They were right as presence of men and women, albeit in colour and splendour, increased by the minute. This high presence of human elements soon turned into a melee, to the extent that it became difficult for journalists at hand to remain physically in touch in the rising ecstasy of a jubilant and expectant crowd. Then, the avalanche broke, as the Nigeria Air Force jet, bearing President Obasanjo and entourage landed and taxied to the red carpet. Booming of drums rose as the cymbals of the music makers’ gongs challenged the thunderous noises of the standing aircraft. The fattened thighs of well groomed female party folk hardened as they thudded on the hard, black, tarmac; responding in hilarious gestures to the drumming of muscled party youth whose faces were plastered in consenting beams. Then, it was only the roar of the crowd that alerted the curious reporter that, indeed, Mr. President had emerged from the doorway of the aircraft and was waving across to the sun-baked citizens below the cone-nosed, grandstanding and snobbish flyer’s system.

But for the opportunity of the visit, especially with the high caliber presidential float, the reality of the sheer size, spread and splendour of the projects the governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, took, his guests would hardly be properly appreciated in one single run of a tumultuous entourage of busy state officials. But it soon dawned on the others that as the governor was apparently rattling out the names, purposes and texture of finishing of each project, Mr. President was conducting himself as if he was in such a familiar terrain where he needed little or no explanation. He bellowed, wow, pointing at one structure which he later said he had seen at foundation stage some months back.

Most of the times, he took over from the governor and reeled out what he knew about each project, which, as were explained later by Nnamani’s aides, were all flagged off and inspected by Mr. President even as political opposition tried to conjure deliberate policy of deception in earlier claims of government in having executed impressive development projects.

At the splendid College of Medicine and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Chief Obasanjo could not hide his elation. He looked dumbfounded as he gazed agape as the plush facilities which were all resplendent and glistening stood in their echelon of deliberate architectural designs and finishing. From the state-of-art-gatehouse, the majestic hostels – three in number and all ensuite, stood, right, in their finished and already occupied forms, while the array of administration block, clinical laboratory, cadaver tank and medical library stood, left, in that order, leaving a snaky lawn-tarred driveway and manicured arteries, which connected the car parks.

Then, Obasanjo said: “Governor, I remember with fond memories that last year we came here and we looked round and we were impressed with what we saw that were under construction and you asked then, if when completed, you would want also the commissioning to be done by me. I thank you for keeping your word in that respect and I thank me for keeping my word in that respect, too. What we saw at that time, you remember, was impressive, but what we are even seeing today is more impressive. When these buildings have now been completed and are now being used, I will say more grease to your elbow because three things I regard as human infrastructure are, health, education and nutrition. Here, we are to health. On that occasion, you took us to the permanent site of the state university and then we agreed that you pay a little bit more attention at that time to agriculture, particularly cassava production. I have great pleasure in dedicating and commissioning this complex.”

As Mr. President further exhibited rare capacity for graphic memory and imageries, the possibility of high point familiarity with the now well-talked-about projects of Governor Nnamani hardened on all. Of course, for a president whose citizens appeared overtaken by the show in fortune and whose reform policies were yet to sink in the broad spectrum of people, gestures of mere routine projects could not have nurtured the impact and prospect which registered significant tones in the mind.

He proceeded from the Teaching Hospital to the adjoining College of Teaching, where Governor Nnamani erected 19 new buildings in the premises of the old Parklane Hospital to achieve the accreditation status for the Faculty. In fact, about three weeks before this commissioning, the ESUT, which had students hibernating in the faculty for over eight years without hope, without direction but with parents’ resources burning out fast, had its first official nod to commence its first ever professional examination, the Second MB. As explained by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Simon Idike, this simply signaled that the hard and long years of waiting in vain for medical students were over and fortunes had arrived on their doorsteps.

Apparently satisfied, President Obasanjo then declared with every hint of boldness and fun: “I commission this project for the enhancement of health care delivery, generally in our land, and in Enugu State, in particular.”

The whistle-stop had come at the entrance of the first ever road tunnel in Nigeria, where Nnamani and his architects dared nature and reversed the misfortune of the topography of Enugu in its ever circumscribing terrain. There, the tunnel stood, in smoothened concrete and giant pillars. The side surfaces were cut in sleek, white, tiles, which added to the glistening of the environment. The brand new two-kilometre, dual carriage road, linking the busy Ogui Road/Artisan Market, on the eastern side with the peak-business Okpara Avenue, is sandwiched by smooth concrete water ways, while the median is a combination of measured concrete slabs and well-spaced street lamps whose two-arm sweeps fanned both lanes.

