Ugwuanyi vs Umahi: Why is Enugu State behind?

BY CHRIS OGBOBE

As a renowned journalist, I am in love with constructive criticism. If not for anything at least for the fact that it helps to spur individuals or government to step up their game. But most often people misconstrue us (critics) to be haters or oppositions. Only a handful of politicians are willing to accept constructive criticism.

Off course, without mincing words, Gov. Ugwuanyi has abysmally failed the expectations of Enugu people and Nsukka in particular. When he was anointed to become governor in 2015 by the then governor, Bar. Sullivan I. Chime, there were much expectations from him and I was among those who believed that Ugwuanyi would outperform Sullivan Chime because I was well abreast of his antecedent as three times House of Representative member. I know it would be wrong of me to compare the administration of Bar. Sullivan Chime and that of Gov. Ugwuanyi as their dispensations are entirely different.

However, I am not out of place to compare Gov. Ugwuanyi and Gov. Umahi of Ebonyi State as both are serving in the same dispensation. Interestingly, the odd was high on Gov. Umahi to deliver due to the meager allocation the State receives from Federal government while the odd on Gov. Ugwuanyi to deliver was very low due to the fact that Enugu State is more economically viable and federal allocation also higher than Ebonyi. But behold, as we are expecting a dead and dried tree to fall, a living and healthy tree decided to fall; Ugwuanyi failed woefully.

Both were elected under PDP from onset. Both started first term as governor together. Both states are not oil producing states. Both are located in South East. But Enugu State is more economically viable than Ebonyi State and also receives higher federal allocation than Ebonyi yet Gov. Umahi outperformed my own dear governor. What a shame!

It is regrettably painful that Gov. Ugwuanyi's second term has finished and he has nothing to show for it. It is exclusively your business if you still believe that he has time to perform some magic when this year has already finished. Next year is 2022 and it is called election year not project year. All energy and money by next year will be channeled on how best to stop Ike Ekweremadu whom we continue to hear is coming and not for project. Someone has eight years to perform and he decided to waste good six years and six months. What on earth do you expect him to achieve under the remaining one year and six months? Since the remaining one year is election year, one can't be wrong to say that he has barley six months to do the magic which is obviously impossible.

Oh my goodness! If only you have the opportunity to visit Ebonyi State, then and only then will you understand what I am saying. Under six years, Gov. Umahi turned Ebonyi into small London with the little allocation he receives from Federal government. That is what you get when you have a leader as your governor and not a politician. Umahi is a leader. He has vision and the tenacity to drive the vision. He is sincere and bold. He is passionate about his people and he doesn't segregate in his distribution of democratic dividends unlike my own governor who is a cunning man and treats issues trivially.

No apologies, a typical Orba man is a cunning man and Gov. Ugwuanyi is not exceptional. As a cunning man, he will promise you heaven and earth and cripple any atom of doubt in you with his meekness while laughing in his heart because he knows you have been deceived. He is a business politician and always interested in his profits and not the interest of the people.

How sad it is that we have a sitting governor and yet there is no single road to Nsukka from Enugu if not for Sullivan Chime. In show of his segregative nature, he decided to rehabilitate Opi-Orba-Obollo road which leads to his house and leave the rest of us to perish in bad road. Until you travel from 9th mile to Opi junction you will not understand why Gov. Ugwuanyi will always say that " *Enugu State is in the Hands of God".* The level of infrastructural decay in Enugu State is so alarming that if nothing is done now, Enugu State will become a failed state. Major roads in the metropolis are in bad shape and the government is doing nothing about it let alone to talk about roads in rural areas which the governor has decided to kill us with promises like the proverbial promise Father made to Ogbuagu.

But wait ooo. What is governor Ugwuanyi doing with all the money he is borrowing? In 2015 data from Debt Management Office (DMO) showed that the domestic debt of Enugu State is *22billion* naira. But as at July this year 2021, our domestic debt stood at *68billion* naira. Add this debt to the *15billion* naira our governor wants to borrow from CBN which the House has given approval, it means our debt now stands at *83billion* naira. It also means that in the space of six years, our governor has borrowed *61billion* naira raising our domestic debt from 22billion to *83billion* naira. Chaiii! Is this really what we voted for? Before you start defending rubbish, let me remind you or inform you that the domestic debt of Ebonyi State is *46billion* . If Gov. Umahi had contributed to the increase, at least one can easily see what it was used for and it is justifiable. But what about our own? What will be the fate of our next governor? Is he hoarding this money just to fight Ike Ekweremadu? Why is our governor not paying attention to the development of other local government areas? Why is he only paying attention to Udenu local government? Every youth in Orba has political appointment whether competent or not.

Before you crucify me for laying the truth bare, don't forget that Ebonyi State was transformed by a leader who believe in his people. If Gov. Ugwuanyi is not seeing Enugu State as his business merchandize where he is more concerned with his profits than the growth of the State, he would have aimed at transforming the State just as his counterpart in Ebonyi State. It is obvious that those applauding Gov. Ugwuanyi are only those eating from his table and as a result must maintain table manner; don't talk while eating. It is a sign of failure when only those who eat from your table are the ones applauding you.

Finally, whether we like it or not, we have taken our turn in producing the governor of Enugu State and whether we are producing his successor or it is going to another zone, this our turn is a colossal failure on our part as Nsukka people. While I leave Enugu State in the hands of God, let me congratulate Charles Soludo on his victory in the just concluded Anambra gubernatorial election.