CoC Onah
Some residents of Enugu State may parade a mock coffin in memory of governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over their disapproval for poor performance of the Chief Executive since the past eight years in office.
Civil servants, traders, artisans, politicians and other Stakeholders are divergent in their opinions regarding the Governor who prides himself as one of the most exemplary Governor in the political history of the State since the post Colonial Independence.
Before he assumed office on May 29, 2015, Enugu State ranked high among the comity of States in Nigeria, especially in basic infrastructure and social amenities.
Most of the roads in both urban and rural areas of the State were accessible before things started falling apart, according to investigation. Functional street lights, in Enugu Metropolis, were beauty to behold. Night life which is now a mirage, remind everyone of the beauty of the coal City.
Few years after the situation, most of the facilities are now moribund,and dilapidated. Residents are trapped in chaotic traffic jams due to the poor state-of- road network.
Heaps of refuse in all the nooks and crannies of the State are visible. The absence of the Enugu State Waste Management authorities (ESWAMA) vehicles that were working day and night to evacuate the refuse in the past, are no longer functional, raising fears of possible epidemic.
As part of political propaganda, the ruling party (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led-government had blame the inadequacies on former Commissioner for Environment, and 2023 governorship Candidate of Labour party (LP) , Chijioke Edeoga.
Non-payment of the state counterpart funding of the MDGs and all the World Bank projects in Enugu State – FADAMA, CSDP, RAMP, etc. since the past few years have largely compounded the problems.
Also, the Coal City Buses that use to take Civil servants and school children to schools and bring them back at affordable rates have gone extinct. Free buses ride for school Children have also been confined to the waste bins of history under the tenure of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The security crisis in both urban and rural areas such as Uzo Uwani, Isi-uzo, Awgu, Aninri, Ezeagu Communities and others have become a a source of worry to the electorate who hardly sleep with their two eyes closed due to incessant bandits attack.
Mr Ezugwu Mark a retired school Principal who spoke to our Correspondent alleged that Enugu State has drifted.
According to him, “When you try to ask why Enugu State is sliding, moving backwards since 2015, they will tell you that there is drop in the federal revenue accrued to Enugu State.
“But when you visit other states, you will discover that development projects are going on unceasingly. Go to Ebonyi or Anambra State, for instance, you will wonder where they get their own money with which they have been carrying out their development projects.
“The two states have excellent road networks, built flyovers, airports and other infrastructural facilities.
“What we are asking is what has Governor Ugwuanyi been doing with Enugu State allocations since 2015? Is Ebonyi State getting more money from the federation account than Enugu State? What about the internally generated revenue? Do other States have more sources of internally generated revenue than Enugu State”, Mr Ezugwu queried.
Continuing, the retiree said, ” There is no water, no maintenance of roads, no reactivation of ailing industries? Look at the Hotel Presidential. Look at the International Conference Centre. These are money spinners. He came, saw and left them abandoned. He (the Governor) couldn’t even complete the State secretaries started by his predecessor, governor Sullivan Chime .he lamented.
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