Governor Ugwuanyi’s Peace, Development Initiatives
On conflict resolution, it is worthy of note that the Governor who had made peace implicitly the watchword of his administration, had within a space of two days, personally intervened in the recent disputes that arose between the management of Enugu State
Just recently, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State played host to journalists in Enugu at the Government House to interact with and brief them on his action plans for the state; as well, give an insight into his administration’s approach towards achieving a harmonious relationship amongst the political class in the state. The interactive session also gave most of the journalists in the state the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the Governor who thrilled them with warm handshakes, ‘executive’ jokes and broke news of his first key appointments.
On the appointments, the Governor, who looked convinced in his decision, first announced the former Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Governor, Mr. Gabriel Ajah as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), when he said: “There is someone who was appointed as a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service since 2001. He has served in that capacity in many Ministries and today, he is the longest serving Permanent Secretary in the state. He has gathered a lot of experience and has served the state meritoriously. I believe such a man is what we need to efficiently drive the policy thrust of this administration, as the Secretary to the State Government, and that man is no other person than Mr. Gabriel Ajah, the present Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Governor”.
The Governor also announced the South East Bureau Chief of New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr. Uwakwe Abugu, as his Chief Press Secretary and a trained journalist and the former Special Assistant to the immediate past Governor on party matters, Mr. Louis Amoke, as his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity. Mr. Silvanus Onoyima, a former Head of Service and immediate past Special Adviser to the former Governor on SERVICOM was equally announced by the Governor as his Special Adviser on Due Process.
Shedding further light on the choice of Ajah as the new SSG, the Governor, during his (Ajah’s) swearing-in ceremony recently, pointed out that the appointment was “based purely on merit, devoid of any sentiment or political consideration”.
Describing Ajah as “a thorough-bred civil servant”, he went further to declare that his appointment “marks a further demonstration of our resolve to take what we believe would constitute giant strides in the arduous task of governing our dear Enugu State in this dispensation”
Gov. Ugwuanyi, in the same vein, charged the SSG to deliver on the new mandate given to him, in order to justify the confidence reposed in him.
From all indications, these appointments show that the Governor in his long held belief in quality service, due process and commitment to hard work, diligence and performance, carefully selected a team that would assist him drive the policy thrust of his administration aimed at developing the state, which he said was paramount in his mind.
Apart from the appointments he announced during the interaction with pressmen, the Governor as a man of peace restated the resolve of his administration not to engage in any form of acts that would undermine the relationship between the new government and old ones, when he said: “The era of new guard fighting the old guards in Enugu State is gone, my administration will not fight old guards to settle old scores. Where there is no peace, the people will not make meaningful progress”.
In this regard, he disclosed his readiness to run an all-inclusive government by accommodating all former Governors of the State and other leaders through the reconstitution of the Elders’ Council, stressing that “everybody is our friend and the era of politics is over”.
In his determination to actualise his vision for peace, the Governor also said that he had reached out to eminent indigenes of the state, including past leaders and opinion leaders, to join hands with him to move the state forward, adding that he cannot ignore the experience of these former leaders of the state. According to him, “the peace we enjoy here, we have to maintain that peace. It’s peace enmeshed in agape love, covered by the Holy Spirit…., a situation where once there is a change of baton, the new guard will start fighting the old guards is over.
“The experience of Boko Haram and experience in the states where there is no peace are enough to teach us some lessons. It is not worth it, instead we will move from strength to strength”.
On his action plans, he noted that his administration since assumption of office on May 29, 2015, had identified some areas that need urgent intervention as a result of the outcome of the unscheduled visits he undertook in the first and second weeks of his administration to inspect ongoing works in some schools, hospitals, markets, etc.
He also used the opportunity to reiterate his earlier resolve not to take the people for granted and went further to announce his decision to make accountability the watchword of his administration in order to utilise the lean resources of the state for the betterment of the people, considering the adverse effects of the economic melt-down in the country.
The Governor went further to inform the journalists that his administration would as a matter of priority, embark on rapid development of Nsukka town, 9th mile corner Ngwo, Abakpa-Nike Enugu, Emene, Awgu, Oji River and other satellite towns in the state, adding that a supplementary budget would be presented to the State House of Assembly for the State Government to be able to actualise its action plans for the areas.
He assured the people of the state that his administration would not tamper with the funds of the Local Government Councils in the state, but would, however, put in place all necessary checks and balances to ensure that all council funds were judiciously utilised for the overall interest of the people, stressing that “our government will be a serious business”
On the drastic decline of the country’s oil revenue, which is a nightmare to the nation’s economic growth, Gov. Ugwuanyi disclosed his administration’s plan to set up an Economic Committee to harness ideas on how to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through the wealth of experience of the members.
He added that a Tenders Board would as well be constituted for the award of contracts in the state for transparency and accountability, because according to him, the Office of the Governor would not be awarding contracts again, in the spirit of due process.
On diligence to work, the Governor who paid unscheduled visits to two Local Government Council headquarters frowned at workers’ negligence to duty as he met few staff at the offices he visited.
“We wanted to check the actual number of workers in each local government area, who come to work on regular basis and on time. Since our visits, attendance to work has improved.”
The governor added that his visits had made him aware of the suffering of residents of the state.
“We were touched by the plight of the people at the various places we visited, particularly the public schools and hospitals.
“The government is willing to make life meaningful for our people but our bane is dearth of funds. We have tried the much we could to alleviate the sufferings of the people we met”, he said.
He disclosed to journalists that the government made a donation of 10 Modern Braille machines to blind students at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu and was able to make arrangements for the settlement of hospital bills for 21 indigent patients who were held back at the hospital after treatment due to their inability to pay their bills.
Gov. Ugwuanyi said that his administration had also resuscitated the Enugu Marketing Company in order to maximise the full benefits of the State’s status as a Free Trade Zone for the overall interest of the people.
On conflict resolution, it is worthy of note that the Governor who had made peace implicitly the watchword of his administration, had within a space of two days, personally intervened in the recent disputes that arose between the management of Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) and Commercial Vehicle Owners operating under the company, and that between the management of San Carlos Pineapple Farm in Amoli, Awgu Council Area of the state and a cluster-adjoining host Communities in the area over alleged ill-treatment by management of ENTRACO and the expected social responsibility of the management of the San Carlos Farm settlement to the people of the area, respectively.
After listening to their complaints, the Governor, apart from ordering the ENTRACO management to release all confiscated vehicles belonging to the transporters, with a mandate that both parties meet within two weeks to resolve their differences, he also got the Chairman of the Awgu Council, Mr. Mathanus Nnanna Nze to continue with effective interface with the leaders of the aggrieved communities in order to maintain peace and order in the state.
In all, there is no doubt that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s approach to governance signposts a new dawn and a clear indication of his sound vision for the advancement of the state.