Ugwuanyi’s 2019 Re-election is Fait Accompli
As the 2019 general elections draw nearer, more groups, national leaders, statesmen, and communities have continued to troop to the Government House, Enugu to register their support for the re-election bid of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Governor Ugwuanyi who has clinched the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 election in the state stood as the sole aspirant for the Party’s governorship primary election in the state.
Prominent among those that paid him solidarity visit before and after the primary election in the state include the National chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; and the Apostolic Nuncio – Pope Francis’ representative in Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi who led a delegation comprising a Cardinal, Archbishops, Bishops and Priests of the Catholic Church to pay him a courtesy visit at the Government House.
Others include the enthusiastic Enugu Workers and Youths; Enugu Pensioners; and the people of Obukpa in the University town of Nsukka led by their traditional rulers, other elders and leaders of thoughts, as well as the PDP Ward chairmen from Enugu West senatorial district.
The elder statesman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who led a delegation of members of the organisation, to the Government House, Enugu on a courtesy visit, before the primaries, applauded the developmental strides of Governor Ugwuanyi, especially in the area of massive road construction and other critical infrastructure, saying he is impressed with his achievements.
Musa said his experience in the state in terms of “the wonderful things that are happening in Enugu State” are part of what the CNPP will tell Nigerians about Gov. Ugwuanyi. “I was very surprised about what I saw in Enugu State. I saw good road network in Nsukka and other parts of the state. I was very much impressed because all these were achieved in less than two years. I am sure that at the end of eight years, we will see more wonders of your administration”, the CNPP National Chairman said.
Also applauding Governor Ugwuanyi was the Apostolic Nuncio, Filipazzi, commmended his closeness to God and exemplary leadership style, which he said “has brought peace and good governance to the state.”
The Apostolic Nuncio – Pope Francis’ representative in Nigeria – spoke in Enugu recently, when he led a delegation comprising a Cardinal, Archbishops, Bishops and Priests of the Catholic Church to pay a courtesy visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House.
He also commended him for his faithful service to the church and to the residents of Enugu State, irrespective of religion, state of origin and ethnicity.
Describing Gov. Ugwuanyi as “a good governor” and “a father of the family”, he noted that he is inspired by the governor’s good works in the state and his commitment to the development of the church.
“You (Ugwuanyi) have faithfully served the church; you are a good governor; you are a governor for everyone living in this state, Catholic and non-Catholic; from every group, you are the father of the family for everybody and of course things are not separated. I think you have found inspiration in your work as a governor; I also feel you belong to the Catholic Church,” he stated.
Another addition to the governor’s recent commendation endorsement came from the jubilant people of Obukpa town comprising four autonomous communities who also paid a solidarity visit to the Government House in Enugu.
Speaking during their visit, they said they were impressed with Gov. Ugwuanyi’s numerous landmark achievements since he assumed office, stressing that his sterling performance across the three senatorial districts of the state was a rewarding experience in the social contract between him and the people.
The PDP ward chairmen appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi for entrenching participatory democracy in the state, saying that his style of leadership has rejuvenated the party’s organs at the grassroots, according them their rightful place in the scheme of things as “proud ward leaders”. The ward party leaders noted with delight that the governor’s emergence as the sole aspirant for the governorship primaries was because of his good works and inclusive leadership style that have brought peace and unity in the state.
In an endorsement address signed by the first Deputy Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council and the Enugu North Zonal Chairman, H.R.H R.S.N Ezeh, other traditional rulers of the autonomous communities, the Chairman of Enugu State Town Unions and President-General of Ejuona Obukpa, Chief Paully Eze, three other Presidents-General, and the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, among others, the people of Obukpa town also commended the governor for “prudently deploying the state resources for the transformation of Enugu State”.
They told the governor that “this gave rise to the wide range of endorsements you have received from people of this state and beyond including members of the opposition party”.
Describing Gov. Ugwuanyi as a pacesetter, the people applauded him for initiating the ‘one community one project’ programme , which earmarked N10 million each for the 458 autonomous communities in the state to enable them execute priority projects of their choice as well as the first ever Enugu State Traders Empowerment Scheme that assists genuine traders, who win the monthly raffle draw of N50,000 each, to grow their various businesses, “irrespective of state of origin, religion and ethnicity”.
On the governor’s intervention in the education sector, the group stated that the state government has provided adequate infrastructural facilities and teaching aids in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, disclosing that “dilapidated structures in most primary and secondary schools in the state, Obukpa town inclusive have been renovated”.
They said: “With your prudent management of our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), you have taken our state into the league of viable and economically independent states in Nigeria with prompt payment of salaries and the 13th month salary bonus to our workers.
“You broke a jinx recently when you paid the June and July 2018 salaries to our workers without the traditional allocation from the Federation account, showing that Enugu State has indeed arrived.”
The Obukpa people equally praised the governor for the security of lives and property in the state, saying: “your government has performed above average to the extent that we now go to our beds with two eyes closed” and “you have put smiles back to the faces of our women, youths and traders in the state with various empowerment packages from your government”.
“Consequent upon the foregoing sir, our people in the four autonomous communities have mandated us to endorse you for a second tenure in office as Executive Governor of Enugu State because we have the firm belief that the reward for every good work done is more work. “We promise firmly to mobilize support of everybody to ensure that we give you 100% of our votes during the 2019 general election. We are battle ready with our PVCs, waiting anxiously for the D-day”, the excited visitors declared.
It will also be recalled that workers in Enugu State and the entire youth of the state have reiterated their stance on the earlier endorsement of Governor Ugwuanyi’s re-election, declaring that they are solidly behind him.
The workers and youths, who spoke separately through the state chairmen of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe and Comrade Paschal Ugwu, respectively, said the decision was based on their conviction that the governor has continued to entrench good governance, cater for their welfare and promote peaceful co-existence and national unity among residents of the state.
They described the governor as a God-fearing, peace-loving, visionary, hardworking, unassuming, pragmatic and high-performing leader, whose style of governance is uncommon and remarkable in the annals of the state.
Pensioners under the payroll of Enugu State government, had recently also paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, in appreciation of his commitment to their welfare, in spite of the nation’s economic challenges.
The jubilant retirees, who described Gov. Ugwuanyi as “one of the foremost pensioner-friendly Governor Enugu State has ever produced”, reassured him of their “absolute loyalty and support”.