COSMAS CHUKWU
Like a calming breeze from Paradise, he was swept onto the vitriolic Enugu political scene ostensibly if assuredly to calm frayed nerves, reconcile and unite all political divides with a view to enthroning divine peace and an era of progress ,security and development.
It had become almost the norm that incumbent governors would fight their predecessors, an unpleasant overhang from the Second Republic politics of old Anambra state when incumbent Chief C C Onoh gave his predecessor Senator Dr Jim Nwobodo a run for his money. Then the Fourth Republic played out incumbent Dr Chimaroke Nnamani physically grounded and ran his erstwhile mentor and godfather Senator Nwobodo out of Enugu and Enugu state politics throughout his 8-year tenure.
Like a reoccurring nightmare Nnamani was paid back in his own coins when successor and former acolyte, Barr Sullivan Chime took up mantle and sent Nnamani into premature political retirement, nay oblivion. There is no gainsaying the fact that these political wrangling and infighting not only affected the fortunes and popularity of the ruling People’s Democratic Party in the state but the concomitant effect grossly bedeviled development and created a state devoid of peace and security. So ,the people prayed for peace and development so that good governance would usher the dreams of the found fathers.
It turned out that the fervent supplication of Ndi Enugu received divine benediction when on December 8,2014 the savvy hands of God picked Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from the motley crowd of political gladiators on the PDP platform as the gubernatorial flagbearer of the state in then upcoming election. Though one of his co-tenders in that PDP primary election, Sen Ayogu Eze felt peeved over Ugwuanyi’s victory and headed to court where he lost his lawsuit as Ugwuanyi was declared legitimately and properly selected.
However, Ugwuanyi being innately peaceful and devoid of rancour extended the olive branch to all and sundry in a dogged unifying bid to jointly work towards developing the state. He reached out to all aggrieved parties within the party and state with a view to reconciling them. Ugwuanyi dubbed Gburugburu, which translates loosely as moving round in a circle oscillating to all and sundry, has been living up to this sobriquet. His complaisant disposition has often been misconstrued as pandering to pressure even as cynics insist, he was pursuing the elusive. Nonetheless ,he charges on in delivering good governance even when it appeared as if he was swimming against the current, witness the debacle, hues and cries that greeted the recent gubernatorial pension amendment bill which was part of his drive to deliver the goods.
Governor Ugwuanyi had on assumption of office in 2015 produced a developmental template geared at multisectoral development which he had and has doggedly pursued and been pursuing bring transformation to nooks and crannies of the state. He has recorded landmark achievements in health service delivery, equipment and expansion and rehabilitation of heath infrastructures and institutions. He has done no less in the education ,agriculture, economic development ,employment and empowerment as well as in general infrastructural development.UnderY2021 budget of 1.69 billion naira he proposes to build two overhead bridges withing Enugu metropolis of which work has commenced on one while he plans setting up a fertilizer factory, boost water articulation, complete ongoing and abandoned projects as well as initiate new ones and to continue to promote and sustain peace in state through employment generation and youth empowerment. He has enhanced the ease of doing business in state, increased the IGR and sustained good labour relations culminating workers smiling to the banks on or before the 25th of every month capped a 13th month salary bonus.
For these and his all-inclusive style of governance denizens of the state including ex-governors Sen Nwobodo, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Dr Nnamani whom he had return to politics and sent to the Senate, Barr Sullivan Chime, who though now is an SPC stalwark enjoys marked cordiality with Ugwuanyi, Sen Ken Nnamani, Ambassadors Justina Eze and Fidelis Njeze as well as Rev Fr Mbaka among others give Ugwuanyi the thumbs up for his achievement so far. And by extension the people enthuse especially people from his Enugu North senatorial zone while Ekweremadu’s Enugu West feel shortchanged and sidelined prompting their bid to succeed Ugwuanyi come 2023.
Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,born to the David Ugwuanyi family of Orba in Udenu LGA of Enugu state on March 20 1964,completed his education in his native Orba before proceeding to the upbeat St Theresa Secondary School Nsukka from where he got his School Certificate. Young and determined Ugwuanyi then entered the UNN where he bagged BSc Finance which he capped up with Msc in Marketing PR and MBA in Finance. Not yet done he headed to ESUT for another MBA in Accountancy.
Armed with these salutary academic arsenal he got employed as General Manager of the Premier Insurance Brokers Ltd, a brokerage firm owned by the five South Eastern states in conjunction with ACB. Having made his mark in corporate leadership, he looked for challenging beat where he could serve the people better.
Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi delved into politics joining the People Democratic Party PDP which held and still holds sway in Enugu state. Providence smiled on him in 2003 with election into the House of Representatives for Udenu Igboeze North Federal constituency. He served 12 unboken years of three terms. An active parliamentarian, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Pensions Committee wherein he contributed largely to the formulation of the Pensions Act 2004 and other reforms. He was later elected Chairman of the influential Marine Transport Committee where again he brought wealth of experience to bear in initiating far reaching maritime regulations. Ugwuanyi, a man of history is today the first and only parliamentarian in both the Upper and Lower houses of the National Assembly to have served as Chairman of the Marine Transport committee and this manifest the trust and confidence reposed in him by his colleagues.
It is with this great back ground that he returned to serve his Enugu state people as governor. Knowing the herculean task ahead he rallied the support of the movers and shakers in the state and dedicated and deposited Enugu state in hands of God as the catch slogan.
goes, Enugu State is in the Hands of God.
Perhaps because of his illustrious antecedent the PDP recently designated him as South East Leader of the party in zone, a no mean feat.
Ugwuanyi had served as the 16th President of Rotary Club of Emene. His philantropy is legendary covering scholarship for the indigent at all levels, provision of potable water through many boreholes he dug in his constituency, provision of electric generators to his people, construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructures in churches, schools and community settings.
He was awarded the prestigious Metro Eireann International Outstanding Leadership trophy in 2016 for his exemplary performance as a legislator especially for his performance as Chairman of the Marine committee.
Ugwuanyi, a committed Catholic is married to the love of life, Dr. Mrs .Monica Ugochi Ugwuany with whom he has children.
Today, as he marks his 57 birthday he will be remembered as a quiet achiever, a man history, and epitome peace and good governance.
Congratulations Gburugburu, the aimable and amiable governor with the mildest touch.
