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Tag: Ugwuanyi

  • Fani-Kayode, Omokri, Yakubu, Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu, others get Senate panel’s nod

    Fani-Kayode, Omokri, Yakubu, Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu, others get Senate panel’s nod

    • Ndume, Oshiomhole in fireworks

    There was drama yesterday at the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Room during the screening of Ambassadorial nominees.

    A confrontation between  Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Adams Oshiomhole over a procedure tensed up the usually calm atmosphere as former ministers, former governors, ex-lawmakers and top technocrats filed in for screening.

    At  the end, the Committee cleared all nominees, including former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; ex-Interior Minister, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.); former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; former presidential aide Reno Omokri; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Grace Bent; and others.

    But it was Omokri’s turn that brought the session to a boiling point.

    The committee had been attending to nominees in batches of five. When Omokri walked in with four career diplomats and after due introductions, Ndume immediately moved a motion and urged the panel to let all five nominees, including Omokri, ‘take a bow and go.’

    The motion had barely landed when other senators, including Adams Oshiomhole, Ned Nwoko, Abdul Ningi and Mohammed Onawo, signalled their desire to speak.

    READ ALSO; Aregbesola’s ally, Adeoti, set to join APC

    Committee Chairman Senator Abubakar Sani Bello recognised Oshiomhole, prompting Ndume to insist that his motion must first be seconded before any comment.

    What followed was a heated verbal exchange that froze the screening for nearly 20 minutes.

    Ndume insisted procedure must be followed.

    Oshiomhole insisted recognition by the chairman superseded everything.

    At one point, Oshiomhole declared:

    “I cannot be intimidated by people who go here and there.”

    Ndume fired back:

    “There is a motion on ground. It must be seconded or it dies.”

    Oshiomhole retorted:

    “Then let it die. Allow me to speak.”

    The room grew noisy as senators argued over parliamentary procedure. The Chairman repeatedly appealed for calm.

    When order was restored, Oshiomhole used his floor time to defend Omokri. He described him as a ‘pragmatist’ who had shown the capacity to rise above old political hostilities.

    He said Omokri’s recent actions proved he could “work in the national interest” and deserved support.

    He also praised President Tinubu for appointing nominees who had previously criticised him, saying it showed “large-hearted leadership.”

    The Chairman eventually cut him short:

    “Senator Adams, you’ve made your point very clear.”

    Senator Onowakpo then seconded Ndume’s motion, clearing the path for the batch to take a bow.

    Ningi used his intervention to push for a nominee from his state and emphasised that ‘taking a bow’ was not equivalent to full Senate confirmation.

    Onawakpo supported allowing the diplomats and Omokri to bow and go, arguing that the committee had already established precedent.

    Despite the fireworks, the Committee cleared all nominees who appeared. Others cleared are: Jerry Manwe, Senator Nora Ladi Daduut, Erelu Angela Adebayo, Mrs  Florence Ajimobi, Olufemi Pedro, Ibas Ibok-Ete, Prof. Isaac Adewole, among others.

    Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele explained that many nominees were allowed to bow and go because they had served in the National Assembly or held senior public offices.

    Following full clearance for all nominees by the committee except Adamu Garba Talba Nangree, who was absent, the Senate may likely confirm the nominees next week.

  • How Gov Mbah, Ugwuanyi, Onoh can deliver Enugu for Tinubu in 2027

    How Gov Mbah, Ugwuanyi, Onoh can deliver Enugu for Tinubu in 2027

    By Adolphus Udeh

    In the bustling political landscape of Enugu State, a new chapter is unfolding as the 2027 general elections loom on the horizon. At the heart of this narrative is Denge Dr. Josef Onoh, a political heavyweight and former campaign spokesman for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South East, who has issued a clarion call to Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure a victory for Tinubu in the state. 

    Onoh’s statement, delivered with characteristic candor, underscores the necessity of a strategic alliance between the two leaders and most especially former Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a member of the G5 to deliver Enugu for the president, while also highlighting the formidable influence Onoh wields—a force that could significantly impact Mbah’s political fortunes if they fail to unite. 

    Onoh is the only candidate that could run against Gov. Mba either from Enugu East senatorial zone or Enugu west senatorial zone as he hails from both zones in what can best be described as a political trinity. 

    Dr. Josef Onoh is no stranger to Enugu’s political arena. A former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly (2003–2007), a Senior special adviser to the former Governor Ugwuanyi on Domestic Matters, a Senior Special Adviser on security matters, a Senior Special Adviser on Special Projects, a commissioner, office of the Governor and the Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), a former 2023 PDP gubernatorial aspirant, the Founder of the Asiwaju Renewed Mandate South East (ARMSE), and Chairman of Forum of former members of Enugu House of Assembly. 

    Onoh has built a reputation as a principled and influential figure. His tenure as ECTDA Chairman saw transformative projects, such as the relocation of the Enugu Building Materials Market and contributions to the development of Akanu Ibiam International Airport. His political journey, from the days of the Grassroot democracy movement (GDM), marked by a bold defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to champion Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, cemented his status as a loyalist of the APC and a voice for Southern Nigeria’s interests.

