Enugu residents upbeat as Ugwuanyi flags off activities

By Uwakwe Abugu

In the past three weeks, the people of Enugu State have continued to witness  the unfolding drama of governance style that often bring them face to face with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The common people, the residents who have been yearning to catch a glimpse of the very popular governor not only see him easily but they freely interact with him on the streets in the coal city state.
These encounters, like a rare dream of hope, excitement and fulfillment, to the common people of the state have taken place on the streets of the university town of Nsukka and the various locations in the very populous Abakpa Nike area in the state capital. The uncommon style has also come in the form of interface with students, staff and management of St. Vincent Secondary School, Agbogwugwu in Awgu local council area of the state where the governor stopped over as part of his unscheduled visits to have a feel, first hand, of the pulse of secondary schools in the state. He had earlier visited the once very famous Nike Grammar School which produced the likes of the former minister of power, Prof. Barth Nnaji and other notable Nigerians.
Indisputably, judging from the avalanche of elations that very visibly welled up the hearts of the jubilant people who suddenly woke up to a rare reality of hosting their governor at their own doorsteps, the residents are coming to terms with an unfolding new reality in Enugu State where governance would not only be brought close to them but they would gradually become part of the critical decision-making process of the government. This is because at each location visited, Governor Ugwuanyi who has continued to be overwhelmed by a free outpouring of love, a free reign of accolades and deafening choruses of “Gburugburu is our man”, “Gburugburu we love you”, among others, clearly gave the common people a sense of belonging by asking them questions bordering  on their infrastructural needs.
This, he did last week at Emene when he inspected work on the reconstruction of  the Old Emene Road being handled by Greylines Construction Company ltd. Accompanied by his deputy, Hon,(Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo, the amiable governor freely interacted with the residents who trouped out in their numbers, asking them about their views on the project to which they variously responded by urging him to see that the project was completed so as to give them a sense of belonging. He told the Emene residents that Saturday morning that he was there to reaffirm to them that he was mindful of his campaign promises to them and that the reconstruction of the road was just one pointer to the resolve of his administration to give the people of Enugu state a new lease of life.
In his kickoff activities, the governor  who contrary to the thinking of observers,  has continued to spot his free friendly disposition even after assuming full duties, also visited the Parklane Teaching Hospital in Enugu metropolis  and gave  succour to some indigent patients including some nursing mothers, by paying their hospital bills said to be worth millions of Naira. Expectedly, he garnered showers of prayers and outpouring of kind words not just from the direct beneficiaries but also from across the populace.
Prompt interventions to nip crisis in the bud
One trend the Ugwuanyi administration is introducing is a culture/policy of nipping crisis in the bud by embarking on interventionist measures promptly to avoid conflagrations. For instance, on Monday June 15, the governor personally mediated in the crisis between the management of the state owned Enugu state Transport Company ltd (ENTRACO) and drivers of vehicles operating in the company under contract arrangement.
The drivers had embarked on a protest march to the Government House and the state chief executive came down from his office and engaged them in a discussion on the way out. The managing director of ENTRACO against whom the aggrieved drivers had complained had been directed to come for the parley.  And as he interfaced with both parties, the governor directed the chief executive of the transport firm to release all confiscated vehicles belonging to the protesters.
He eventually gave the two parties within two weeks to resolve the dispute. He made it clear to the parties that after this period, the government would be at liberty to wade in again and take its own preferred decision if their negotiation fail to yield good dividends. It was also yet another occasion for the governor to feel the pulse of the ordinary people of the state about his administration. And he got that right on track. Spokesman for the drivers, Mr. Amujiri, leading others had much kind words for the governor.
They showed practical love for him when the amiable governor asked them by which means of transport they had come to the Government House. They told him that they had come in their vehicles and that he did not have to bother about giving them money, declaring to him that the people love him because he’s known to be a kind person. And on his part, Governor Ugwuanyi commended them for their show of respect and orderly conduct.
Following quickly on the heels of this ENTRACO crisis is another untoward development at the San Carlos Farms, Amoli in Awgu council area of the state. The management of the farm whose operations cut across communities in three local government areas in the state has had a lingering dispute with the host communities.  Host communities in Awgu, Udi and Oji River local government areas provided lands for the operation of the farm. So, on June 16, the governor dashed out of his office, abandoning all other pressing matters on his table and headed to the farm following a protest at a section of the farm.
There at the farm which grows pineapple in large commercial quantity, the governor  got the chairman of Awgu local council, Mr. Mathanus Nnanna Nze, to begin to mediate between the
farm’s management and the leaders of the protesting host community members for amicable solution. He restored normalcy to the facility while the normal farm operations resumed just as he appealed to both parties to maintain the peace pending the time he would convene a larger stakeholders’ meeting, to arrive at a sustainable solution to the crisis bordering on the issue of the social responsibility role of the management of the farm.
One other deft move of the governor who is fast getting in tune with the rhythm of  governance  as required of a state chief executive is his penchant for consultations through private audience with persons that matter in some critical sectors. Only last Thursday, the former Secretary General of the Common Wealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyoku, paid the governor a courtesy call during which both host and visitor held a private audience, perhaps, on certain issues requiring the pooling together of their collective reasoning to move the state forward.
Similarly, the three- term member of the House of Representatives  who was overwhelmingly elected governor last April had last Sunday played host to a delegation of the Nsukka General Assembly led by revered  emeritus professor, Lawrence Ocho, and which also included the former information minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo.
The governor’s moves so far, guided by careful attention to comments and feeling the pulse of the people  through consultations are seen by even those who would be his detractors as the strategy of a manager  who is poised to attain heights, the daunting tasks on his paths notwithstanding.

Abugu, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ugwuanyi, writes from Government House,  Enugu