| Nnamani’s
legacies and the needs of Enugu residents |
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Deputy Political Editor, IHEANACHO NWOSU writes that the happenings in Enugu, again, last week was on the front burner of national discourse.
One was the rally of students of Enugu descent in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in solidarity with the governor. The rally, attended by a crowd that comprised also non-indigenes of the state held at the famous university. Another was a workshop in far away Dutse, Jigawa State on Democracy and Governance where Nnamani’s name featured repeatedly as a model for purposeful leadership. The conference was organized by Citizen’s Rights (CR), a United Kingdom based Non-Governmental Organisation. The conference was organized to raise the consciousness of residents of Jigawa to what should be their civic rights and how they can hold their leaders accountable. CR head of programmes, Mr. Gary Smith in analyzing the scorecards of each of the 36 states governors and the presidency as revealed by its research praised the government of Enugu, Bauchi and Cross Rivers States. He said the organization was totally in agreement with the verdict of the ambassadors of European Union that Nnamani was the best governor in terms of building democratic institutions and focusing on people-oriented programmes. Repeatedly, Smith challenged both the incumbent state leaderships and those that will be installed in 2007 to visit Enugu State and be schooled on ingredients that must necessarily be part of democratic governance. During their visit last year, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Gozney who led other European ambassadors on a two-day official visit to Enugu showered praises on Gov. Nnamani for running a transparent and focused government. Speaking with newsmen after the tour of the state by the envoys, Mr. Gozney said the running of a functional police-community relation outfit, efficient primary health care system and the setting up of civil rights outfit by the governor meant that he knew that democracy, if not made to impact on the grassroots is of no consequence to the citizenry. He argued that building democratic institutions do not just stop at raising high rise buildings but ensuring that projects and facilities that will improve the living standard of the masses especially those residing in different localities are put in place. It was based on this consideration, he explained that the ambassadors rated Enugu government higher than other states in the federation. The EU verdict ran at opposite direction with the claims of the opposition of Enugu State government who had accused the governor of not being accommodating. But Ambassador Gozney insisted that they were not in the state to endorse the claims of opponents of the government if such claims were spurious. Instead he said that they will state what they saw on the ground. "We are not politicians, we are to follow what is on the ground and not what either the government nor its opponents tell us, that is why we are visiting communities and projects sites", he had said. "We have spent some days in the state, we have interacted with residents of the state, those residing in local communities, we are satisfied with what we saw and what they told us", the envoy added. The submission of the ambassadors placed Enugu State at a pedestal far higher than other states. It was not surprising that Gov. Nnamani and officials of his government celebrated EU verdict with an admirable colour. Fortunately for the government, few months after, the National planning commission, ranked Enugu State government first in the federation in terms of achievements. The rating made Nnamani’s name to be in the neon. It also silenced opposition in the state. However, the reports of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which indicted Enugu and 31 other states, muddled the hitherto saintly image of the state government. The EFCC reports caused the opposition to resurrect and commence another stinging campaign against the governor. It is in consideration of the celebration of the EFCC reports by opponents of Gov. Nnamani that the heart-warming comments from the organizers of Dutse Conference in favour of the Enugu State governor as well as the rally by the students in Zaria are clearly a good intervention for him. The two events ought to tickle the state government moreso as no one can accuse it of being behind them. For instance, it was in the course of explaining what democracy dividends are that Smith cited Enugu State as an example of a government that understood what democratic strands ought to be. He submitted that Nnamani has erected good and reliable democratic institutions and structures that, if sustained by next leadership, the state will minimize poverty and erase citizens’ ignorance on civic rights. In the case of the Zaria rally, the students were celebrating
the building of a mega university for the state by the Nnamani’s
administration. He stressed that "this was not meant to be a rally but unconsciously, one by one, we gathered here and started singing praises of the governor. We will soon write the state governor to commend him and his government for building a befitting institution which even in 50 years to come our children will still be enjoying". On why it is only this time that the students of ABU would step out to lavish encomiums on the governor for building ESUT permanent site, Nwobodo explained "for me last week was the first time I would visit my state in three years. It is so for many students. My parents reside in Jos, Plateau State, I cannot just go to Enugu because I want to, there must be a cogent reason for that. Some of my colleagues who are lucky to be visiting home regularly have been telling us about the university. Initially we were dismissing it until we started watching and reading commercials and advertisement on the university on television and newspapers."Some of us, supported by one prominent chief from Enugu who is residing in Zaria, felt there is need to take a trip to the state and see things ourself. "I must tell you that six of us who went there were happy and convinced that the governor deserves commendation. God knows that even the government till this time I am speaking with you does not know that we visited the university. Nobody also asked us to hold this rally in honour of the governor. "I am not a politician, I don’t reside in Enugu. I don’t know what anybody is saying about the governor, I am only focusing about the governor, I am only focusing on what we saw. The University is a people-oriented project. Even when this government leaves, our people will continue to gain from it", he said. Many people share the submissions of Nwobodo. For them, irrespective of any opinion anybody may have on Gov. Nnamani, the truth is that projects executed by his administration are qualitative and have human face and will outlive him. For instance, the Teaching Hospital with its ultra-modern facilities will continue to serve the people of the state and will also continue to be a reference point. The tunnel is helping to reduce traffic congestion and avert accidents in the Enugu metropolis. According to one Dr. Casmir Njoku, a medical practitioner who resides in Enugu "what I like most is the tunnel. People don’t know what the tunnel is serving. It is reducing deaths on our road, it is reducing traffic. It is for the people. "But, you know, I learnt that the one built by the late Michael Opara when he was a premier was widely criticized. Today everybody is commending his vision. The same thing will follow this tunnel built by Gov. Nnamani." No doubt, the same commendation will follow the International Conference Centre, ultra-modern judiciary headquarters, law school, housing estates and other projects executed by the government. Culled from The Champion, Monday, October 16, 2006 |