    Onoh’s influence extends beyond Enugu. As Tinubu’s South East campaign spokesman, he navigated a region where the APC struggled to gain traction, particularly in Enugu, Anambra, and Abia, where Tinubu garnered only 1.1% of the vote in 2023. Despite this, Onoh’s relentless advocacy for Tinubu, rooted in his belief in a Southern presidency, earned him respect and a direct line to the presidency. His ability to mobilize support, as seen in his efforts to rally Igbo traders in Lagos for Governor Sanwo-Olu, demonstrates his grassroots reach and strategic acumen.

    Onoh’s clout is further amplified by his familial legacy. As the son of former Anambra State Governor Christian Onoh, he carries a dynastic weight that resonates in Igbo politics. His outspoken critiques, such as his defense of Tinubu against Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s attacks and his condemnation of Peter Obi’s political oscillations, showcase his fearless approach to shaping public discourse. This influence makes Onoh a pivotal player in Enugu, capable of swaying voters and political stakeholders—a reality Governor Mbah cannot ignore.

    Governor Peter Mbah’s Political Crossroads as a PDP stalwart, has been a transformative figure in Enugu since his narrow victory in the 2023 gubernatorial election, where he polled 160,895 votes to defeat Labour Party’s Chijioke Edeoga by a mere 3,343 votes. His administration has been lauded for its comprehensive approach to governance, revitalizing sectors like infrastructure, education, health, and security. 

    The PDP’s resurgence in Enugu, reclaiming 20 of 24 State Assembly seats and five of eight House of Representatives seats, is a testament to Mbah’s political dexterity and appeal. However, Mbah faces a complex political landscape. The 2023 elections revealed Enugu’s volatility, with the Labour Party initially dominating before defections bolstered the PDP. 

    Moreover, Mbah’s governance style, while effective, has drawn criticism for actions like market demolitions, which the APC has capitalized on to rally defectors. Reports suggest Mbah is weighing options to either defect to the APC or remain in the PDP while supporting Tinubu’s re-election, a move driven by his close ties to the presidency and a desire to secure his own re-election in 2027.

    Onoh’s statement to President Tinubu—“I cannot deliver Enugu State for the president in 2027 without the cooperation of Governor Peter Mbah” is a strategic plea for unity. Onoh recognizes that Enugu’s political dynamics require a combined effort to overcome the region’s historical resistance to the APC. 

    In 2023, Enugu overwhelmingly supported Peter Obi, with Tinubu securing only 1.1% of the vote. Onoh’s experience as a campaigner in this challenging terrain underscores his understanding that delivering Enugu demands Mbah’s administrative machinery and grassroots support.

    Onoh’s urging Mbah to join the APC is not merely a call for party loyalty but a pragmatic strategy for political realignment. If Mbah defects, he would likely become the APC’s leader in Enugu, consolidating power and sidelining local APC factions led by figures like Uche Nnaji, who have vowed to unseat Mbah. Such a move would align Enugu with the national ruling party, ensuring federal support and enhancing Mbah’s re-election prospects. For Onoh, this alliance would leverage his influence to mobilize APC loyalists while tapping into Mbah’s governance achievements to sway undecided voters.

     *The Stakes of Discord* 

    Should Mbah and Onoh fail to align, the consequences could be dire for both Enugu’s political stability and Tinubu’s re-election bid. Onoh’s influence, rooted in his ability to galvanize communities and his direct access to Tinubu, could be wielded to rally opposition against Mbah. His past interventions, such as advocating for Ogui-Nike’s turn in local government leadership, demonstrate his capacity to shape local politics and challenge established powers. If Onoh mobilizes against Mbah, he could erode the governor’s support base, particularly in areas like Enugu North LGA, where Onoh hails from.

    For Mbah, resisting cooperation risks alienating the APC’s growing presence in Enugu, fueled by defections from the PDP, LP, and APGA. The APC, under leaders like Uche Nnaji, is aggressively positioning itself to capture Enugu in 2027, capitalizing on public discontent with policies like market demolitions. Without Onoh’s support, Mbah could face a fragmented PDP and a resurgent APC, jeoparding his re-election chances.

    For Tinubu, a divided Enugu could jeopardize his South East strategy. The region’s governors, including Mbah, are reportedly leaning toward supporting Tinubu, as noted by Minister of Works Dave Umahi. However, without a unified front, the APC’s chances of breaking the South East’s opposition stronghold diminish, especially given the coalition of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    A Path Forward

    The synergy between Onoh and Mbah could be a game-changer. Onoh’s grassroots influence and loyalty to Tinubu, combined with Mbah’s administrative prowess and PDP machinery, could deliver a significant portion of Enugu’s votes to the APC. Mbah’s defection to the APC, as Onoh suggests, would streamline this effort, positioning Enugu as a key battleground for Tinubu’s re-election. It would also neutralize internal APC opposition, ensuring a cohesive campaign strategy.