Here, Mr. President revealed his understanding of the antics of political opposition in Enugu State. He said: “Again I want to commend this effort. It is easy for human beings to say that nothing is being done but at least, “na ko-oro koro eye I take see …” Well, it does not mater what you say, Enugu is working. But today, again, I see, and I believe what I see rather than what they tell me. We have great pleasure and joy to commission this Enugu Tunnel Road to the glory and honour of God for the ease of traffic and comfort for all those who will make use of this road to move from one part of Enugu City to the other”.

Mr. President was to appear to have rested his jabs at unreasonable political critics as he toured and commissioned other projects. Mid the long Chime Avenue, which he commissioned after Governor Nnamani commenced and completed the dualisation February last year, it was to the new link road between Nza Street in Independence Layout and New Haven. Here, Nnamani displayed his high sense of history and interest in forcing the younger generation to appreciate the stuff earlier Nigerian leadership was made. In naming the road after the late Chief Zacheus Chukwukaelo (ZC) Obi, native of Uguagu Nnewi (Anambra State) and founder/president of the famed, but defunct, Igbo State Union, Nnamani had reminded Ndigbo of the futility of their now swashbuckling style of politics which appeared represented more in playing to the gallery rather than seeking the platform for actualization of global social gains.

It was a bold statement, which in challenging the younger generation reminded Ndigbo of the man who, in 1947, tabled the idea for a federation of Igbo interest in what he projected as the melee of an emerging modern Nigerian State. Obi, it was recorded in history, had proceeded to erect the Igbo Federated Union in Port Harcourt, in 1949, bringing with him such weighty names and actors as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Raymond Amanze Njoku, K. O. Mbadiwe and those others who felt encouraged by the presence and resources of such super national bodies to continue their forays in national politics.

The icon of organized development who was variously elected councilor of Port Harcourt City Council and Vice President of Port Harcourt Municipal Council, in 1951 and 1953 respectively and who had to become a senator of the Federal Republic was the Founder of the Igbo National High School, in Aba, 1959. His son, Mr. Zik Obi, who spoke with this correspondent on phone, declared that he was greatly impressed by the gesture of Governor Nnamani, whom he said must have sucked in much of the values of history to remember the roles of the grand Z.C Obi to name a major street after him.

Praising his father’s contribution in development of Igbo manpower, he corroborated the views of such others who held that it was as a result of the foresight of Z.C, especially in organizing scholarship schemes for worthy sons of Ndigbo that the people were able to close the wide education gap that existed between the people and Yorubas, leaving the North to trail far behind.

President Obasanjo further confirmed the judgement of the governor in dedicating the road to ZC, declaring that, “we have great honour and satisfaction in commissioning and dedicating this ZC Obi road linking this part of the town to the GRA (meaning Independence Layout), so be it”.

When the presidential train rolled into the Rangers’ Avenue, the entourage, state officials and a massive band of citizen followers cheered the plush dual carriageway, which further threw light on the impending hotel facilities of the International Conference Centre. As in the finishing of the tunnel crossing between the Okpara Avenue and Ogui Road/Artisan Market, the new gully tracks were hard glistening concrete surface and manicured median which were interspersed with twin-lamp street lights. Again, Mr. President growled in astonishment and approval. “This state hungered for development and it is getting it. We commend your effort and we congratulate you. And I have great pleasure and joy to commission and dedicate this road to the honour and glory of Almighty God, who put it in you to continue to serve the people of Enugu state in general and the people of Coal City in particular and by extension to serve the people of Nigeria”.

Mr. President soon inspected the glamorous International Conference Centre (ICC), which appears to be the main projected signature tone of the government of Chimaroke Nnamani. He remarked that if this project, which showcases Nnamani’s ambition and taste and which had reached 90 per cent completion state, was finished, it would rewrite the book on tourism destination.

