26th November, 2012
Chuks Ugwoke, Enugu State Commissioner for Information, tells JETHRO IBILEKE that government activities remain unhindered by the governor’s absence
What are the facts of Governor’s Chime’s long absence?
It is because he is on vacation. We have continued to ask: Is he entitled to vacation after more than five years in the saddle or not? Again, has the governor offended any provision of the Nigerian Constitution by proceeding on leave? For all I know, the country’s constitution does not bar governors from going on vacation.
Do you admit his absence is generating serious concerns?
There is no anxiety because government’s activities are running at full gear. No vacuum has been created. The acting governor is fully in charge and has been discharging the responsibilities of that office quite creditably and without inhibitions. Some people insist there is more to the governor’s absence than they are being told. Then, let them tell you what they know. The attention on the governor’s deserved vacation is quite misplaced. When you’re in public office, few political enemies seize every opportunity to make all sorts of baseless, ridiculous insinuations. But we’re not worried because we know the sources of such lies and their motives. Our strength derives from the continued support of the majority of our people as demonstrated before, during and after the 2011 elections.
What is your reaction to the allegation that the acting governor is not the one calling the shots?
He gives all approvals, conducts state executive council meetings, represents the state at all major assignments, directs all employees and appointees on all issues and supervises ongoing projects. So, who is in charge? Salaries are paid when due, contractors are paid and are at the sites and government meets its commitments to the populace. So, who gives the approvals? We can’t continue to react to lame talks and sterile arguments by some mischief makers.
What achievements would you say the Chime administration has recorded over the years in the different sectors?
Space will not be there to accommodate the achievements of this government that I would have loved to enumerate. But I’ll strive to mention a few.
In the education sub-sector, Chime’s administration began by rebuilding infrastructure and equipping the schools. Education is free from primary to Junior Secondary School (JSSIII). The government has recruited over 4000 secondary school teachers and 3000 volunteer teachers in addition to other non-tutorial staff. Only recently, the administration procured and handed over no less than 300 buses to all the public secondary schools in the state, with some missionary schools also benefiting. Huge sums are also going to the state-owned tertiary institutions.
The Shongai Enugu Initiative, an integrated agricultural programme, is at the heart of Chime’s job creation and human development as well as economic transformation agenda. Production has since begun at Adani with rice, maize, other food and cash as well as fruits and vegetables being harvested. Government has sponsored 172 graduates to the Shongai Farms in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, for training in this zero-waste farm where weeds and wastes are being converted to alternative uses. All these are being replicated at Adani, while the other 21 Green Cities, including the Mother Farm in Heneke, are being processed to take off. This is only the flagship in the series of activities and programmes in the sector.
While government pursues the completion of the ultra-modern Enugu Diagnostic Centre to reduce capital flight arising from medical investigation and medicare abroad, it has also sustained the implementation of the free maternal and child health programme for pregnant and nursing mothers and children under the age of five, in all the public health facilities in the state. Today, there is a functional Enugu State Medical and Emergency Response Team for traffic and home emergencies. Not too long ago, the Executive Council approved the employment of 28 specialist consultants for the seven district hospitals in the state. Of course, doctors and other categories of health workers like nurses and extension workers had earlier been employed while many health facilities had been renovated and new ones constructed.
Tens of communities have been connected to the national grid as Governor Chime remains committed to his pledge to give electricity to all the communities in Enugu State before the expiration of his tenure. Several other electrification projects spanning various local government areas are in different stages of completion, with over 30 new awards.
Within the Enugu metropolis alone, the government has dualised Zik Avenue, Agbani Road and the Presidential Road extension up to Port Harcourt Expressway among others. One road that had hitherto defied successive governments’ intervention, military and civilian, is Akwata. It was always impassable, leading to gridlock. Today, that road has not only been dualised, it is a marvel to motorists with its total reconstruction that has led to the total disappearance of the perennial traffic congestion.
In the first term of this administration, we rehabilitated all the major urban roads with walkways in Enugu metropolis. And I’m talking of Ogui Road, Abakaliki Road, Bisalla Road, Chime Avenue, Okpara Square A & B, Presidential Road and tens of others. In Nsukka, the other major city, several roads had been completed.
In the housing sector, government completed the gigantic Coal City Gardens in a record six months. There is the Maryland Estate that is also completed and new ones are being put up for the low income earners. The Obukpa Layout in Nsukka is the first housing estate to be constructed outside the state capital since the days of East Central State.