    As Enugu navigates this critical juncture, the stakes are high. Onoh’s call for cooperation is a reminder that in Nigeria’s fluid political landscape, alliances are forged not just on ideology but on mutual benefit. For Mbah, aligning with Onoh and the APC could secure his political future and elevate Enugu’s role in national politics. For Onoh, it’s an opportunity to cement his legacy as a kingmaker who delivered Enugu for Tinubu. Together, they could reshape Enugu’s political destiny, but failure to unite risks a fragmented effort that could cost them both—and Tinubu—in 2027.

    Comrade Udeh is the Former Chairman of APC in Enugu State

  • Ugwuanyi: Grassroot development is my goal

    By Louis Amoke

    Louis Amoke examines the programmes of Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the areas of urban renewal, investment drive, tourism and industrialisation, and the governor’s projections for future development of the Southeast state.

    The recent decisions by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to restore the Enugu Urban Master-Plan, construct pedestrian bridges and overlay major roads in the city, among other interventions, are not only bold initiatives, but also positive steps towards reinvigorating and upgrading the state capital for socio-economic expansion.

    These actions demonstrate the governor’s political will to advance good governance and further enhance the development structure of Enugu City, to sustain its enviable status as the historical capital of Eastern Nigeria, East Central State, old Anambra and Enugu State and the capital of the present Enugu State.

    The initiatives, which were part of the outcome of the maiden meeting of the newly-inaugurated State Executive Council, have set a new agenda for rapid development in line with the governance strategy of the state government towards ensuring that Enugu continues to receive deserved attention as one of the oldest and finest state capitals in the country.

    Undoubtedly, the new policy direction is deeply heartwarming, especially to the urban inhabitants, considering the fact that the state government, through its rural development policy, in the last four years, had concentrated massive development more in the rural areas than in urban centres.

    The grassroots development programme of the Ugwuanyi administration, which is novel in the annals of the state, was a deliberate strategy to break the barrier of development imbalance that had existed between the urban and rural dwellers in order to create more urban centres for socio-economic expansion as well as give the larger population of the state a sense of belonging.

    It would be recalled that Gov. Ugwuanyi, in his first term’s inaugural address, stated that his administration will “pay a special attention to rural development because majority of our people live in the rural areas”. He added that the state government will create more urban areas to boost economic growth.

    In keeping with this sound vision, Ugwuanyi’s administration, in the past four years, through its grassroots development initiatives, executed massive development projects which were concentrated largely in the rural areas, remembering long neglected communities, such Amurri, Eha-Amufu, Uzo-Uwani, among others.

    Prior to Ugwuanyi’s administration, 13 out of 16 wards in Uzo-Uwani LGA could not access their council headquarters in Umuluokpa because of bad road. The federal road connecting Enugu and Ebonyi State, through Eha Amufu, in Isi-Uzo LGA, was neglected for over 36 years, until it was recently rehabilitated to standard by the Ugwuanyi administration. Today, the people of Amurri in Nkanu West LGA await the commencement of the second phase of their road, after the Ugwuanyi administration constructed the first phase for a community that has never experienced any form of development on its land in the past 100 years.

    The rural development strategy such as the “One Community, One Project” scheme also ensured that every community had one project or another according to their priority. Out of about 550 kilometers of roads covered so far in the state, over 65 percent was executed in the rural areas.

    For the majority of the rural dwellers, especially those who had not seen asphalted roads or other development projects in their communities until the enthronement of the present administration, it was indeed a dream come true as they do not only enjoy good road network today which has reconnected them to larger society for socio-economic growth, they also have access to other government facilities that make life more meaningful.

    The outcome of the maiden council meeting, which centered government’s development attention on Enugu City, coupled with the inauguration of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) for the restoration of the Enugu urban master-plan, therefore reinvigorated the governor’s steadfastness to strike a balance and give the state capital the facelift it deserves to compete favorably among its contemporaries.

    The Ugwuanyi administration has taken measures to sustain the glory of Enugu City, through reconstruction and maintenance of urban roads and other facilities; engagement of 1000 youths (additional 1,000 underway) to clean up the state; rehabilitation of historical government structures such as the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, State House of Assembly Complex, Zik’s Residence, as well as the ongoing completion of the Enugu International Conference Centre, among others.

    On the planned overlay of major roads in Enugu City, constructed by past administrations, which entails the application of hot rolled asphaltic wearing course on the existing ones with other technical considerations, the aim is to increase the durability of the roads to last for a longer time and serve the public better.

    The comprehensive maintenance is comparatively cheap, considering the enormous resources being spent yearly by the present administration to repair potholes being created on the roads every rainy season as a result of persistent rains. The planned overlay, therefore, will also beautify the roads and add value to the aesthetic of the state capital as a modern city founded over a century ago.

    The Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, while briefing newsmen on the said overlay, alongside the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, stated that the project was in addition to the ongoing repairs of identified potholes in Enugu urban and intercity roads.

    The Information commissioner disclosed that the approved construction of three pedestrian bridges in Enugu urban to be located at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, by Holy Ghost Cathedral, Garki Awkunanaw and Mayor Bus-stop by Agbani Road, was to ensure safety of pedestrians, free traffic and orderliness.

