By Ujunwa Eze
Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman politician and lawyer, who served as consul in the year 63 BC., must have seen the future with his wise saying, thus, “As fire when thrown into water is cooled down and put out, so also a false accusation when brought against a man of the purest and holiest character, boils over and is at once dissipated, and vanishes and threats of heaven and sea, himself standing unmoved”.
This assertion is most appropriate to describe the morbid assertions ridiculing the leadership of Enugu State lead by His Excellency; Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over the alleged delisting of Enugu City from among the world 100 resilient cities. In honesty, a few clicks of the keyboard show City is conspicuously missing in the list of the Foundation’s World 100 Resilient Cities.
Recall, the Enugu City was enlisted in 2014 by Rockefellers Foundation which bequeathed the State of certain statuses to source funding for its numerous projects.
First, instructively, the State has maintained a leading position in infrastructural development, in spite the meagre finance at its disposal. The present government has not only maintained the infrastructural development grids in the State, it has gone ahead to redefine grassroots participation in projects development.
So, when the Social Media Political Analysts begin to question: ‘What has the State government been doing?’ or ‘The State Government should better start explaining why the City was delisted by Rockefeller Foundation’, my usual answer is that you don’t shave a man’s head in his absence. Why do I say that? Rockefellers Foundation has not come out to give categorical or official report on reasons for removing the City from the map.
Secondly, I strongly disagree with critics in some quarters who argue that lack of infrastructural development was the main reason for this action. Only this December 2017, and in continuation of its massive infrastructure rehabilitation campaign in Enugu State, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration approved contracts for the reconstruction of various road projects, mainly in Enugu metropolis at the sum of over N1.4 billion.
The State Government identified Asata, Iva Valley, Maryland and G.R.A, among others, as areas where the projects will be executed even as the State Executive Council also approved the reconstruction of St. Michael Catholic Church road , Asata and the extension of the Timbershade-Lomalinda Estate road (phase one) to Ugwuaji to serve as another gateway to Enugu from Port Harcourt expressway as well as ensure free flow of traffic.
The roads are been considered because of the economic importance; while the award for the reconstruction of Iva Valley link road, beginning from Camp 1 of Old PRODA site to the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
The Council also awarded contract for the rehabilitation of the NBL/Aqua Rapha road section at 9th Mile Corner in the Udi LGA. Ekochin-Ekeani- New market road reconstruction is nearing completion.
Thirdly, one outstanding testimony working for this Government is its refusal to align with the league of phantom project awarding governments as evident in some States today! In the first 365 days in office, this government unveiled 100 projects running into billions of naira. And who is told these were possible at the time recession was knocking on the doors; oil revenue was depreciating, even the IGR wasn’t at the level expected because the purchasing powers of the citizens became depreciated too. The State didn’t even bother to increase taxes like their counterparts did.
Fourthly, I choose to stand with a Government that is humane, down to earth and grassroot development oriented that ornamented and/or sugar coated governance meshed in avarice for stealing.
Fifthly, and on education, the State is warming up to recruit additional 700 teachers for the Universal Basic Education Scheme to fill the gap created by deaths and retirements within the past one year. The State Government recruited 1,320 teachers in 2016 for primary schools in the 17 local government areas of the state.
To strength and ensure efficient service delivery through effective monitoring and control, N37.2m has been approved for purchase of instructional materials such as desktop computers, laptops, marker boards and chalks for primary schools in the 17 local councils.
Sixthly, since it introduced Enugu State Traders Empowerment Scheme, traders (in their hundreds) have benefited from this gesture. Interestingly, extension of the programme has been granted till next year with some modifications aimed at enhancing the goal of the scheme.
Seventhly, and on security, the Government recently approved the installation of 24-hour power supply through solar technology to all 45 divisional police stations in the State. The measure will definitely assist the police overcome the difficulties that officers experience, especially at night in the various stations.
The State Executive Council subsequently approved two types of power lighting systems for each of the 45 police stations in Enugu State, as follows: Simple but steady solar power supply units to be installed in police reception and charge offices and to be used for illumination, for charging phones, and for powering other essential working tools such as television sets and fans; and solar powered street lamps within the premises and approaches to be installed in each of the 45 police stations to help monitor movement into and out of their precincts.
As learnt, issues around environmental sanitation are been tackled head-on. Recently, there has been refuse overflow with the State capital littered with wastes. Actually, I expected the State Governor to sack the entire management of ESWAMA! Yes, it is either they work assiduously to address the heaps of stenches defacing the State or chicken out of the system.
While I was contemplating on this measure, news filtered in that Governor Ugwuanyi has taken the bull by the horn. The brightness of the State is restored and many who have come home this yuletide season can attest to this. The magic applied to rid the State of refuse is a topic for another day.
In essence, I want to call the good people of Enugu State to support this government so we can move forward. I believe that Rockefellers Foundation might have its reasons for delisting the State from the group; at the same time, we have to hold our peace till the State gets to the root of the matter.
It will do us no good in joining the bandwagon of ‘lie-dispensers’, propagandist and political opportunists who are hell-bent on wrestling power from the incumbent administration and thus install their poverty-sharing party on us. God forbid! Enugu State remains in the safe hands of God!
Ujunwa Eze, sends her articles from Ezeagu, Enugu State