The new governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in his inaugural address on Friday stated that in line with his policy to create more urban areas to boost economic growth, Nsukka must be equipped and modernized so it can compete with other unviversity towns in attracting technology and knowledge-based businesses, bearing in mind that it is the second largest town in Enugu State.
Ugwuanyi who took over from the former governor, Sullivan Chime, at an elaborate ceremony at the Okpara Square in Enugu urged the people of the state to tighten their belts in the face of dwindling allocations from the federation account.
The new governor, who described his government as one of “seamless continuity and consolidation,” said he would continue and consolidate the “good works” of his predecessor and former administrations in the state.
Enumerating a list of areas on which his administration intends to pay greater attention in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, Ugwuanyi pointed out that the sharp decline in the state’s revenue, owing to fall in the price of crude oil, would present a major challenge.
He, however, promised to rise up to the challenge, noting that the difficult times occasioned by the reduced revenue “is the best period to be the governor” of the state.
But he also called on the people of the state to tighten their belts.
He promised to lead by example in the ‘belt tightening’ adjustments by running a “lean” and efficient government.
“We must bear in mind that the resource flow has nosedived due to the decline in oil prices.
“A friend told me that ‘you are becoming governor at a very bad time.’
“But I told him that this is indeed the best time to be the governor of Enugu State – if Theodore Roosevelt can lead the United States of America out of the Great Depression, and Barack Obama was able to lead the country out of economic recession, we can also do it.
“I call on the people of Enugu State to tighten your belts but tightening of belt will start with the government.
“All revenue generating agencies must get ready to remit to the state government – tax defaulters would no longer be counted as friends of Enugu State Government,” Ugwuanyi said.
He thanked the people of the state for the mandate they gave him to serve as their governor for the next four years, and promised to reward them with good governance.
The new governor described his emergence as the Lord’s doing.
Areas which he said he would focus on, according to him, includes agriculture, provision of critical infrastructure, healthcare, rural development, investment promotion, education, security and human capacity development.
In his last address as the governor of Enugu State, Chime advised party chieftains and other supporters to refrain from pestering Ugwuanyi with requests for favours.
Meanwhile, former governor, Sullivan Chime, has restated that the vacancies can never be enough to give jobs to all the new governor’s supporters, having passed through the same experience during his eight years in the office.
He thanked the people of Enugu for their unalloyed support and prayers during his tenure, adding that good governance is what is required to pay back for such support and he was happy that the new governor has promised to take up from where he stopped.
“There is time for every thing. When I was leaving my house this morning for this event, my little boy asked me, ‘is it true that you are no longer a governor and I said I am but I will not return to this house a governor today’. That is the reality of life and I am very glad to witness a day like today,” he said.
At the end of the programme at the Okpara Square, the new governor requested that the former should join him in his new official car, a request that Chime obliged with a smile. Then, the two with other to dignitaries rode to the government house.
