Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday flagged off the construction of 5.4-kilometre Amagunze asphalt road, being solely funded by an illustrious son of Ishienu Amagunze Community in Nkanu East LGA, Captain Evarest Nnaji, an outstanding entrepreneur, popularly known as Odengene.
Performing the ceremony amid fanefare, Governor Ugwuanyi said the project was deserving of the people’s commendation and prayers for its successful completion, adding that his administration was fully committed to identifying with such projects, from flag-off to completion.
The governor, who recalled that he inaugurated an asphalt concrete road that was financed by another illustrious son of the council area, a few years ago, enjoined all well-to-do and public-spirited individuals to support the delivery of public goods to the people of the state.
He said: “Chief Nnaji, I laud you for this uncommon feat and pray that the Almighty, most merciful and most loving God gives you the enablement to complete this project.
“I further pray that God’s abiding grace replenishes your finances many folds, in keeping with His promise in 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 10 and I quote: ‘Now may he who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness’.
Disclosing his motive, Captain Nnaji, who described Ugwuanyi as a peace loving and performance-oriented governor, said: “I am spurred to fix this road to support what you are doing in the rural areas”.
He maintained that the rural development policy of Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration is unprecedented, stressing that “there is no state in Nigeria with the size of financial strength of Enugu State that is doing what you (Ugwuanyi) are doing today.
According to him, “we have a peaceful state because of your kind of leadership.
“This is the only person who if you battle with him, he will defeat you, defeat you in the election, defeat you in the court, defeat you everywhere, and then he will still bring you back and stand you on your feet and say brother let’s move on. This is the only one.
“Enugu is a state you will sleep with your two eyes closed. Others will go to their states and rush back to Enugu because of the existing peace in our state.
“I am emboldened by what you are doing in the rural communities and I am doing the project to encourage you”.
In their separate remarks, the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Rt. Hon. Princess Peace Nnaji, and President General of Isienu Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA, Hon. Okey J.S. Nwatu, expressed gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for his presence at the event and various time-honoured interventions of his administration in the council area.
They equally applauded Captain Nnaji for embarking on the project in support of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s rural development efforts, as well as his other remarkable contributions towards the growth and development of Amagunze in particular and Nkanu East LGA in general.
Other dignitaries at the event include a former Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Anayo Edeh, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, his Information counterpart, Barr. Steve Oruruo, the Chairman of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Chief Ikeje Asogwa, the Chairman, Governing Council of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Chief Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, the Chairman, STVSMB, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, the Chief Executive Officer of Ferotex Construction Company Limited, Chief Festus Onu, Dr. Tony Okam, and the traditional rulers from the council area, etc.
