Democracy Day: Monthly allocation now less than 38 percent – Ugwuanyi

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Sunday maintained that despite the lean resources at the government’s disposal, his government had continued to fulfill all the campaign promises made to the people.

Ugwuanyi, who spoke during an inter-denominational church service to mark his one year in office, noted that ‎”a critical appraisal of our actions and achievements within this past one year, will show that we have not only kept faith with these promises despite the severe economic difficulties confronting our nation today and we are poised to do even much more.

“It is indeed a very well known fact that, as a consequence of the nation’s current economic woes, the monthly allocation to States from the Federation Account has fallen to less than 38 per cent of what it used to be.

“Before we came into office, Governors used to enjoy access to excess crude fallouts but now, the language has changed to bailout funds. The situation has become so bad that many states are unable to pay salaries and meet other obligations; and when a Governor pays salaries, he is applauded and it makes news.

“The Federal Government essentially summed up the situation with its recent and solemn declaration that the country is broke.”

Ugwuanyi further stated that “notwithstanding these bleak economic realities, we were able to embark on the massive development of urban and rural roads across the state in fulfillment of our promise to create more urban centres, enhance rural access and boost economic activities in every corner of Enugu state.

“Enugu State currently occupies a prominent space in the global economic map owing to the resounding success of the first ever Enugu State Investment Summit which we organized to showcase the economic potentials of the State in line with our promise to vigourously promote investment and pursue the diversification of the State’s economy.

“We have also profiled 14 moribund state-owned companies and agencies for privatization and commercialization. We are hopeful that investors will soon take advantage of this great opportunity to get the companies back in business.

“Also as part of our rural and agricultural development initiatives, we constructed a 15-kilometre Inter-Town Connection (ITC) 2.5MVA Injection Sub-Station at Ezi-Nze, Udi Local Government Area which currently supplies electricity to communities in Udi, Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani Local Government Areas.

“It will also activate businesses in these rural communities and power the Adada Dam Project as well as the Greater Nsukka Water Scheme.”

Earlier in his homily, the Methodist Archbishop of Enugu Diocese, the Most Rev. Christian Ede, charged Governors to stop administering local government councils with appointed caretaker committees.

The priest maintained that a situation where governors run council areas with political appointees was killing democracy.

He, therefore, charged Ugwuanyi and other governors to immediately commence the process of conducting local government elections.

According to him, “when the people are allowed to be governed by those they elected, it deepens democracy and gives the people a sense of belonging.”

While lauding the Governor for his achievements within the first one year in office, he said “so many road projects have been done by this administration. We now hardly see pot-holes in Enugu. The Governor has performed creditably well in all the sectors.

“The people must be allowed to rule themselves. Nobody is born to rule and others born to serve, there must be equality in the process.

“In addition, the people deserve our accountability whether in the executive or in the legislature‎. Those representing us must at all times be summoned to answer the people.

“‎Impunity should be banished in our democracy; those who abuse court decisions should not be allowed into the process. Leaders must respect our laws.

‎”We must be able to allow God to guide us. We have continued to learn because we’ve not allowed God to take over. We must eschew selfishness, greed and corruption.

“Enugu is now experiencing massive transformation; payment of salaries has also become the hallmark of the present administration.

“I urge the people of the State not to be arm-chair critics; as Christians we should respect and pray for our leaders; at the same time, we should also pay our tax and carry out other responsibilities.”

‎The event was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other national and state Assembly members, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, Bishop Calistus Onaga, among several other clergy men and royal fathers.