has relocated the Enugu State technical College to its permanent site in Awgu local government, a local government that does not have even a bank.
“The Enugu government has completed several other projects including quality rehabilitation of 9th Mile Corner-Benue State border road, Opi-Nsukka roads, Opi-Obollor road, Egede junction road in Udi local government, among other ongoing intervention on several failed sections of federal roads in the state.
“As part of his economic development agenda, the Ugwuanyi administration performed the historic opening of Enugu free trade zone for rapid development of the state, first ever Nsukka Trade Fair and Sales Exhibition organised through the Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, the flag off Street Light project in Enugu North Senatorial District, the purchase of 10-unit 200KVA generators for effective operation of street lights in Enugu metropolis, and other giant economic development steps.
“On security of lives and property in the state, he has restored confidence in the security apparatus in the state after the lapses that led to the killings in Nimbo communities, resuscitation of the neighbourhood watch through the state to stem the Fulani herdsmen clashes, donation of 85 motorcycles to the 17 Local Government Areas of the state to facilitate access to rural areas by security operatives, just to mention but a few.
“The wonderful thing is that this is happening at a time of national economic downturn. The governor has not allowed recession to determine his pace of work.
“His government is among the three states, namely, Lagos, Rivers and Enugu, which are states paying workers’ salaries and pensions regularly despite daunting economic challenges in the country. Governor Ugwuanyi has been getting commendations from different government and non-governmental groups for his judicious use of lean state resources.
“He is indeed Gburugburu, meaning “all-rounder” when it comes to the delivery of dividend of democracy in Enugu State.
“From his performance so far, we urge every well-meaning Enugu man and women to support Ugwuanyi for a second term, knowing that he has proven that his administration is a government of the people, working for the people”, the group stated.
