The truth is, Nigeria is not exempted from the intractable challenges being faced by different countries around the world. This is evidence-based in the growing insurgency ravaging the bond of peace that unites the nation. These issues, ugly ranges from but limited to bandits, boko-haram, militancy, sects, kidnapping, rape etc.
To this extent, things have rotten and we must agree and have a clear understanding by every implications that the national politics needs a new set of leadership, leaders who understand the value of peace.
On scale of fair judgment, His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has made real progress, in view of his sterling qualities and achievements especially in peace building and human security. In the words of some well meaning Nigerians; the greatest thing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi represents and will be remember for is peace and his sense of peace.
God in his nature has a mastery in making great destiny that no man can fathom. Each man finds his way already marked out for him and he can change nothing of it. We are all gifted in different ways; to some, God gave the power to prophesy, teach, create and to some other, the discerning spirit to lead and make peace. The latter category is rare and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi belongs to this category.
Enugu State has remained one of the most peaceful state in the nation, on the account of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s outstanding leadership styles in conflict management, peace promotion and human security.
Unlike what is obtained in other states, Enugu State has enjoyed a seemingly zero electoral violence under Governor Ugwuanyi’s watch. In Enugu, electoral associateed violence like thuggery, ballots snatching, bullying, physical attack e.t.c have become an old fashion. As conscious democrat, Governor Ugwuanyi, identifies firmly with the school of thought that believes that it is only when peace fails that blood begins to spill on the streets.
Governor Ugwuanyi has been able to put the herdsmen crisis in most part of the state under control and established long lasting peace among the farmers and herdsmen. The level of his administrative responsiveness in Nibo community attacck by the herdsmen was prompt, fruitful and highly commendable.
It could only take a man of valour and peace like Governor Ugwuanyi to bring political titans and sworn enemies under the same roof. Spearheading the reconciliation of Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani and Barr Sullivan Chime is, yet, another plus to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s peace keeping policy.
To this end, Governor Ugwuanyi has shown enormous capacity in managing social violence, human security and resolving conflicts in the most part of the state through broad based dialogue and dint of hard work. He employed 1, 700 Forest Guards and equipped them with 260 Motorcycles and 300 bicycles to cushion the rural insecurity challenges. He procured 100 units of Innoson Vehicle surveillance van with communication gadgets to the security agencies to aid their operation. Reposition the Vigilant /Neighborhood Watch groups and purchased 260 security vehicles for community policing and constructed the 76 Mobile Force Squadron Facility at Ekwegbe, Igbo-Etiti LGA.
This uncommon political capacity of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has bagged him some prestigious global recognition. He is the only appointed-Global Peace Ambassador by the Global Society for Anti-Corruption. He also received Peace Award, the first of it’s kind, by the Institute of Peace, Conflict and Development Studies of Enugu State University Science and Technology.
It is not out of place, if I remind you that peace and security is cardinal to democracy and governance. As such, as we approach 2023 and search for new generation of leaders, may we search for peacemakers because they are the sons of God.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a peacemaker.
By Kyrian kelechi Okpe
