ENUGU GUBER 2019: UGWUANYI-VOX DEI; VOX POPULI (voice of Almighty is voice of the people)
EZEJIOFO SUNNY UDEH
March 3, 2019
The reputable pollsters in Enugu State are not debating the outcome of the next governorship election for it is more of a done deal for the incumbent His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi – GburuGburu whose overwhelming popularity has gone off the roof. Judging by crude guesstimate, the sheer number of over 300 support groups creating more of carnival-like atmosphere in the state, the intimidating number of billboards, banners, fliers, and posters adorning the length and breadth of Enugu State. The lack of a credible alternative candidate offers no doubt that the incumbent is in for a smooth ride to reelection on March 9, 2019.
Perhaps, most discerning observers have quietly wondered the reason behind Ugwuanyi’s indomitable and rising profile. Others, especially those of us in the skeptical camp, are not in a rush to judgment for we ascribe to the unseen popularity to a phenomenon worthy of closer scrutiny. Going by the events of the reelection of former governors, Nnamani and Chime, such acceptance of an incumbent is indeed alien to the political annals of Enugu State or even in Nigeria.
Our search for an answer brought us to close reexamination of the popular maxim in the political lexicon that "Vox populi; vox dei", which translates to "the voice of the people is the voice of God". However, an early reference of the expression was in a letter from Alcuin, an English scholar to King Charlemagne where he wrote, “And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness”. This is instructive.
Another great political scholar, Alexander Hamilton, emphasized that the voice of the people is the voice of God, however, the maxim quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. Without digging, we concur with the two scholars and simply attribute the GburuGburu-Phenomenon in Enugu State, not to the erroneous use of the popular maxim rather to the opposite. Therefore, we make bold to say that in Enugu State, "it is Ugwuanyi’s Vox Dei; Vox Populi".
Gov. Ugwuanyi is an honorable man with an altruistic heart who grew from humble beginning to political top. He remains faithful to his roots as he continually invest democratic dividends in the sections of the population most in need. Despite his overflowing humility, His Excellency, Gov. Ugwuanyi carries the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, and the God of David first in everything he does. The sheer invocation of Almighty begets his strong leadership to hegemonize Enugu State which led to the faithful mantra, "Enugu is in the hands of God".
Noticeably, most of his speeches are in reverence to God and the enduring mantra of "Ashua Azua" which indicates his subscription to the philosophy. Ashua Azua sees life as a marketplace where both buyers and sellers converge to advance their collective interests without doing harm. This philosophy is best viewed as a variant of game theory. However, it is not the zero-sum game where the interest of the participants conflict, resulting in one person’s gain leading to another’s loss. Instead the game is neither zero-sum, nor exclusively cooperative where there is common feature of both competition and interdependence yielding outcome for general benefit of all.
Ugwuanyi’s Vox Dei and devotion to God has created the harmonious atmosphere in Enugu State. As proudly declared by Rev. Father Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, “I have never seen this kind of unquestionable, magnetic, pragmatic and dynamic peace in Enugu State before, because of GburuGburu. Ugwuanyi has no enemy. He is a governor who has good relationship with the entire Nwodo family, Senator Fide Okoro, Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and other leaders”. He ended by confirming Enugu, the epitome of peace and security. The peace and security manifested in the last presidential and national assembly election with no incident or violence in Enugu State.
Ugwuanyi’s philosophy of uplifting those at the bottom has made it possible to embark on remarkably creative programs touching the hearts of many as they increase multiplier effects of economic activities in Enugu State. Salaries known as the statutory responsibility of every government have become a thing of the past since the economic doldrum of 2015. Half of the state governments, including oil producing states, are currently owing months of salary to their workers. However, the story in Enugu State is different. Since the inception of Ugwuanyi’s administration salaries are paid on 23rd of every month. Additionally, the administration instituted 13th month salary as bonus to all government workers in the state. Due to improvement in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue -IGR, Enugu State is one of the few states who were able to pay salaries in the months of June and July when federal allocation was halted due to glitches in FAAC. The timely payment of salaries has gone a long way to increase economic activities of the state.
Ugwuanyi’s creative program reached the crescendo of his Ashua azua philosophy with the Enugu State Government Traders Empowerment Scheme which empowers genuine traders irrespective of state of origin, religion or ethnicity in the 54 designated markets across the state. As described by the Chairman of Ogbette Market, Hon. John Eze, it is a radical entrepreneurial blueprint designed to assist traders in raising funds for expansion through transparent monthly lottery drawings. The program has benefited over 5,000 traders since its inception and I am privileged to be part of the 11th Draw for the Second Phase at Ogbette Market Enugu on February 27, 2019.
