By Emmanuel Ikechukwu-Jonathan, JP.
According to a story in the bible, our Lord Jesus Christ while responding to a statement made by the Pharisees and Scribes in the book of Luke Chapter 15 from verse 4 to 6, asked: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, *Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep* .”
The above parable can be likened to the action exhibited by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State when he traveled to Ama-Ezikeani community Nkpologu town in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area surrounded by hills in search of a member of his political family in Enugu North Senatorial Zone. On finding him, he metaphorically carried him on his shoulders inviting friends and well wishers to celebrate with him for finding his lost brother.
Stakeholders, friends and well wishers that witnessed the reconciliatory occasion at Ama-Ezikeani Nkpologu in Uzo-Uwani include the former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi; the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Augustine Nnamani; the member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Hon. Prince Cornelius Nnaji; the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; the former State Chairman of PDP, Chief Engr. Vita Abba; former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Okey Ezea; Executive Secretary Christian Welfare Pilgrims Board, Barr. Nestor Ezeme, Chairman of Council Enugu State Polytechnic Iwollo, Chief Chinedu Onu; members of the State House of Assembly, EXCO and council chairmen from Enugu North Senatorial District, among others.
An elated Governor Ugwuanyi while speaking at the event thanked the “God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the awesome God of David” for making the search for his lost brother possible adding, “We thank Senator Chuka Utazi for his warm reception he accorded all of us in his country home in Ama-Ezikeani Nkpologu Uzo-Uwani. He is our Senator and we are one family.
“I thank all of you who were able to make it with me to Ama-Ezikeani Nkpologu to witness this occasion.”
The Governor who equally thanked stakeholders of Enugu State for the peace they have allowed to reign in the state added, “My administration will continue to ensure that peace continues to reign in the state. All I have to say here today is to thank everyone who made everything about today’s event at Ama-Ezikeani Nkpologu Uzo-Uwani possible.”
Speaking earlier in a brief remark, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said, “What has happened here today is very significant and I thank Senator Utazi and his wife for shutting the mouths of the enemies whose stock in trade is to instill crisis between brothers.
“As humans, we don’t have the right of who should be our brothers or sisters, but we have the rights to choose our friends. When we started this journey we said we should work together as brothers. Please we should continue to work as one and same people.”
In a welcome and opening prayer, the Traditional Ruler of Nkpologu Community, Igwe Simeon J. Idu, expressed deep appreciation to Governor Ugwuanyi for his administration’s special attention in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, through numerous landmark development projects.
Igwe Idu thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for the ongoing massive work on the long-neglected 39km Umulokpa-Adaba-Ukpata-Uvuru-Nkpologu road which links many communities of Uzo-Uwani LGA to their headquarters at Umulokpa.
The visibly excited monarch, while expressing the gratitude of the people of Nkpologu community to the governor, said, “before now, we could not go to our headquarters in Umulopka without passing through four local government areas of Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti, Udi and Ezeagu”.
He added that the governor’s special love for the people of Uzo-Uwani is the reason the road (Umulokpa-Adaba-Ukpata-Uvuru-Nkpologu) is currently under construction, and has reached advanced stage courtesy of the state government, in collaboration with Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II).
Igwe Idu also thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for asphalting the 26.665km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road as well as the Edem Ani-Urobo-Abbi road (earthwork).
While maintaining that no past government in the state had channeled infrastructural development to the rural communities as the present administration has done, the royal father appreciated the governor for choosing Uzo-Uwani as one of the seven benefiting LGAs where Type-3 Primary Health Care Centres are being constructed. He also appreciated the governor for siting the all-important health facility in Nkpologu.
He therefore reassured the governor of the unalloyed support and solidarity of the people of Uzo-Uwani LGA and applauded his visit to the community.
In a vote of thanks, a stakeholder of Uzo Uwani and an elder statesman/stakeholder of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Chief Maxi Ukuta, said that the Governor’s visit to the country home of Senator Utazi in Ama-Ezikeani Nkpologu Uzo Uwani LGA is epochal and will put to an end the rumours made about Utazi.
Ukuta who appealed to all and sundry in Enugu North Senatorial Zone to give peace a chance, said: “I want us to accept Utazi as our son. All the rumour that was said about him is now a thing of the past and we should continue to love him as our son.
“We also accord same respect to the Governor as our son. We will hook and sink with him because he has done us proud as a Governor. Nsukka remains the most receptive zone in Enugu State and this is being witnessed in the style of leadership piloted by Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration.”
He urged Senator Utazi to seek peace with his brother, the Governor, and accord him the respect due to him, adding, “We are one and same people.”
Receiving Gov. Ugwuanyi in his country home, Ama-Ezikeani Nkpologu, Senator Utazi endorsed the speech by his Traditional Ruler, stressing that the governor’s achievements in infrastructural development in Uzo-Uwani LGA are unprecedented and commendable.
Senator Utazi said that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration has executed the longest earth road in Enugu State and in particular the council area and reassured him that they will not take such gestures for granted.
The lawmaker further maintained that Gov. Ugwuanyi remained his elder brother, adding, “All I plead is to be treated the same way my fellow Senators are treated in terms of recognition and input-making in the affairs of the state. I don’t have strength to embark on any fight whatsoever, but prayer remains my strength. I thank Governor Ugwuanyi for his show of humility today by embarking on this journey to my country home.”Hide quoted text
The highpoint of the occasion was a presentation by students of JoeRose Secondary School Ama-Ezikeani Nkpologu founded in memory of the parents of Senator Chuka Utazi to welcome the Governor to Uzo-Uwani LGA.
Emmanuel Ikechukwu-Jonathan, JP, is a public affairs analyst from Alor-Agu in Igbo-Eze South LGA, Enugu State.
