By Ellis Ugwoke
Every sky, they say, has a silver lining; every epoch has a defining moment; and every regime has a focal point. So it is with the Ugwuanyi administration. But alas! we live in perilous times. A time when white is seen from a prism of many colours and darkness marauds as the Angel of light. A time when a candle lit in the dark for illumination is interpreted as wasting the wax rather than showing the light. Bad times indeed!
And so when the social media and in fact public discuss, is today dominated by what the government of His Excellency Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi did or did not do, should or should not have done, even in the face of uncountable evidence, it is understandable and in fact expected. As it was with Jesus who came and did all imaginable signs and wonders and was still crucified in spite of incontrovertible evidence of His righteousness so it has always been with those who lead sacrificial and exemplary lives. A tree standing by the side of the road, giving shed to even stranded strangers always receive unwarranted cuts from stray machetes. However the machetes would be doing the despicable when they attempt to hack the tree down in full bloom. This despicable part unfortunately is the lot of many critics and commentators.
On two occasions some weeks ago as the bus I was traveling in within the state capital bounced off a bumpy road, an avalanche of voices almost simultaneously rose to the high heavens attacking the Governor for not fixing all the roads which the immediate past administration had repaired. My lone voice of defence was swallowed by a cacophony of distraction. Again in a barbing salon recently, a hot argument on what the Government failed to do concerning the intra city infrastructure ended in fisticuffs. Beyond this narrow argument we observe that in market stalls, bus stops, drinking parlors and even in living homes these days, tempers rise at the slightest provocation. Everyone is wrong except oneself. The government of the day unavoidably becomes the punching bag in this crossfire of shifting blames.
And then I began to ask, “has the Government actually failed to deliver on its mandate or are the people too preoccupied to take notice? Or may be there exists a national/global socioeconomic phenomenon beyond the control of both the government and the governed such that the noise often overwhelm the guns (a na- eme o di ka anaghi eme). The situation is further compounded by the unsavoury voice of charlatans deluded by greed to deride the noble, making the innocent pubic appear to be victims rather than the victors.
OTHER GOVTS COMPARED
Successive administrations in the state and beyond had received varying degrees of criticism both constructive and obtrusive, of their policies and programs. The dept and content of such criticisms were somewhat influenced by both the effect of actual performance and the force of global economic pressures as it is with current administration. The force of global hardships and national failure is more the case now than it ever had been. For a clearer understanding, a comparative analysis becomes imperative.
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani ( Governor from 1999-2007) was severely criticised, vilified and publicly ‘crucified’ for being so brutish, clannish and selfish. His modest achievements in Ebeano tunnel, ESUT Perm site, Agbani Law School etc were quite irrelevant to the critical public. Bar Sullivan Chime (2007-2015) was not spared either. He was accused of partying all night and frolicking with women while his government was adrift in the hands of his subordinates, his achievements in urban renewal not withstanding. These were at the time of ‘economic boom’ and global stability compared to prevailing recession and global meltdown experienced by current regime.
In other States Rochas Okorocha of then Imo State was publicly portrayed as a rogue governor but today Uzodinma’s monstrous strides (in the eyes of the same public) has made a saint out of Okorocha. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State is by public commentary, portrayed as docile and the worst that Abia has ever had. Obiano of Anambra was harassed, embarrassed and similarly hounded unto departure. It has equally not been easy for his successor. For Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State his achievements has become his albatross. His people say he has(in the process of raising humongous projects) converted the state into a personal enterprise and impoverished the people to the point of slavery while converting their Commonwealth to family fortune. Governor Samuel Orton of Benue State was recently lamenting on an Arise TV program that people say he has not built even a toilet in his State contrary to sprawling evidence to the contrary. Similarly Sanwolu of Lagos State was seen struggling during a Channels TV program, to explain what he has been doing with more than N50b monthly internally generated revenue.
And so the spate of public criticism of the government in power is common and expected. In fact constructive criticism is the beauty of democracy as it puts the government constantly on its toes for the overall benefit of the people. But it pains when the truth is stood upsidedown and facts are painted in lurid and fictitious colours just to score cheap political points. It is even more worrisome that some of those who know better and in fact, are direct beneficiaries of the developmental strides of the Ugwuanyi administration are those twisting the facts to deceive the public.
