Okonkwo Samuel
By Bartholomew Ebuka Okoh
His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, was inaugurated as the executive governor of Enugu State on May 29, 2015. His victory was never a surprise to the people of Enugu State knowing very well his capacity to remodel the state. Furthermore, the good people of Enugu State never doubted his capacity to make the state one of the most peaceful and secured states in Nigeria
Gov. Ugwuanyi as a grassroots politician promised the good people of the state in his inaugural speech that his administration will ensure peace, good governance and security of lives and property in the state, He also promised to embark on infrastructural development across the state, especially in the rural areas. His Excellency, in his wisdom and experience knew that the progress and rapid development in the state anchors on peace and good governance. The people did not have any doubt whether he will live to his promises having spent twelve years in the House of Representatives, was very abreast with the socio-economic, political and other problems outfacing the state.
Few months after he assumed office as the governor of Enugu State, there was a serious clash between the people of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state and some herdsmen which led to; killings of innocent people, rape and destruction of property worth millions of Naira.
In his response to this attack on the innocent and good people of Nimbo by herdsmen, he reorganised and empowers the existing local security outfit so as to support the efforts of the police and other security agencies in the state. He didn’t stop there; Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch was established even as the vigilante groups in various communities across the state were fully recognised by the state government. The governor subsequently released millions of Naira for their take off in all the 17 local government areas of the state. The money was meant to provide training logistics and operational gadgets to enable them respond to any security threat in the state. Gov. Ugwuanyi’s response proved that he could protect his people and maintain peace in the state as he promised.
To ensure there is peace and security of lives and property in the state, Gov. Ugwuanyi in his wisdom and proactive instinct moved him into establishing Enugu State Forest Guards. This is to ensure that all the forests in the state are safe, secure and devoid of any form of criminal exercise such as kidnappings, killings by herdsmen, rape, armed robbery, etc.
The executive governor of Enugu state; Rt Hon Dr. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has purchased and distributed over 350 security patrol vehicles to security agencies, vigilante groups and forest guards in the state. This is to ensure that all security outfits operate effectively to secure Enugu State.
Since the inception of his administration, Gov. Ugwuanyi has constructed/ rehabilitated over 600 kilometers of road across the state, mostly in the rural areas. Some of the signature road projects include the remodeled ancient, historic and undulating 11-km Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile road – a tourist attraction and state’s natural roller coaster; the state-of-the-art 12-km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with a spur to the UNN gate; the Ebonyi River Bridge, Ikem; the 31-km Udenu Ring road with two high-tech bridges; Iva Valley road, Enugu; the 8.8km Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road in Isi-Uzo LGA, neglected for over 35 years; the 26.66 km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGA and the 22.443km Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti inter-community road linking Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGAs being constructed by the state government in conjunction with the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP-2).
Ugwuanyi’s administration has provided quality and affordable education. Over 5000 primary and secondary school teachers have been recruited in the last five years while 897 classroom blocks and other school projects have been constructed, renovated and/or equipped with learning tools to improve the standard of learning in the state. Above all, a review of primary and secondary classroom blocks across the state is ongoing for a comprehensive intervention by the state government.
Rt Hon Dr. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has simply brought peace in Enugu State. I wish him welland I pray that Enugu State will continue to enjoy peace and dividends of good governance.
[Daily News Reporters]