    Inaugurating the 14-man Enugu Master-plan Enforcement Authority, headed by his former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Dr. Josef Umunnakwe Onoh as the Executive Chairman, Gov. Ugwuanyi directed them to immediately commence enforcement of full development control in Enugu Capital Territory, in line with “relevant extant laws and the need for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem balance.”

    Ugwuanyi disclosed that the enforcement authority “was constituted in line with a deliberate choice of the state government to enhance the glory of Enugu as the former capital of Eastern Nigeria, East Central State, old Anambra and Enugu State as well as the present Enugu State.”

    The governor maintained that Enugu deserves an enhanced serene ambience to be able to offer the full compliments of urban triangle; a place to live, work and play.

    He also pointed out that the serenity of Enugu City is one of the state’s greatest assets that must be jealously guarded, directing members of the enforcement body that “you must therefore halt and begin to reverse the contraptions of building approvals pervading Enugu Capital Territory”.

    According to him, “Enugu Capital Territory must sustain its ranking as a destination of choice in real estate investment. We expect nothing less from you.

    “I must emphasise, as always, that your loyalty as public officers should be to God and the state. You must at all times be seen to pursue honesty, transparency, accountability, equity, justice, fairness and unalloyed commitment to your duty in the course of your service to this state.

    “The roles may be different but we are united in the objective – to alleviate the sufferings of our people and put smiles on their faces and these we must do in fulfillment of our contract with Ndi Enugu”.

    Other far reaching decisions taken at the maiden council meeting, aimed at ensuring the serenity and security of the state, which have received the commendations of the state workers and other stakeholders, were the approval for the purchase of eighteen (18) automated drones for surveillance within and outside the state for effective security management and ratification of earlier approval given by the last State Executive Council on May 28, 2019, for the purchase of one hundred (100) units of Innoson patrol vans to enhance the capabilities of the security agencies in the state.

    The council ratified the approval for the purchase of 260 vehicles as well as motorcycles and bicycles to be handed over to Forest Guards, Neighborhood Watch groups, among others, for community policing. The security vehicles, according to Aroh, have been supplied and are being installed with communication gadgets and other security facilities for maximum effectiveness.

    Only on Tuesday, 65 out of the 100 patrol vans were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Government House, Enugu, where the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdulrahman who received the vehicles on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed Abubakar, commended Ugwuanyi for “this wonderful gesture”, describing the governor as “an unassuming personality, a symbol of peaceful co-existence and the architect of modern security in Enugu State”.

    Reacting, workers in the state through the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) applauded the governor for the sustained efforts of his administration “towards reducing crime to the barest minimum in the state”.

    They also lauded him for the ongoing road maintenance in Enugu metropolis and its environs; recruitment of 1,700 Forest Guards; planned deployment of automated drones; purchase of vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles and most importantly his spirit of patriotism in patronizing an indigenous vehicle manufacturing company, Innoson Group, to assist the security agencies in their operations.

    Expressing satisfaction, the workers declared that the security measures have contributed immensely “in keeping crime at a very low rate in Enugu State and the sustenance of the position of the state as the most peaceful state in Nigeria.”

    From the foregoing, Ugwuanyi has adroitly addressed the interlinking complexities of human security and inclusive development and delivered a winning formular in Enugu State. He simply deserves the support of his constituents and key stakeholders. No wonder he is getting them – with a lot of appreciation and enthusiasm.

  • Ugwuanyi: Taking democratic dividends to grassroots

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s priority is rural development. In this piece, Louis Amoke examines the administration’s rural development strategy, which has impacted on the grassroots.

    The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Wole Oke, who represents Obokun/Oriade Constituency of Osun State, has given a good account of the policy thrust of the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and its positive impact on the lives of the people of the state.

    Oke, who led members of the Ad-hoc Committee on Investigation and Monitoring of Recruitment of Nigerians by MDAs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to pay a courtesy call on Gov. Ugwuanyi, when they visited the state on their oversight assignment, disclosed that the governor has concentrated massive development more in the rural areas “unlike what we have in other states where a governor will concentrate development in the state capital”.

    The parliamentarian extolled the leadership qualities of Gov. Ugwuanyi as a peaceful, humble, focused, hard-working and grassroots politician, stressing that they were impressed with the level of progress going on in the rural communities of Enugu State.

    Oke’s remark on Ugwuanyi was not only candid but also a true reflection of what his administration stands for. His assessment has reechoed the intrinsic aspect of the governor’s vision, strategy and untiring endeavor in reconnecting the people with reality and act of good governance, irrespective of class or socio-economic background.

    Ugwuanyi, in spite of the nation’s daunting economic challenges, the state’s lean resources and recent security challenges, has remained undaunted and resolute in his sustained efforts to build Enugu State of the founding fathers’ dream, where peace, harmony, inclusive governance and rapid development hold sway.

    His vision and passion for the well-being of the people of the state, irrespective of class or social status, as major stakeholders in the development project, gave birth to the massive infrastructural rebirth being witnessed in rural communities since the inception of his administration.