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE AS ASSESSMENTS PARAMETER
While the two previous administrations in the state focussed on the sub urban and urban development respectively, the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi regime chose a balanced approach to Urban, Sub Urban and rural Roads. This regime covered greater number of roads (in terms of quantity and quality), reached greater number of people/communities and positively affected greater number of businesses and lives across the state compared to previous regimes. The list enumerated below can be crosschecked for proof.
URBAN ROADS( Enugu)
While people see failure in not redoing the same roads Sullivan had done but now gone bad again the Governor in his characteristic wisdom chose to address those dilapidated roads abandoned for decades in strategic areas of the city. Some of them include:
Nike rd Abakpa, Ogwuagor rd, Nike Lake rd, old UNTH- Bunker rd, Abakpa last bus stop- Nkwo Nike rd, One day rd, Agbani rd, Etudo- Awkunanaw rd, Hill view- Loma Linda rd, Ugwuaji Timber shed rd, ICPC- Fidelma rd, Afam Okereke st, Holy Trinity- Bishop Eneje st, Valley Crescent, Mount Drive, Ohofia St (off Nza st), Nawfia st, Ibuzo st, Isiuzo st, Ukehe st, Onitsha st, Owerti rd, Poly clinic- Ilukwe st, Carter st, Dental school- tipper garage rd, Ojoto st, Forest crescent, Ogbette mkt rd, Ngenevu rd etc.
SUB URBAN ROADS :
Milliken hill- Ngwo rd, Opi-Nsukka dual carriage, Iva valley rds, Nike lake junction-Adoration- Oye Emene rd, Ameke Ngwo-Nsude 9th mile bypass, Airport rd Emene, Amankwo-Amaeke-Ama breweries bypass, Emene-Nkwubo-Ugwuomu rd, Aguabor-New mkt flyover rd, Opi-Nsukka-Obollo Afor rd etc.
NSUKKA URBAN ROADS:
Justin’s Eze st, Echara rd, Aku rd, Fide Okoro- Amaeze rd, Onuiyi junction-mkt rd, Aludele rd, Eruchalu st, New Anglican rd, Enugu rd- Nru junction-UNN rd, Onuiyi beach- Umanu-Ibagwa rd, post office round about- Odenigbo-Ikenga rd etc.
RURAL ROADS
Udenu ring rds, Ogbaku rd, Neke-Mbu-Obolo Etiti rd, Ehamufu-Nkalagu rd, Ukpabi- Ugbene Ajima- Eziani rd, orie mkt-Afor Inyire Enugu Ezike, Inyi-Akpugoeze rd, Ituku rd, Oji River- Enugu Express link roads, Amuri rd, Ogrutee rd Engu Ezike , Orba-Ovoko rd, Umundu-Igugu rd, Ohodo rd, Obolo Eke rd, Ogrute- Umuopu rd, Udi- Oji River-Ugwuoba rd, Ogonogoeji Ndiagu Akpugo rd, Mission Junction-Iwolo ring roads phase I and II etc.
These roads complete with asphalt and drainages are aside from a host of rural access rds done under such agencies as RAMP, FADAMA, CSDP, NEWMAP and various government ministerial interventions on Rural Access Roads with complete earthworks and drainages awaiting asphalting. And if my community alone has two such roads with a combined length of over 25km one can imagine how many there are across the state.
This developmental thrust as shown in the road infrastructure is replicated within the Socioeconomic mix by the Ugwuanyi administration. In Education as in health, public utilities and agriculture the story is the same – balanced development. These overwhelming evidence of superlative performance is not a mark of failure as detractors posit; ney, it is success raised to power two.
CONCLUSION
“When beggars die, there are no comets seen, the heavens themselves blaze forth, the death of princes” As we draw our conclusion from above poetic prose from ‘Julius Caesar’ we point out that while a government of no consequence reigned with reckless brutality and unaccountable mien over our collective polity voices of note from our side of the circle hide in shame and bridle their mouths. But as this government of the people rise above the tide to overcome the tempest this same voice of note now found strength behind the joyous crowd(savouring their freedom) to shout in staccato rhythm, “crucify him! crucify him!!” Even when the voice of justice says, “I have found nothing deserving death in him” they shouted the more, “crucify him!!!” These voices have however, been dealt a permanent blow on the cross of truth and never again shall the righteous be put on the stake for giving his today for our blissful tomorrow. Ka Chinese mezie okwu!
