Enugu North 2023: Ugwuanyi is worthy of his wages

By Roland Ugwu

Figuratively speaking, the Ides of March, in this case, the long expected 2023, is finally here. Although the Ides of March, which corresponds to 15th March, is now more notorious for the assassination of Julius Caesar, it was quite notable in Rome as a deadline for settling debts. In the same vein, the February 25, 2023, senatorial election will be a day good and gratitude will prevail over greed and evil as the people of Enugu North senatorial district, otherwise known as Nsukka zone, file out to elect their next senator; and the man at the centre of it all is Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Ordinarily, Ugwuanyi’s journey to the Senate should be a walk in the park, given how he has impacted the lives of the zone over the years, especially as governor. In the nearly last eight years, Ugwuanyi has quietly turned the fortunes of Nsukka zone and old Nsukka zone. Be it infrastructural transformation, urbanisation, human capital development (including overseas scholarships), employment and juicy political appointments.

Just a few days back, the governor inaugurated the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), at Igbo-Eno. This houses ultra-modern structures and facilities, including a teaching hospital, well-equipped 12-classroom faculty buildings, two blocks of student hostels with 120 bed spaces, 10 industrial water boreholes with overhead tanks and external electrification engineering services at SUMAS, Igbo-Eno. And as he rightly pointed out during the inauguration of the school, apart from the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, he is the only other leader to establish a university in Nsukka area. This is in addition to the Federal Polytechnic, which he attracted to Ohodo, and part of the Enugu State Polytechnic transferred to Udenu LGA.

One of Governor Ugwuanyi first projects was the construction of the 12km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with underground drainage system fitted with street and traffic lights up to University of Nigeria (UNN) gate. Other projects in the area of road infrastructure include the 31km Udenu Ring road with two high-tech bridges; construction of the 8.8km Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road in Isi-Uzo LGA, which was neglected for well over 35 years; construction of the 26.66km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene -Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGA under RAMP-2; construction of the 22.4km Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti inter-community road linking Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGAs under RAMP-2; construction of the Enugu Road (Nsukka) Junction-Umuezebi-Nru Junction-University Gate road in Nsukka town; reconstruction of the Post Office Roundabout-Odenigbo Roundabout -Ogurugu Road-Ikenga road in Nsukka town, reconstruction of the Obechara Road Junction-Umunkashi- Mechanic Village-Ikenga Hotels Junction road in Nsukka town.

Furthermore, the Ugwuanyi administration rehabilitated well over 11km additional roads in Nsukka, covering over 11km, transforming the university town to a township.

There is also the Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike – Obollo Afor link road with smart solar streetlight; Eke Amala – Otukpo Old Road; Amadi – Agbougwu-Amajioke road; Umuokere – Igugu Road, Udenu LGA; Eke Likke-Iheaka Junction-Amagu Uwani-Ekoyi Iheaka-Uhunuowerre-Iheakpu Awka road in Igbo-Eze South Local; reconstruction of Ibagwa Junction-Itchi road in Igbo-Eze South LGA; among a host of others.

His government constructed the ultra-modern 5,000-seater Nsukka Township Stadium as well as the Enugu State Secretariat Annex in Nsukka satellite town. This is in addition to a modern conference centre at Nsukka which houses facilities like multiple halls, lawn tennis court, indoor activity hubs and recreation facilities like adult and children swimming pools.

The youth of Enugu North have equally benefited immensely from the various scholarship awards by the Ugwuanyi administration, especially the overseas scholarships, including the 22 scholarships to indigent, but brilliant Enugu students studying at the Mewar University, India; scholarships to a good number of Enugu youths studying in various U.S universities; fully funded postgraduate scholarships for Forty (40) Enugu State students in various parts of Europe, America, Australia and Asia through the Mentorship Masterclass of Enugu State Scholarship Scheme and Loans Board, which is valued at over N3 billion.

Unfortunately, there will always be those who believe that the world must revolve around them or they crash it. While the overwhelming majority, who believe that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is deserving of elevation to the Senate, having done so well for the zone and additionally made Nsukka look good as a people of conscience, equity, and justice by picking an Nkanu man as his successor, there is also the mendacious few, who believe that his flourishing political career should be upended for refusing to execute the clannish and selfish agenda to retain power in old Nsukka zone.

The lame logic of the naysayers is that the territory known today as Enugu State used to be the old Enugu and Nsukka zones. As openly and vigorously canvassed by Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, among others, ahead of the PDP governorship primary election, the present Enugu East (with the exception of Isi-Uzo LGA, which belonged to Nsukka zone of old) and Enugu West used to be one senatorial zone, while Nsukka zone used to be the present Enugu North in addition to Isi-Uzo. Udenu, Governor Ugwuanyi’s LGA was actually carved out of Isi-Uzo LGA. They therefore argue that ex-governors Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu West) administrations represent two tenures or 16 straight years for the old Enugu zone, while Ugwuanyi’s eight years leaves the old Nsukka zone with another eight years, which must go to Isi-Uzo LGA.

In other words, they believe in the six geopolitical zones and 36 states as the basis for sharing opportunities and projects at the federal level, but suddenly discountenance the three senatorial zones as for the basis for the same at the state level.

But because they can’t tell the world that their real grouse with Ugwuanyi is his insistence on justice and equity in ensuring that power rotates righteously, they lie to the world that he failed to develop Nsukka zone or empower the people. But unfortunately for them, while you may tell the blind that there is no palm oil in the soup, he doesn’t need your help to know if there is enough salt in the soup.

Come February 25, the people of Nsukka will speak. By their votes, they will reiterate the ancient and biblical wisdom that a labourer is deserving of his wages.

•Ugwu writes from Enugu