    As Oke rightly stated, Ugwuanyi’s grassroots development initiatives have truly ensured more concentration of infrastructural developments in rural areas than in urban centres.

    This reverse in the development strategy, which is novel in the annals of the state and seems to be alien to some urban residents, was in view of the fact that past administrations concentrated development largely in Enugu city, neglecting the majority of the state’s population who live in the rural areas. The governor’s rural development agenda have addressed to a reasonable extent, the unorthodox imbalance between urban and rural dwellers in terms distribution of infrastructure and other basic amenities.

    The success of the strategy, especially its direct positive impact on the lives of the rural dwellers was no doubt responsible for the over 94.5 percent votes Gov. Ugwuanyi garnered to win his reelection in 2019, which was adjudged the most peaceful and transparent electoral exercise in the history of Enugu State.

    In clear terms, the landslide victory which was unprecedented in spite of the fact that it was the first time the state went to the polls as an opposition political party to the ruling party at the national level was indeed a referendum on the governor’s outstanding performance.

    The outcome of the 2019 governorship election went beyond parochial sentiments in proving that the overwhelming majority of the people of Enugu State appreciate the good works of Gov. Ugwuanyi and his uncommon panache of humility, peacefulness, godliness and inclusiveness, which he brought to bear in the governance of the state.

    Standing on his vision to channel the bulk of development projects to the rural areas, Ugwuanyi in his inaugural address in 2015, promised to pay a special attention to rural development; open up the rural areas; create more urban centres; develop fresh economic opportunities and reduce pressure on Enugu metropolis for socio-economic expansion.

    The governor’s policy direction, which became the fulcrum of his administration’s success story, made it possible that citizens/communities in Enugu State who have not felt the positive impact of governance for many decades did so in an ambiance of peace and harmony.

    It was indeed a deliberate step anchored on the core values of justice, equity and fairness in an uncommon zeal to “take up the gauntlet of the struggle for the emancipation of the Wawa man from where our heroes past stopped”.

    On Ugwuanyi’s modest achievements, in spite of the recurring decimal of paucity of funds, coupled with the inherited huge debt profile and other enormous wage bills to be serviced, considering the state’s status as a large and the oldest city in the South-East, Ugwuanyi’s administration has remained regular in payment of state workers’ salaries and retirees’ pensions, including the 13th month salary, even without receipt of federal allocations.

    His administration has covered about 550 kilometers of roads scattered all over the nooks and crannies of the state with some ongoing projects such as the Enugu State Secretariat Annex building in Nsukka and the administrative building of the Enugu State University of Education in Ihe, Awgu L.G.A – first university in the South-East zone that would be a degree-awarding institution in the area of education and a centre for training of teachers for primary, secondary and tertiary education.

    Other include, some internal roads in Enugu and the University town of Nsukka and the 200-bed Igbo Ano Specialist Hospital, Enugu North Senatorial District, which when completed with other proposed infrastructural development in the site, will serve as facilities for the ESUT College of Medicine that has been relocated to Nsukka, etc.

    In keeping with its commitment to zero tolerance for potholes on roads built by past administrations and maintenance of existing infrastructure, the state government, acting on professional advice, has announced plans to commence fixing of potholes created recently by persistent rainfalls, once the rains subside.

    Three months into his first term,  Ugwuanyi spearheaded the massive development of urban and rural roads across the three senatorial districts of the state, in Emene, Abakpa-Nike, 9th Mile Corner and Nsukka.

    Shortly after, his administration, in line with its rural development strategy, simultaneously executed 35 grassroots development projects across the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State, which ensured that every council benefited at least one project from the programme.

    There was also the N10 million “One Community, One Project” scheme, which has made it possible for every community in the state to execute one or two priority projects of her choice.

    All these were going on as completion of works on projects started by previous administrations were given adequate attention, such as the Enugu State Diagnostic Centre (completed), the International Conference Centre Enugu (ongoing), the Poly  General Hospital Asata, Enugu and the Udi General Hospital now completed and scheduled for inauguration.

    Besides the foregoing, the following were among the development projects successfully delivered to standard by Ugwuanyi’s administration in the last four years.

    The Nike Lake road and Abakpa Nike road in Enugu East Local Government Area, which were hitherto in deplorable conditions; the two 9th Mile Bypasses in Udi L.G.A, which have relieved travelers the stress of traffic gridlock in the area, especially during festivities; the Opi-Nsukka Dual Carriageway in Nsukka Local Government Area with state-of-the-art underground drainage and other facilities befitting a University town and the second largest city in the state – the first of its kind to be delivered by a state government in the entire south east. The New Market-Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile road, an ancient, historic and undulating road, modernised with streetlights and other safety measures after decades of neglect to showcase its potentials as a tourist attraction and the state’s natural roller coaster, which now serves as an alternative gateway into the city of Enugu, from Onitsha-Enugu expressway.

    The Agbani-Amurri road in Nkanu West LGA (Phase one), constructed for a community that has never experienced any form of development on its land in the past 100 years. The Ogonogoeji-Ndiagu-Akpugo road (from Atavu Bailey bridge to Afor Onovo), in the same council, which has a historic and symbolic attraction as the first state government road project in the entire Akpugo zone since the creation of Enugu State.

