From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
A philanthropist cum politician who is contributing in no small measure to current political dynamism Enugu state, Prince Engr. Lawrence Ezeh, has tasked the newly elected 17 local government chairmen in Enugu state to facilitate development of the rural communities, as a means of enthroning even development across the state.
Prince Eze gave the charge while speaking to news men after the elected chairmen took their oath of office before Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at a colourful ceremony,held at Okpara Square, on Monday, March 2.
He asserted that the problem of local government administration in Enugu state borders on misplacement of priorities by the past elected chairmen stating the mistakes are bound to be corrected if the newly elected chairmen will look inwards and take governance to their people, replicating what Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is doing in the state.
Prince Engr Eze, who left PDP for APC and later re-joined PDP, said the style and art of governance of Governor Ugwuanyi which has endeared peace in the political circle and among all political class has remained his watchword. He disclosed that his passion for rural development was instrumental to his constructing over 4.5km asphalted road which stretched across his community Mbulumbu and some other communities in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu state.
Prince Eze whose philanthropy and corporate social responsibilities[CSR] to humanity include scholarship scheme to over 100 indigenous students of Nkanu East local government area said that his wish in partisan politics is to let the art of governance at various levels to be responsive to the needs of the people. He extolled Governor Ugwuanyi to have done much at state level and wish that the newly elected chairman will replicate what he is doing in their respective local government.
“What we are witnessing in Enugu at the moment is a government that is showing commitment to the development and enthronement of social peace in the state in all ramifications. We are expecting the newly elected local government chairmen who swore to oath of office to do same at the local government level.
Some of us, on our individual capacity render service as part of our corporate social responsibility, but the elected chairmen have great task of developing our communities. They must have to avoid misplacement of priorities, so as to get it right.”
Speaking to news men after taking their oath of office, some of the chairmen expressed their eager to embark on developmental projects that will impact meaningfully on their rural dwellers. The Chairman of Enugu North local government, Hon Emeka Onunze assured that taking social amenities and peaceful co-existence of all communities under his council is the watchword of his administration. Hon Ezekiel Chukwu of Aninri local government, who is re-elected for a second term in office, stressed he will open up more rural roads to facilitate commercial activities and local rice production among the rural farmers remains a major policy of his administration.
The Youthful candidates of Oji River and UDI local government areas, Barr Frank Udemezue and Hon Ifeanyi Agu said part of their blue prints includes cardinal objective migration, youth unemployment in their respective council areas in addition to rural development through provision of social amenities that will curtail rural to urban migration.