At the Judicial Headquarters Complex, named after the retired Chief Judge of Enugu state, Justice J.C.N. Ugwu, Obasanjo exclaimed: “When we were here in February, we paid a visit to this complex under construction and we saw a beehive of activities and I did note at that time that not many states have the type of complex you were building here, where the judiciary, is accorded this type of recognition, this type of special attention. Now that the complex had been completed and you have been gracious enough to name it after Justice Ugwu, I want to congratulate Hon. Justice Ugwu and family and I want to thank the governor because not many people get honoured and appreciated while they are still on this side of the hill. My Lord, you are one of the very few who are being honoured and being appreciated while you are still here to appreciate it…

“We have the honour and joy in commissioning and dedicating the Hon. Justice J.C.N Ugwu Judicial Complex for the welfare and well-being of all the judges and judicial officers and in fact all the plaintiffs and the defendants that shall be brought for justice here,” he said.

One of the latest infrastructure projects of the government in Enugu is the dualisation of the Ozalla-Obe-ESUT Main Gate-Umueze-Agbani link road. Aides of Governor Nnamani had argued extensively that the fact of the presence of the permanent site of the state university, ESUT, which had arrived about four years after the Augustine Nnamani Campus of the Nigeria Law School in the same vicinity, compelled the need to expand the 14-kilometre road for anticipated vehicular traffic. Yet, what may appear as the greater lure for the project was the truth of the way serving as the easiest access to inner parts of the Nkanu country as well as the western regions of Ebonyi State.

Indeed, when Governor Nnamani first built the then long and tortuous road in 1999/2000, it had quickly reopened the historic migratory way through Agbani-Ugbawka in Enugu State to Ubulu Okposi-Afikpo in Ebonyi State. Culturally and economically nourishing as this development was reenacted, barely anticipated vehicular pressure, including those of inter-state heavy duty trucks, was mounted on the single carriage way, causing sharp and hasty damage to the tracks. It is therefore, believed that it was possible that Governor Nnamani, who quickly realized how urgent the zone needed a dual carriageway, decided to add up on the arrival of the permanent site of the State University to raise the status of the road.

President Obasanjo, in formally inspecting the project, confirmed that it was insightful of Governor Nnamani to appreciate the need for speedy movement of people to engender social interaction, culture and economic growth.

The landing at the main gate and splendid gateway into the permanent site of the Enugu state University of Science and Technology (ESUT), was like the appetizer in supping of the massive housing projects. It was like a deliberate sprinkling of the over 31 very large buildings, 162 medium structures, the 45 and 100 medium and small housing, which stood majestically spread over the 600-hectcre virgin land.

Most intimidating were the imposing hostel blocks, each completed to take in over 3,000 students. These look like deliberate interfacing of cup-shaved objects standing in competition for reckoning in size and magnificence. Next in size are the edifying faculty buildings, mostly in giant quadric-shapes rankled by intrusions of the architects’ sharp carvers’ knife and pencil. The Faculty of Law, which stood out, having been occupied much earlier than others exemplified the designers’ choice of shapes and Nnamani’s taste and ambition. The hallway is like an entry point into the village square. The landing where the office intersections were registered was like a major junction on a busy highway. The classrooms, though sitting close to one another represented seclusions which could isolate activities in one class from the other. Faculty office wing was like a mini-complex within a complex.

President Obasanjo had to subsequently commission another imposing masterpiece identified as ESUT Cafeteria, which markedly stood as an advanced departure from the old-style university cafeteria in Nigeria. This one in ESUT can sit over 2,000 dinners in one breath. “I have the pleasure and joy,” President Obasanjo said, “in commissioning and dedicating this cafeteria, so that the university will be a center of excellence in Nigeria.”

Much of that awe and spinning pleasure of Mr. President was re-registered as he commissioned ‘Hostel One’ of the university. “I have the pleasure and joy in commissioning and dedicating this students’ hostel so that it would help in improving their knowledge and enhancing their character so that they may serve their father land to the best of their ability,” the president said.

Obviously, the ring-run of the entourage and the exposure to pleasurable and intimidating structures did not seem to be coming to any end, especially when Mr. President confirmed that the university had far surpassed his expectation in terms of the speed of completion, which he doubted when he flagged of the projects early last year.