    Development projects of significant importance to the lives of the lowly and neglected were also executed in high density suburbs such as Ngenevu, Iva Valley, Ugbodogwu, Ogwuagor, Abakpa Nike, Emene, among others.

    The 49km Udenu Ring road (ongoing) linking over 10 adjoining communities with three bridges equally stands out as one of the legacy projects of Ugwuanyi’s administration in the rural areas.

    Today, the people of Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area are in jubilant mood as they await the inauguration of the 8.8km road connecting their agrarian community with Nkalagu, Ebonyi State, which was reconstructed to high standard by the Ugwuanyi administration after it was abandoned for over 36 years.

    Others include the Ogbaku road in Awgu Local Government Area, which was constructed on a difficult terrain that is both hilly and undulating; the Ebonyi River Bridge in Isi Uzo Local Government Area; the Nkwo Inyi-Akpugoeze-Mamu Forest road in Oji River Local Government Area, and the Nike Lake junction-Harmony Estate-Adoration Pilgrimage Centre road (Phase one), with five river crossings, which when completed will link Abakpa and Emene and decongest traffic in the areas. Numerous development projects have also been executed in the urban areas.

    Apart from road projects,  Ugwuanyi’s administration has also taken bold steps in other spheres of development which have endeared the governor to the people of the state.

    The areas include, the Enugu Traders Empowerment Scheme which has so far assisted 3600 genuine traders with the sum of N50,000 each to grow their various businesses; construction and renovation of over 589 primary and secondary school blocks in the state, with more than 260 ongoing, as well as procurement of learning tools; employment of over 5000 teachers; empowerment of 750 youths under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme and engagement of 1000 youths, additional 1000 underway, under the Enugu Clean Team Project.

    Others include award of scholarships to 680 indigent engineering students of Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Ezeagu L.G.A and the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, for four years of academic studies as well as the recent scholarship offered to 22 post-secondary school indigent students to study at Mewar University, India.

    Others still include, construction and renovation of district hospitals and health centres in the state, especially in the rural areas under the primary healthcare programme; construction of over 14 new court buildings and open registries in the judicial divisions and magisterial districts across the state, which the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Ngozi Emehelu, described as “unprecedented infrastructural development that has not been witnessed in the entire Southeast” and “the largest single intervention in infrastructural development in the Judiciary of Enugu State for over 20 years”.

    Following the recent odd security challenges, which attempted to undermine the enviable status of Enugu as one of the most peaceful and secure states in the country, Ugwuanyi has grabbed the bull by the horn by initiating measures and strategies to decisively tackle the situation with the establishment of the Forest Guard operation (a first in the entire country); reorganisation of the Vigilante/Neighborhood Watch groups; creation of a new Ministry of Security Affairs; appointment of the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo as Security Consultant to the state government; purchase of 360 security vehicles for community policing as well as the Security Trust Fund, among others.

    With the submission of the weighty reports of the 12 sectoral ad-hoc committees set up by his administration on assumption of its second term to review government’s programmes, policies and activities in the last four years and make recommendations that would assist it to reposition the state’s public service for optimized service delivery and advancement of good governance, Gov. Ugwuanyi is set to commence more aggressive polices and strategies. These are expected to usher in further rapid development and take Enugu State to the next level for Ndi Enugu to continue to enjoy democracy dividends. Enugu State is truly in the hand of God.

  • Ugwuanyi preaches peace, unity, progress

    Enugu State Governor and Governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has urged Christians and indeed all Nigerians, to take advantage of Christ’s resurrection, which Easter symbolizes, to sustain their abiding faith in God and promote peace, love, unity and virtues that enhance the progress of the country.

    In his Easter message, Ugwuanyi noted that the observation of 40 days of Lent through fasting, abstinence, praying and charity in memory of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, “reinvigorates the spiritual strength of Christians and God’s amazing grace for salvation of mankind”.

    While wishing the good  people of Enugu State and indeed all Nigerians a happy Easter celebration, Ugwuanyi reiterated his resolve to continue to serve with the fear of God, and urged them to remain committed to the core values of their religious belief which centres on peace, unity, love and progress.

     

  • Ugwuanyi moves to make students ICT-compliant

    Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has expressed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that all secondary school students in the state are acquainted with the use of computers for learning and other social and educational engagements. Ugwuanyi who spoke during the grand finale of the computer competition for secondary school students in the state organized by the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB) at Queen’s Secondary School, Enugu, stated that the exercise was a demonstration of his administration’s firm commitment towards actualising the noble vision. Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, the governor reassured that “very soon all our students will become ICTcompliant and master the use of computer,” stressing that “this competition has indicated that Enugu State is now championing the use of computers for its students at the secondary school level.”

    He maintained that computers currently play a major role in all areas of human endeavour, adding that students can become experts in their formative years to assist the state and the nation in the area of digitization. The governor pointed out that the present adoption of the use of computer for examinations by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was one of the reasons the state government has placed premium on students’ ICT compliance in the state. Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of PPSMB, Barr. Nestor Ezeme, commended Ugwuanyi for his unflinching commitment towards the students’ use of computers for learning, disclosing that the present administration procured computer sets for the two 246 secondary schools in the state.

