It is not a public relations gimmick to state that Enugu State is much safer than the other states in South-eastern Nigeria. The current governor of the state, His Excellency, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has dotted the ‘i’s and crossed the‘t’s, as far as the issue of security is concerned.
Following all the controversy generated by the degree of security challenge in Enugu State, no thanks to the terror being struck into the hearts of the people by hoodlums, suspected armed bandits, kidnappers and other unscrupulous elements, it is pertinent to clear the air on what the government is doing, its limitations and otherwise.
When he was first sworn in May 2015, the governor promised the people of Enugu that, given his penchant for peace, he would ensure that the people of the state enjoyed peace unhindered and that he would do all in his power to rid the state of crime and make Ndi Enugu all over the world to feel pride again.
Upon his re-election in 2019, he continued to up his game and play the tune that gives the people hope in the face of seeming security challenges across the nation.
To kick-start his second tenure in office, Ugwuanyi stamped the plan to employ 1,700 forest guards to comb the forests in the state – not just to prevent deforestation but – to ensure that all the shady characters using the forests as cover up for their activities are smoked out and brought to book.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi recently handed over sixty five (65) patrol vans to the state command of the Nigeria Police Force to aid its security operations.
The sixty five (65) patrol vans were among the 100 units of Innoson vehicles recently purchased by Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration to assist the security agencies in the state to effectively discharge their duties to enhance the peace, security and development.
Gov. Ugwuanyi who had earlier unveiled the vehicles to journalists at the Government House, Enugu, explained that the 100 units of the patrol vans will be handed over to Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, among others.
The governor added that another 260 vehicles as well as motorcycles and bicycles were also purchased for distribution to the Forest Guards and Vigilante/ Neighborhood Watch groups for community policing.
Speaking after receiving the keys to the 65 vehicles from Gov. Ugwuanyi, the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdulrahman who received the vehicles on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed Abubakar, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for “this wonderful gesture”, describing the governor as “an unassuming personality, a symbol of peaceful co-existence and the architecture of modern security in Enugu State”.
At this time, more than ever, Ugwuanyi’s vibrant visionary leadership has resulted in the creation of an enviable legacy of peace and security for the state and, beyond the roads, bridges and all, the unparalleled peace and security of life and property prevalent in the state is the hallmark of his very exemplary administration.
While one cannot write off the writings of New Telegraph’s Ofoma Kenneth (published in the New Telegraph edition of August 29, 2019) with a wave of the hand, it does not mean that the state administration has gone to sleep. The governor, genuinely concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the state, has thrown in everything (investment in security, resorting to community watches, getting more vehicles for the police etc) the state can afford. All manner of security measures – both administrative and legislative – have been invoked and the security agencies, especially the police, have not been at ease, as well. Major bursts have been made.
Some of the culprits have been arrested. Soon, the thoughts in some quarters that this could be the handiwork of people who want to derail the strides recorded in the state by the state government will gain traction – no thanks to the pattern of the occurrence and otherwise of the crimes.
It is heart-warming that Ndi Enugu have seen the governor’s clean intentions and now know that he does mean them well. While the activities of the undesirable elements gathered steam, the governor visited the site of the ongoing construction of a military base along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway by Umuogba Ihe. Upon completion of inspection, he assured that a joint security patrol team will commence an extensive surveillance of the affected areas to ensure maximum security and strict compliance with the directives.
Besides visiting the site of the construction, the governor has overhauled/reviewed the Neighborhood Watch structure, sent an Anti-kidnapping Bill to the Enugu State Assembly, as well as a directive for immediate employment of 1,700 forest guards within 30 days (100 persons per local government), approving the payment of stipends to 5,200 Vigilante/ Neighbourhood Watch personnel (20 persons per ward in the state), amongst other things.
In the midst of all the storm, it is pertinent to note a few things: Ugwuanyi’s peace project is a legacy he is leaving for the people of Enugu now and in the future, the security situation in Enugu is not peculiar to the state alone (it is one which the nation has had to grapple with in recent times), Ugwuanyi has shown beyond words that he is committed to solving the security puzzle in the state and, all well-meaning people of Enugu State are rallying behind him (without recourse to affiliation, political inclination and local government coloration).
While the governor is doing the best he can to ensure that those who have caused the people to live in fear regret their decision, other unscrupulous elements who stroll the corridors of political power are seeing it as a means to castigate and deride the efforts of an upwardly-mobile, committed administrator.
Gov. Ugwuanyi keeps awake for the people of Enugu State to sleep with their two yes close. Time shall tell and, with this telling shall come great results.
