By Maurice Okafor. Enugu.
He came, he saw, he conquered and all things being equal, Rt Hon.Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will bow out as executive governor of Enugu state on May 29,barely a month from now.
Since nature abhors vacuum and government is a continuum,in accordance with the constitution,the Enugu governor-elect,Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah will be sworn in and assume duties as the new civilian governor of Enugu state. Ahead of the dateline(D-day),Mbah has constituted a 60 member transition committee to the effect.
An indepth check of the going of Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and coming of Dr Peter Mbah as next governor of Enugu state even though is in tandem with the nation’s constitution,goes the extra mile to satisfy the traditional but unconstitutional zoning culture enthroned in the Enugu state democratic process,most effectively since the return of the fourth republic politics in 1999.
The democratic process in Enugu state since 1999 has witnessed a seamless uninterrupted rotation of the governorship seat among the three senatorial districts on equal basis of two terms of service(8years).
Notedly, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East senatorial district governed Enugu state for eight years(1999-2007).Towards the end of his tenure,he rallied support for Mr Sullivan Chime who hails from Enugu West district. Sullivan Chime(2007-2015).
When confronted with the question of where his successor is likely to emerge from during a town hall meeting held at Nike lake hotel(plc) towards the end of his tenure, Ex governor Chime after a brief thought answered that he hails from Enugu West district and his predecessor,Senator Chimaroke hails from Enugu East district, justice and equity demands that his successor is produced from Enugu North senatorial district.
By so doing,Sullivan Chime affirmed the rotation cycle moved in sequence.Eventually,Governor Ugwuanyi excelled at the PDP primaries and was further elected as Enugu state governor in 2015.
With his eight year tenure as Enugu state governor produced from Enugu North senatorial district,Governor Ugwuanyi faced more challenges and controversies on where his successor will come from more than his predecessors.
This stems from the fact that some Socio political pressure groups posited that since the rotation cycle has been completed,the next batch should start from Enugu North senatorial district,Another group held the view it should be thrown.But a third group popularly known as Nkanu Peoples Assembly through rallies,consultations,adequate mobilisation and engagement with reputable stakeholders,traditional rulers,Religeous rulers,etc convinced beyond every reasonable doubt,why the rotation will start all over again from Enugu East senatorial district.
Ugwuanyi had assured that justice and equity will take preminence in the choice of his successor.His prayer was eventually answered in the choice of Peter Mbah,being the choice of majority of the electorates.
The Pinnacle Oil and Gas boss,Dr Peter Mbah,have left no one in doubt that he is here to turn around the economic misfortunes of the state for the better.His blue print of economic development of Enugu state speaks volumes.
As measure or marching words with action,the Pinnacle petrol stations in Enugu state and beyond,has been offering relief to commuters by selling fuel at the normal pump prizes up till now.
Political analysts hold the view that by this singular attitude and sense of socio economic maturity exhibited by Governor Ugwuanyi,to move for a technocrat to take after him instead of a surrogate,Governor Ugwuanyi has written his name in gold in the sands of time and history of political leaders of Enugu state will not be complete without him.
Many expreesed the view that Governor Ugwuanyi traversed the lenght and breath of Enugu state with developmental projects,including the establishment of State University of Medical and Applied Sciences(SUMAS)Igbo Eno,the Abakpa Nike to Opi Nsukka flyover,among others.
Details of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration impact in the Socio infrastructural sector will follow up.
