As the imperial state, ENUGU clocks twenty nine years, it is very necessary to go back memory lane to review not just how far but how well the Hill-Top state has fared. For the sake of historical relevance, it is not less important to remind all that ENUGU which had continued to enjoy a prestigious status from the time of the British imperialism till date was formally made a state of its own on August 27, 1991 during the military dictatorship of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
Nevertheless, as far back as 1956 , ENUGU which was very popular for its possession of millions of tonnes of coal minerals resources had already attained the status of a municipality under colonial administration with one Umaru Altine as the first Mayor and Enugu would continue to occupy a very central position in the administrative demography of the Eastern Region to the extent that it was chosen as the first capital of the short-lived Biafran Republic by Odumegwu Ojukwu on 30th of May, 1967 and of course, right from the days of Harbert Eze as the first military governor of ENUGU State through the days of Okwesilieze Nwodo to the reigns of Temi Ejoor, Mike Torey, Sule Ahman, Adewumi Agbaje and the return of civilian government in 1999 that ushered in Dr Chimaroke Nnamani later succeeded by Barrister Sullivan Chime and today, Rt.Hon . Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi as the incumbent governor of the prestigious state, ENUGU STATE has had its own share of the bad, the good and the ugly but in all, the state has emerged victorious, soaring high like eagle amidst other birds of air.
CETERIS PARIBUS, the salient preoccupation of this essay is not to dwell extensively on the accomplishments, programs and policies of all the regimes that have piloted the affairs of ENUGU State since its creation but to celebrate the sustainance of peace, developments and other essential democratic etiquettes in the state that have placed the state at the pedestal of highly performing states in Nigeria and of course, the investment destination for many positive-oriented investors and industrialists. As well known in the midst of every intellectual discourse crossed and dotted by common sense, the leadership dimensions of any society has direct impacts or implications on the development of such society, therefore, it will not be adjudged as a bias opinion to insinuate that ENUGU State has continued to set the pace for others to emulate when it comes to socio-political leadership.
While, I would readily agree that it is a privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of the prestigious ENUGU STATE, I wish to also speedily concur that the good people of ENUGU while taking the inventory of their political journey so far, should not back down on CELEBRATING the leadership of GOVERNOR IFEANYI UGWUANYI for being a trail-blazer not just in economic development but barely in all sectors of the government. And of course, I back up my opinion with the series of the awards and accolades that Gburu Gburu has continued to receive from various organisations and individuals across different political and religious blocks due to his ‘fantastic’ management of the scarce state resources for the maximum benefits and welfare of his people.several other resourceful and eminent personalities, Gburu Gburu has continued to enjoy much support and appreciations as he continues diffuse the political landscape with his aromatic UBUNTU!
Consequently, as we celebrate the 29th birthday of the state occupying both the Hill-Top and its escarpments, let us all muster the gratitude and courage to give honour to whom honour is due by standing tall and appreciating all those that have directly or indirectly, covertly or overtly contributed to the development of ENUGU STATE, especially Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, the executive governor of ENUGU STATE for keeping the candle burning!
WRITTEN BY
HON.BIBIAN ANEKWE.
ENUGU DI N’AKA CHUKWU MOVEMENT (DG.)
