Enugu state: The challenge before Gov Ugwuanyi

Beyond the euphoria that greeted his swearing in on May 29, is the enormous challenge of developing Enugu state which has remained a one city state since creation. There is also the need to pursue a new economic agenda that would provide jobs for the army of unemployed youths in the state. MAURICE OKAFOR in Enugu reports

Following his victory in the April 11 governorship election in Enugu state, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was eventually sworn in as the next civilian Governor of Enugu state on Friday May 29, 2015 a day which is reckoned as the nation’s ‘Democracy Day’. The people’s affirmation, acceptance and solidarity as the new governor of the coal city state was demonstrated by the tumultuous crowd that turned out to witness his inauguration at the Michael Okpara Square.

Though the Democracy Day event of last Friday was observed across the various state of the federation, the coming of Governor Ugwuanyi as the new Enugu state governor is very unique to the people of the state, in the sense that his emergence as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is the ruling party in the state, his electoral victory and eventual inauguration as governor of Enugu state satisfied the zoning issue in the state. Though zoning of political positions is not provided for in the nation’s constitution but it is a very significant factor in the state’s politics.

This is predicated on the fact that the age long yearnings and clarion call of the political class and people from Enugu North senatorial district in other words known as ‘Nsukka Cultural zone’ is to be given the opportunity to produce the next governor of Enugu state, after Sullivan Chime. They based their argument on the basis that Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, who governed the state for eight years from 1999 to 2007, is from Enugu East senatorial district. While the outgoing governor, Mr. Chime, who completed his eight years tenure in May 28, 2015 is from Enugu West senatorial district.

Therefore, the political class from Enugu North senatorial district eagerly wanted to take a shot at the governorship seat of the state for the sake of equity and fair play.

The Hallmark checks revealed that in ensuring the realization of this project, the political elites from the zone motivated and aroused the consciousness of the grassroots to buy into the governorship project being that the zone boasts of more than half of the voting population in the state.

What this implied was that it have spelt doom for the PDP in the state should the party had failed to resolve to zone the 2015 governorship slot to Enugu North senatorial district.

Hallmark gathered that the electorate and the political class from the zone would have thrown their weight behind the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Barrister Okey Ezea, who is equally from Enugu North senatorial district as their next option in the event PDP had failed to cede the ticket to the zone. This would have been the zone’s last ditch effort in its determination to ensure the zone produces Chime’s successor. The only acceptable alternative that would have disrupted the zone from producing the 2015 governorship would have been if there dream of creation of ‘Adada’ state was realized before the 2015 general election.

It is worth mentioning that both the political class and elder statesmen from the district have been nurturing an age long dream for the creation of Adada state, in view of its large land mass, dense population and untapped economic potentials especially in the agricultural sector. They hold the believe that an independent state of Adada from the present Enugu state and other surrounding communities would provide them with an opportunity to uplift the socio-economic and political development of their people.

To a large extent, many other Igbo speaking tribes sympathized with the zone which is also referred to as ‘Nsukka Cultural zone’ in their struggle for the realization of Adada state, based on the fact that Nsukka Cultural zone, after Abakaliki cultural zone realized their dream of Ebonyi state, should be the next state to be created in Igbo land. It is also on record that the outgoing administration in Enugu state under Chime, provided serious logistic supports to a group of elder statesmen and stakeholders from Enugu East senatorial zone, who operated under the aegis ‘Movement for Adada state creation’ in the pursuit of the cause.

Presently, it is obvious that the dream and struggle for creation of Adada state by the concerned elders and stakeholders from ‘Nsukka Cultural zone’  must be set aside for another period, now they have realized the plan B, which is the option to produced the governor of Enugu state. Going by the zoning principle of the PDP in Enugu state, Governor Ugwuanyi expectedly will rule for two terms of four years each if he succeeds in winning a second term in office in 2019.

With the envisaged political crisis in the state finally settled courtesy of the successful zoning, the great challenge before the new administration in the state led by Ugwuanyi is basically how to chat a new leaf for the socio-economic development of the coal city state. Expectations are high that Ugwuanyi’s administration would steer a new economic and development agenda in the state that would ensure the revitalization of abandoned and neglected state owned industries, with a view to making them lucrative enough as to provide gainful employment to millions of unemployed youths resident in the state.

Another great challenge that is confronting Ugwuanyi’s administration straight on the face is to develop the initiative of promoting rural development. It is unfortunate that the city metropolis of Enugu, fondly referred to as the coal city, as named by the colonial masters who discovered coal deposits in large quantum in the town as far back as 1909, has remained the only township in the state. Old  towns like Oji River, Awgu, Nsukka, Obolloafor, Agbani etc  with enormous economic potentials that can sustain the state’s economy through internally generated revenue, IGR, has been neglected by past administrations of the state, due to lack of vision. The city of Enugu is witnessing increasing population on daily basis without adequate housing and social amenities for the inhabitants.

Ugwuanyi brought hope that he would put in his best in overcoming the socio-economic burden confronting Enugu State in his inaugural address, immediately after he was sworn in. He stated, “Enugu state under us will pay a special attention to rural development because the bulk of our people live in the rural areas.”.

He said “we will create more urban areas to boost economic growth. In line with this, we must equip and modernize Nsukka – a university town founded over half a century ago to compete with other university towns in attracting technology and knowledge based businesses and other industrial support ventures, bearing in mind that Nsukka is the second largest town in Enugu State.”

“In the same vein, the 9^th Mile Corner is a long overlooked economic hub that we need to harness to enjoy the full benefits of our newly acquired status as a Free Trade Zone. We will give attention to these places to speed up urban development, create fresh economic opportunities and reduce pressure on the Enugu metropolis.”

“Likewise we will boost the Enugu city by opening up the Independence Layout Phase 11, Abakpa Nike, Emene and other satellite towns to compliment the proposed Industrial Park. We will partner with the private sector, not only in housing development but also in agricultural development and industrialisation. We want people who are ready to enter into strategic partnerships with us to develop Enugu State. We will provide the necessary legal and policy frameworks to make investment thrive.”

The new Enugu state Governor, Ugwuanyi, who until his election was a three term member of the House of Representatives for Udenu/Igbo Eze North constituency, however lamented the poor state of economy of Enugu state, necessitated by the dwindling resources from the monthly federation account. He emphasized the urgent need to boost the internally generated revenue of the state, through prompt payment of taxes by citizens and other Nigerians residing in the state.

It is obvious the challenges before the new administration in Enugu state led by Ugwuanyi are already identified, but the extent he would go in tackling them in the face of the prevailing economic recession amounts to the enormity of his challenge.