…gives widows, disabled, other less privileged succour
…says Ugwuanyi has lifted Amodu community from political darkness
…2 Cigar’s uncommon philanthropic gesture, a plus for Ugwuanyi’s administration – Anglican Vicar
In what appeared like a harvest of love and last minute intervention for the less privileged and petty traders in Amodu Awkunnaw in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state, a top aide to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state, yesterday, surprised the community with his empowerment packages.
The empowerment package with the title; “Empowerment and Support Program for the Widows, Disables and the Good People of Amodu Awkunanaw” was sponsored by Rt. Hon. Chidiebere Okoh, popularly called 2 Cigar, on behalf of the state governor.
The event which attracted mammoth crowd including dignitaries from different walks of life such as Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, a House of Representatives Member representing Nkanu West/East Federal Constituency, a philanthropic pilot and 2023 Governorship aspirant in Enugu state, Chief Captain Evarest Nnaji, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants to the State Government, former Local Chairman of Nkanu East Council, Hon. Ikechukwu Ubagu, PDP Chairman, Amodu Ward, Hon. Sunday Maxwell Nnamchi, Anglican Vicar Amodu, Rev. Emmanuel Uchenna Nwachukwu, a Catholic Chaplain of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Rev. Fr. Impey, among other religious clergy, leadership of Nkanu Youth Council Worldwide, among others.
While giving his opening remark, 2 Cigar stated that the programme was an annual event where he met with the needy and less privileged in the community and celebrate with them in a special way. He went further to appreciate the State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for giving the people of Amodu Awkunanaw a feeling of inclusiveness in his administration. According to the leader of the G – 10 for Gburu Gburu, it was in Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, for the first time in the political history of Amodu Awkunanaw, that the Community was remembered and lifted out of political darkness through infrastructure, appointments and human capital development.
Presenting 400 sizeable bags of rice, 500 parcel of wrappers, cash donation of almost six hundred thousand naira for distribution among the crowd, who were mostly widows, physically challenged and petty traders from the Community, 2 Cigar asserted that the event had become a custom as it has assumed an annual event motivated by the Governor’s uncommon spirit of philanthropy, good governance and human capital development. He further assured the people that the Governor would not abandon them even as he has done more positive and impact-driven projects for them than the previous administrations.
2 Cigar who called on the people to continue to support the government told the visibly jubilant crowd that the programme was sponsored by Gov Ugwuanyi in his usual humane gesture to reach out to the people and appreciate them for their mandate. He added that the Gov Ugwuanyi has been a father to him, and a leader who loved the people of Amodu and Enugu state as a whole. He urged the people to sustain the confidence they’d on the administration as the governor remained committed to doing more. The Gov’s aide, while reeling out the many benefits the people of Amodu and Nkanu West LGA had benefited under the leadership of Ugwuanyi, reiterated his unalloyed loyalty to the Governor whom he described as his father and mentor in leadership.
Meanwhile, the Member representing Nkanu West/East Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji has extolled the extra-ordinary virtue and capacity of the organiser of the life-changing programme, describing him as a bridge builder, human capacity developer and champion of human progress. “We are thanking you today, and we are praying to God to give you more so that you can extend your tentacle of goodwill beyond Amodu land to other parts of the state.
“2 Cigar, we are very much impressed with you because you have been consistent with this good gesture and uncommon act of philanthropy. You told us that it was our Governor that is driving your mission, and here we are sending our appreciation to the performing Governor for the resolve to continue to give the people a new lease of life.
“We are also appreciating Governor Ugwuanyi for the peace and security the people of the state are enjoying. It my interest us to know that it’s in a state like Enugu that you can see people gathering and celebrating this way. I don’t think other states are enjoying like our state is doing. The entrenched peace is as a result of the uncommon effort of the Governor, and he has provided security to the people’s satisfaction.
“In fact, we are also trying our best in Amodu. We have not abused the mandate you gave to us to represent you in Abuja and we also appreciate your support for that. As you can see our good works in Amodu; the building, the 24-hour powered solar light, the transformer, the empowerment programme so far in Amodu. We promise to do more, and we will support and partner with 2 Cigar in his effort to eradicate poverty in the land.
“You see, in politics, when you are representing your people, you should be able to tell them what you have done for them, and the facts of those projects should be able to speak for you too. We don’t believe in noise-making. We believe in fact. Anyone coming to seek your votes should be able to convince you of what he has done for the people and not what he or she will do. We have been sweating to see that our constituency benefits immensely from Abuja, and you can see the results. If anyone is coming to seek your votes, please, ask him whether he has done the good things that Nnolim is doing. I’m trying my best and I will not let you down just like 2 Cigar and our performing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi are doing myriad jobs in the state. Governor Ugwuanyi and our people that sent me to Abuja knew that I would do well, and I’m happy they are not disappointed.