Ugwuanyi’s Vox Dei led directly to all the rural communities of Enugu State with the ‘One Community One Project’ program which earmarked 10 million Naira for each of the 458 autonomous communities in the state. This money is used by the community to execute priority projects of their choice. My community of Egede has benefitted and we have another well-constructed bore-hole with overhead tank at the Ukwu market to show for it.
Ugwuanyi’s Vox Dei broke 56-year old jinx preventing Enugu State from constructing five new fire service stations. The State Executive Council approve the purchase of five fire trucks, fire-fighting equipment, and the employment of 52 qualified personnel to operate the newly constructed fire service stations in five locations spread out in the three senatorial districts of Enugu State. Also, cleanliness and maintenance of roads and environment in the major urban cities necessitates the engagement of 2,000 youth under the Enugu Clean Team project to sustain Enugu as the cleanest city in the country. Enugu is indeed in the hands of God.
The Ugwuanyi administration did not waste time to fire the first salvo of its infrastructural development of the state by embarking on road projects simultaneously in the first three months. The usual 9th Mile Corner heavy traffic was made history by the rapid construction of access roads decongesting traffic. The Opi – Nsukka road leading to UNN was dualized with street lights. Other beneficiaries of road construction are Emene, Orji River and Abakpa-Nike. The administration followed up with 35 grassroots developmental projects spread out in the 17 local government councils with each local government getting two projects. In addition to over hundreds of roads, the most remarkable to me is the construction of the RAMP II road project connecting my hometown of Egede and Awhum. It is projected that the Enugu State government might have spent over N90 billion Naira on road construction and rehabilitation spanning over 700 kilometers.
Other infrastructural developments including but not limited to the completion of the Enugu State Diagnostic Center- innovative and state-of-the-art healthcare center in the South East that offers high quality and affordable healthcare in Enugu. The administration completed construction and renovation of over 589 primary and secondary school blocks, employed over 5,000 teachers, and provided necessary educational tools, resources, and equipment. The civil servants of Enugu state benefited from 100 units of one-bedroom apartments constructed and handed over to 100 lucky civil servants. And last but not least, the administration embarked on construction of 14 new court buildings and open registries across the state in what was described by the Chief Judge as unprecedented infrastructural development in the Judiciary in Enugu State in over 20 years.
In view of the discussed creative programs and massive infrastructural development throughout the state it is no surprise that Governor Ugwuanyi was named the winner of 2018 Governor of the Year Award by Leadership, Sun and Vanguard Newspapers for his phenomenal leadership and governance supporting the rural and urban communities, providing peace and harmony among the political class, and needed security in the state. While the Independent Newspaper named him the Grassroots Development Governor.
In conclusion, for a man who never forgets where he came from, a man who wears humility as badge of honor, a man who is deeply religious with the attending devotion to Almighty, a man who shaped his political career around the philosophy of reaching out to the high and mighty as well as the down-trodden and forgotten. A man who came when the economic hardship was tough and provided succor to our people as he said he would. A man who trusted in his God and directed Enugu State towards the hands of God. A man of peace who made peace and unity reign supreme in Enugu State. His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Lawrence Ugwuanyi, our man on a mission with a clear vision earlier communicated in 2015, and methodically executing with a team meticulously put together. There is no way we can ask for him not to continue for it has never been this good for Enugu State. As we agreed earlier, in Enugu it is Ugwuanyi’s vox dei; vox populi–(Voice of the Almighty is the voice of the people). As the Almighty speak the people will follow suit on March 9, 2019. Victory is assured.
Dr. Udeh, a professor of strategic management at SNHU, Management Consultant and PDP stakeholder, Egede-Umoka Ward, a 2011 Aspirant for Udi-Ezeagu Federal House of Rep, writes from Enugu.
Good job,Dr. Sunny Udeh. It's good to give honor to whom honor is due. Governor Ugwuanyi served the people of Enugu State of Nigeria well to deserve a second term. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe above comments was made by Dr. Benjamin Ilo from Los Angeles, California
DeleteThe enugu state governor is in deed people's choice and a leader by example
ReplyDelete