    Ezeme further disclosed that the competition was to ensure that the competing students meet up with the expectation of the state government and as well improve their skills. In his remark, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Rt. Hon. Erochukwu Mathew Ugwueze, described the exercise as a welcome development and another milestone in the education sector and enjoined the students to avail themselves of the unique opportunity to improve their ICT skills. Responding, the first, second and third winners of the competition, Samuel Eze, James Chinweoke and Miss Favour Ikechukwu respectively, thanked the state government for the bold initiative and promised to utilise the knowledge they have acquired for the development of the state and the society.

  • Ugwuanyi praised for enhancing ease of doing business

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, and the National President of Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson, have praised Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his administration’s innovative measures and steadfastness in enhancing the ease of doing business.

    They also congratulated Ugwuanyi for the state’s impressive rating as second in the list of the five most reformed states in ease of doing business in the country in 2018.

    Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Lagos and Anambra States were last week rewarded at the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Awards 2019 for being top reformed states in ease of doing business in 2018. The awards were presented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    At the opening of the 30th Enugu International Trade Fair, Enelamah, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Emeka Ifezulike, said the recent feat recorded by Ugwuanyi’s administration “is no mean achievement”.

    He said: “We have to congratulate Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his steadfastness in making Enugu State very conducive for businesses to thrive”.

    The minister lauded the governor for his administration’s help to the Enugu Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, which, he said, contributed to the body’s success.

    Lawson thanked Ugwuanyi for his administration’s support to the chamber’s movement to its permanent site, as well as the government’s “tireless efforts at promoting the growth of the private sector”.

    She said: “NACCIMA is pleased with the great steps your administration has taken in the growth and development of the MSME programme, which helped in the launch of the National MSME Clinic in Enugu in October 2018.”

    Ugwuanyi, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting ease of doing business.

    She said: “In line with the prevailing attitude in the country, we are taking concrete measures to enhance the ease of doing business in the state, while being fully engaged in a campaign to attract investors who will help us harness the state’s vast potentials in agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, tourism, power generation, medicare, education, financial services, technology, etc.”

    Mrs. Ezeilo lauded the Federal Government’s efforts at repositioning the economy, and urged it “to develop the Enugu International Trade Fair complex, bringing it at par with its contemporaries in Kaduna and Lagos.

  • Ugwuanyi : The message is ‘Let’s get back to work’

    Coming just a few days after securing a resounding reelection in the gubernatorial election, a birthday anniversary offers some compelling reason to permit oneself an indulgent splurge. But for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who turns 55 on March 20, there is no such inclination.

    As has always been his tradition, he would rather spend such day on a sobering note in the company of persons whose lives make only a fleeting presence in the public mind; persons whose welfare has decidedly been left to the benevolence of religious bodies, non-governmental organisations or individuals with a heart for charity.

    So even long before celebrating birthdays with children in orphanages became a fad among preening celebrities, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had been doing so quietly away from the cameras. And such visits are hardly ever a one-off affair for him, like it often is with the limelight-obsessed celebrities of the social media age. They have overtime become an overarching moral obligation nurtured before his foray into politics, inspiring regular visits, for instance, to the Little Sisters of the Poor’s Home for the Elderly, the secluded world of prisons and other such places that are not the usual haunts of society’s elites.

    Such visits have, not surprisingly, imbued him with empathy. But, above all, they have also served as a rallying call to action. As he had noted two years ago when he spent his 53rd birthday in the courtyard of the Enugu Prisons: “It is indeed cardinal responsibility of the government to cater for the wellbeing of everybody and every segment, group or class in the society.” This inclination was brilliantly captured by Rev. Fr. Benignus Ugwu, the presiding priest of the Enugu-based Little Sisters’ Home for the Elderly, among whose residents the governor sat unobtrusively during the Easter of 2017. “Where your treasure is, there your heart is. We can see where his heart is; it is with the poor and vulnerable and we can only pray for him,” said Rev. Fr. Ugwu.

    He was again at the home where the elderly residents, many of them hobbled by old age and associated ailments, sang him birthday songs and offered a toast to his good health. There were similar visits to an orphanage run by the Red Cross and few other such charities where he has been a silent benefactor.

    His acts of charity are by no means exhibitionist. Neither are they carried out in ways that diminish nor further dehumanize the beneficiaries. For him, everyone has a right to a decent living. That basically underpins the inclusive philosophy adopted by his administration from the outset, and which has been so scrupulously implemented. And while it helps to directly assist charitable causes, he is convinced that addressing the social and economic conditions which fuel social exclusion and breed abject want and utter dejection through policies are just as important.