“Let me assure you of this; more things are coming. I spent one billion naira on Ihuokpara road. More things are coming. If anyone thinks it’s easy, let the person go and try it. We are all in the system and I’m happy about our progress so far. Thank you so much,” Hon. Nnolim added.
On his part, the billionaire pilot, business tycoon and prominent philanthropist, Captain Evarest Nnaji Odengene, lauded the philanthropic effort of the organizer of the event, describing him as a man with a good heart and zeal to improve on the welfare of his people. While commending the benefactor, Odengene prayed God to continue to lift him higher so that he would continue to do more.
“2 Cigar, it is our prayer that God will lift you higher in order to continue to serve your people in a better way. God doesn’t use an obstinate stranger to work or someone that would not remember his people to work. The only time God used a stranger to work was recorded in the Bible, and God didn’t enjoy it. The story of Saul in the Bible gave a vivid picture of why God would be reluctant to use a stranger afterward. God ordained Saul a king but Saul disappointed God. In midst of this, God went ahead and appointed someone He knew. A man after His own heart. He anointed David who had the uncommon charisma and prowess to bring God’s people together, tend for them and bind their wounds. The story of King David has continued to be legendary. You could see how Jesus Christ, being the reason for our celebration today, sprouted out of the offshoot of David. So, you can relate that to the good work in our state. Governor Ugwuanyi is performing greatly and his aides are complementing his uncommon gesture in development and human capital improvement.
“You can also see how God used Apostle Paul to liberate the Gentile. From Saul to Paul, Apostle Paul became one of the greatest preachers and followers of Christ in the biblical history. The allusion and analogy is clear: God tested David, found him worthy, and used him. God tested Apostle Paul, found him worthy, and used him. God has tested 2 Cigar through these uncommon acts of selflessness, and He is using him to achieve his purposes in Amodu and in Awkunanaw in general.
“I want to appreciate Governor Ugwuanyi for wiping the tears of these widows, physically challenged, petty traders, indigent people here before us today. May God continue to strengthen the Governor with good health, more wisdom, and grace in his effort to give the people of the state the best that governance can offer. I will appeal to everyone; both here and at home to continue to pray and support the government of Enugu state. I will be supporting the event with some donation. Thank you and compliments of the season,” Odengene told the mammoth crowd.
Acknowledging cheers from the people, Hon. Ikechukwu Ubagu said that Governor Ugwuanyi has given the people cogent reasons to celebrate the yuletide both in terms of financial availability, booming economy, Infrastructure and peace and security. He thanked the Governor for celebrating with the people of Amodu community, while also recognizing the virile determination of 2 Cigar to promote the administration of his boss through the many sacrifices by him. He, therefore, pledged to support the programme.
The Vicar of Emmanuel Anglican Church, Amodu, Rev. Emmanuel Uchenna Nwachukwu, has also hailed the Governor for remembering the poor in the community and prayed that God would continue to use him as the David of our time. Rev. Emmanuel who was at the event said he came to be a witness to the good work and uncommon outreach extended to the people by 2 Cigar on behalf of Gov. Ugwuanyi.
“I am pleased by the large heartedness of the governor, and his aide, Chidiebere Okoh. They remembered the less privileged at this auspicious time, and it is indeed, gratifying that the governor in his high place and all the schedules of his office would remember people in the hinterland like Amodu. We thank him. God will bless him and support him throughout his tenure in the name of Jesus.
“2 Cigar is a man of the grassroots. In fact, since the last five years that I have been here, I have seen him showing love to the people, helping the needy and reaching out to everyone. God will definitely bless him. To them who look after the poor, the Lord never forget them. Chidiebere will go places because he has touched the very heart of God which is the poor. May the Lord bless his effort through Christ,” the clergy stated.
Addressing newsmen at the venue of the event, the PDP Chairman of Amodu Ward, Hon. Sunday Nnamchi, said that the empowerment did not come to them as a surprise as 2 Cigar has been doing it annually. He, however, stated that this year’s event was specially packaged and held in a bigger way. According to him, the event was a huge success because of the large items doled out to the poor and the presence of the dignitaries at the event.
“Today’s event was successful. The people are happy. The package got to the people who were in most need of it. The presence of the dignitaries gave us a reassuring confidence. You can see the Governorship aspirant, Chief Captain Evarest Nnaji Odengene, Member representing Nkanu West/East at the House of Representatives, Nkanu West stakeholders, and a host of others graced the occasion.
“Hon. Chidiebere Okoh, known as 2 Cigar is a man of generosity. He is a man that shares the little he has with his fellows. He is a Christian and a good man. That is why I identify with him. May God bless him immensely,” the PDP Ward Chairman added.
In the same vein, the beneficiaries of the programme have showered encomiums on the governor and his aide, praying God to replenish their pockets. Some of the beneficiaries of the cash donations said the money would go a long way to boost their businesses and they would be able to buy their goods in large quantities. Others who received food items stated that the bags of rice would take them through the new year celebration.
