By PETRUS OBI.
The appointment of a replacement for former Minister of Innovative Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji who resigned over certificate controversies may have come and gone, but the echoes are all around.
While the appointment received wide spread commendations from across the states there were still pockets of behind the scene complaints from some interested politicians and their followers.
I have decided to write for those who may have lost their voices. Seek answers to those who are still shocked by the choice of a serving Commissioner.
The lobbying for the appointment of a new Enugu Minister was a serious contest amongst political players in a long queue. Even when very few names featured prominently, many others maneuvered behind the scene.
But Governor Peter Mbah made his choice and Barr. Kingsley Udeh, a serving Commissioner became the lucky one.
Many were shocked. Its time to tell ourselves the truth. Enugu didn’t see it coming. And, here lies the title of this write up, “The Silence Of Angry Politicians.”
Personally, as a journalist, I was hoping for an Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi nomination; others rooted for Sullivan Chime, but the Governor had better plans. And having closely followed this administration, I didn’t have doubts in his decision. Rather, he made me put on my thinking cap in search of answers.
The search took me back in time to May 29, 2023 at the Okpara Square. I found the Governor’s inaugural speech when he stated, inter alia…” this administration will be business unusual. Tough decisions will be taken. Those decisions will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general.
“We will pursue an infrastructural revolution in Enugu State by turning our state into one huge construction site…
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From day one, the Governor had a vision, and his actions have shown focus, determination and desire to succeed. He has also refused to be distracted.
There was also a flashback to his 100 days in office. While others were hurriedly trying to get one or two projects commissioned, the Governor reminded Enugu people that the race wasn’t a 100 meters dash, but a mile race that will last for four years. He said he was still at planning stage. And by the time he got started, he left doubting Thomas’s tongue-tied.
The bulldozers went roaring, project sites evolved. The roads became transformed, developmental project sites ubiquitous.
Like Mbah said, its a total departure from the old style of governance. But, is it working? The answer surely, is in the positive.
Even a few persons who have unsuccessfully tried to paint a negative image of his administration accepted the fact that he has done well. The only issue appear to be individual benefit.
For a Governor who fought hard for victory at the polls, Mbah appear to have won the hearts of the Enugu masses with his development projects.
He may not have satisfied the individual yearnings of politicians in both appointment and patronage, but no right thinking individual would not want to identify with such a success story.
As I continue to solve the puzzle on what may have informed the nomination of the State Attorney General over more established politicians as many expected, my mind kept going over this excerpt from the same inaugural speech, when he echoed;
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This is not time for politics. It is not time for passion as well. It is time for the sowing of the seed for the Enugu of our dream.”