He soon arrived the 100 per cent completed Vice Chancellor’s Lodge located on a hill. Although Governor Nnamani’s aides were not forthcoming on why the spot was chosen, the reporter, on getting to the highpoint, discovered that it was indeed the location where virtually every part of the Ebeano City (ESUT community) would be easily viewed. And perhaps, in visualizing the VC as the Czar of our academic institutions, he had to take a pedestal on which he could look down on other inhabitants and voyagers in the sacred territory.

Obasanjo declared as he arrived the spot: “I have the pleasure and joy in commissioning and dedicating this Lodge for the enhancement and spread of quality education throughout Enugu State in particular and Nigeria in general.”

For reasons not quite clear, President Obasanjo had left what has turned out to be the political bombshell till the last project he commissioned. On arrival at the Augustine Nnamani Campus of the Law School, where the government of Chimaroke Nnamani added an ultra-modern 2,000-seater lecture auditorium the president coughed loudly and looked around him. He repeated this gesture and now glared further from the gathered crowd at the splendid Law School built by Governor Nnamani in 2000 and which he had severally visited before.

Then he coughed aloud and paced open its stride, hands and akimbo as he growled: “When a governor accused me wrongly and very foolishly, I called on EFCC and said, here I am, I am open. Investigate me thoroughly and they did. I believe I have to give that example and I did. So if EFCC gets any complaint or any petition about anybody or any place, it is their duty to investigate. It is not a means of vilifying or castigating anybody. I just want to say that.

“They made allegations against the governor … properties they claimed he has. I do not know why they did not send this to EFCC, if they feel so concerned because EFCC will investigate if you allege that anybody is corrupt. Now, I will give governor a copy of this. It’s entirely left to him. I just feel that he should know. Having said this, they then said I should not come (to Enugu) because their belief is that if I come, I would be encouraging the governor in his wrongdoing. I am not holding brief for the governor. I am not saying the governor is an angel and I am not saying he is a devil, but it is my responsibility, when a governor invites; and my staff, particularly my Chief of Staff, has fixed that invitation into progrmme, it’s my responsibility to come.

“And I have gladly and happily accepted invitation of Governor Nnamani and I am happy that I have come. This is a state that is crying for development and the best thing we can do is to join hands in developing this state. We can differ politically, but we should not differ in terms of the development of our state which is our joint enterprise. I will appeal to all the people of Enugu State, wherever they may be, that when it comes to development of their state, let us join hands together. You can join hands to develop your state and still differ politically. There is nothing wrong in that. I want to, on my own behalf and on behalf of my entourage, thank you, Governor Nnamani, for inviting us to come and we are happy with what we have seen.

“If anybody has anything that he wants EFCC to look into, un hun hun … (it’s their look out!)”.

At the point of finishing, Mr. President, who apparently timed his own way, chose his spot and words and as known for his rugged and crusty language, elicited intense and prolonged laughter.

Of course, this was directed at political opposition, the bigwigs of their class coming in two, in the rigorous tour. Most of these were still around when the bomb fell and confusion reigned among them. The clapping and cheering of the excited crowd did actually drown their sharp departure moves but soon, the surge of the approving crowd provided the immediate cover as they scurried in shame.

This tour can be said to be one of the biggest hits of Governor Nnamani, who lately had to battle with political opposition which had instituted intense pressure to unchain his grip of the political class in the state. They had mounted all sorts of pressure, including outright blackmail, lies and intimidation, threatening to let hell loose on Enugu if the governor did not surrender.

The governor told correspondents, after the tours, that he knew all along what the opposition elements were after and that his deliberate response was to continue his impressive projects. According to him, it was clear from the beginning that the quarrel of the political class had nothing to do with the immediate need of the common citizens. What he felt paramount was to seek to provide and erect infrastructure for the development of the people who needed the augmenting of democratic governance to be fully actualized.

Expressing satisfaction that the fancies of the political opposition had been clearly buried in Enugu Sate, he retorted: “We know what those loud elite want. We know that it has nothing to do with the interest of the common man. We also know the antecedents of those who come forward today to claim they are fighting for the masses. We know what they have done in their respective individual businesses, places of previous employment and in government in the past. It does not suit my interest and those of the good people of Enugu State to discuss any of these, because they know they have had their pay day.”

As reporters filed out of the Red Carpet of the Governor’s Lodge, feeling good gestures appeared represented in every face. And then it was departure time out of the Coal City State.

Culled from Daily Sun, Wednesday, June 26, 2006