Knocks, praises for Ugwuanyi’s seamless continuity

It is one year since Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi took over the mantle of leadership in Enugu state as the number one citizen. RAPHAEL EDE x-rays his political journey and the running of the Coal City state.

By today, the 29th of May, 2016, it will be exactly one year Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, took over the control of Enugu Lion Building as the fourth executive governor of Enugu state, following his victory at the 2015 governorship election.
Governor Ugwuanyi’s political journey can be likened to destiny, not because of his hard work or political dexterity as many political pundits would say, but the past deprivations suffered in the course of this sojourn. His original intention was to contest the local government election as chairman under the Governor Chimaroke Nnamani administration, but was prevailed on to allow another contestant.

Rather than complaining, he quietly carried on with his life, only to be called upon in 2003 to take a shot at the House of Representatives effortlessly. And from thereon , his political career has been on the upward surge.
At the lower chamber, he served as Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport for eight years, holding the record in both the Upper and Lower Chambers to so do. Prior to being in this position, he was Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Pensions, where, he, as a risk manager, helped in enacting the all-important Pension Act 2004.
But as posterity would have it, the lot to succeed Governor Sullivan Chime fell on him, when at the PDP’s primary of 8th December, 2014 in Enugu, he emerged the party’s candidate and ultimately got elected at the general elections.

And since coming in board, he has been trying to carry everybody along in his administration, mending fences among political actors and bringing about unity. This much was attested to by the Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu at the PDP congress when he said, “… there is unity among stakeholders of the party in the state.”
Receiving the mantle of leadership at Okpara Square, the governor said: “In line with my campaign promises, I recommit myself to continuing with the legacies of the Sullivan Chime’s administration and his roadmap for taking Enugu State to the next level. I recommit myself to employment generation, enhanced social services and good governance, rural development and indeed, security and justice.

“We will deploy government services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen to make a living and create wealth, educate our children, and enjoy life in a peaceful and secure environment. We will drive with full force investment promotion, agricultural sector renewal, provision of critical infrastructure, human capital development, and skills acquisition.”
One year after, the administration has been able to come up with some landmarks in the human capital development, poverty reduction, education , infrastructure and security among others.
As a state facing security challenge, the government deemed it necessary to engage the locals in it security arrangement, hence the formation of about 12 Neighbourhood Associations and Watch groups with a 1000 workforce. And in the area of poverty reduction, the government registered 381 co-operative societies just as it organised training and resettlement for scores of physically-challenged persons on repair of GSM handsets in partnership with the South Sahara Support organization.

Besides, the administration is also not relenting in the areas of infrastructure such as electricity and roads. Today, the 15km Inter-Town –Connection (ITC) 2.5 MVA Injection sub-station at Ezi- Nze in Ude local government Area, is at the verge of providing electricity to communities across Udi, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Etiti local government areas of the state. The project will also supply power to the Adada Dam project and open up the business activities in these communities when completed.
Ditto for the construction and rehabilitation of some 20 road projects covering 35km across the state. The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Patrick Ikpenwa, who disclosed this, however told our correspondent that the rural roads were at various stages of completion.
The story is not different in the education sector. While classrooms were renovated and about 1000 three-seater desks provided for some schools, government also placed priority attention on the training of 872 mathematics and science teachers from across the state among other feats recorded by the administration.

Similarly, the procurement of 20 tractors for mechanized agriculture and the construction of a 100-bed ultra modern specialist hospital at Amalla, Orba in Udenu local government area of the state, also demonstrate government’s practical plan in both the agriculture ad heath sectors.
Fiscal/Economic policy
Like most states, the Treasury Single Account was also introduced by the administration to check fiscal indiscipline that had permeated the system. This, in the long run, afforded government the opportunity of enhancing public finance management and control to ensure full implementation of government strategic programmes.
However, as characteristic of others, the state is not immune from borrowing, as it has obtained an infrastructure loan with a maturity period of 20 years.
Again, in the area of revenue generation, the state does not appear to be there yet, so some analysts beleive. For instance, from a paltry N14.3 million quarterly IGR in 2015, the state has graduated to a ridiculous N29.7million, representing over a hundred percent increase, within the same period.

On workers’ welfare, the payment of 30% equity contribution for the state civil servants between Grade Level 01-10, for the purchase of 100 units of one-bedroom flat at Elim Estate, Ibeagwa Nike, Enugu, is one other area that stands out the administration.
The regular payment of workers’ salaries and allowances on or before the 25th of every month as promised workers during his inauguration, has become sacrosanct. And in the same vein, the retirees are shedding off the regrets of the past, as they now get their dues as at when due, except for the month of July 2015.
Knocks
Not withstanding the modest feats, stakeholders still have issues with the Ugwuanyi-led administration. To a former National Auditor of PDP, Barr. Ray Nnaji, over-patronage and celebration of mentorship is one problem it faces, saying this is being overstretched.

“When people like us are beginning to be uncomfortable with that style of leadership whereby firm decisions were not taken, except with consultation, even as at now, apart from his cabinet members that were predominantly selected by people, other appointments made by his predecessor, remain as it were till date when the government is clocking one year in office. That is why people regard this government as a go-slow government.
“There is no injection of new ideas, but former ideas that are almost outdated. No fresh blood was injected and nobody knows whether it is new style of leadership or out of cowardice or overreliance on his predecessor that would have contributed to all these. “Nobody is against him having regards and respect for his predecessor, but not to overindulge to the point of affecting governance in the state”, Nnaji observed.
And in the view of an agriculturist, Dr. Theo Ogbuaku, Ugwuanyi’s one year in office is a misplacement of priority.

Also speaking, General Secretary, United Action for Democracy (UAD) and Chairman Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Enugu state chapter, Comr. Zulu Ofoelue, however commended the administration for its continuity of the road projects(urban and rural) initiated by the last administration.
He is however alarmed at the security challenge, bordering on herdsmen and the resurgence of armed robbery.
“Fulani cattle herders supposed to be business men but when they go further than the cattle rearing, and go further to terrorising the people, then, we begin to classify them terrorists and no longer cattle rarers.”
That the administration has really shown signs to develop the state is not enough. Ugwuanyi and his team should be prepared to shore up the state’s revenue base if they are to achieve their set goals. But can he brave the odds?