    One can also deduce that conviction from the fact Enugu was among the first few states where the Child Rights Act became fully operational, having been signed by Governor Ugwuanyi after the passage of the executive bill by the Enugu State House of Assembly. The signing of the Health Sector Reform Bill conceived to comprehensively address the contemporary challenges of public health also comes to mind. This law has also enhanced the scope and administrative operations of the state’s Free Maternal and Child Health programme, a highly successful inclusive scheme that offers free, quality healthcare to segments of society where such would have otherwise been absent. The benefits of the revamped health programme have been huge, not the least of which is the fact Enugu State is arguably the state with the lowest maternal mortality rate in the country today.

    Born on March 20, 1964, in the Enugu metropolis, Ugwuanyi came into public service with a glittering resume from the private sector, rising to become the chief executive officer of Premier Brokers Limited, which was in its heyday the prime insurance brokerage firm in the entire South East. That, plus his academic qualifications (a bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively, in finance and marketing with a bias for public relationsfrom the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; MBA in finance and banking and another MBA in accountancy, both from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology) apparently prepared him for the challenges of a career as a public servant, strengths that became indubitably obvious at the height of Nigeria’s economic recession when all but three states in the country were unable to meet their obligations to civil servants and pensioners.

    Feats like this attained despite Enugu being among states that receive the least sum from the federation account sealed Governor Ugwuanyi’s reputation as a prudent manager of resources. Growing Enugu’s internal revenue profile to a level where the state could conveniently execute its monthly recurrent expenditure without the federal allocation, as demonstrated mid-2018 during stalemated meetings over monthly earnings accruing to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee resulting in delayed release of funds to states for two months, is also testament to his business acumen and financial discipline. Such insight reflects entirely in the running of the state, enabling the governor to solve challenges which had once seemed intractable.

    The accolades which these accomplishments earn him have been understandably high, sometimes coming in droves and almost in unison as was the case with the recent conferment of Governor of the Year awards on Ugwuanyi by four national newspapers – Vanguard, Daily Independent, Leadership, and The Sun. Such unanimity is quite rare in the publishing industry and even more so when the recipient is a self-effacing public servant that abhors publicity. That is essentially the Ugwuanyi paradox. He desires to stay away from the news, but his astonishing works continually frustrate that wish and draw attention to him inevitably.

    It was certainly this splendid performance record that voters in Enugu State considered while casting their ballots during the gubernatorial poll, to hand him what was perhaps that election’s most emphatic victory in the country. Such are the rewards of dedication and fidelity to the social contract. Yet, he betrays no sense of entitlement. The more the accolades, the more obligated he feels towards the people, it seems. That is the true spirit of public service – an ethos the governor espouses not just on his birthday, but tirelessly everyday.

     

    • Ani, a former editor of ThisDay, The Saturday Newspaper and Saturday Telegraph, is Senior Communications aide to the Enugu State Governor.

     

  • Ugwuanyi coasts to victory in Enugu

    A coalition of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – accredited foreign and local observers and notable leaders in Enugu State have commended the successful conduct of yesterday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state, describing the exercise as “peaceful, free and fair”.

    This came as results trickling in from polling units across Enugu State indicate the state governor and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and House of Assembly candidates of the party are coasting to victory as the PDP leads with wide margins.

    Ugwuanyi, who voted at exactly 9:35am, after trekking from his residence to the polling unit, said that “in all we do in Enugu State, we give God due glory, honour and adoration and by the special grace of God this election will end in praise.”

    Speaking on behalf of the observers, shortly after Ugwuanyi cast his vote at his Amube Ward II Polling Unit, a foreign observer from Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Rotarian Titus A. Alagba, stated that the election was in conformity with the INEC rules and regulations and thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for “providing the peaceful atmosphere for this free and fair election”.

    Also speaking, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who spoke to journalists after voting at his polling unit in Ukehe Ward I, disclosed that the election “was very peaceful, very orderly and it typifies the peaceful character of our state.

     

    The former governor of old Anambra State and chieftain of the PDP, Senator Jim Nwobodo, who was accompanied to his polling unit by his wife, Pat, added that the exercise “has been peaceful.” Nwobodo expressed optimism that “PDP will win with a landslide in Enugu State”.

    On his part, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, (Anglican Communion) Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi, INEC and the security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the exercise, maintaining it was “orderly, very much peaceful, free and fair”.

  • Time to pay you back, timber dealers tell Ugwuanyi

    Timber dealers at Kenyatta Market, Enugu yesterday promised to vote massively for Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in next week’s governorship election.

    The traders, whose sheds were gutted by fire on March 5, 2018, recalled how Gov. Ugwuanyi,  the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), wiped away their tears by rebuilding their burnt shops and providing each of them with the sum of N100,000 as grant to re-establish their businesses.

    The traders told him that they will pay him back with their massive votes at the polls.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi and PDP train were at the Kenyatta Market, and other markets in Enugu, such as Eke Otu in Amechi-Awkunanaw, Garki, and Coal Camp, in continuation of their intense door-to-door campaign ahead of the March 9 governorship and state assembly elections canvassing vigorously for votes.

    The governor told the jubilant and excited traders and supporters to take the message that “PDP is the way to go” to their families and neighbourhood, stressing that “a vote for Gburugburu is a vote for all the candidates of the PDP in Enugu State”.