From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Comrade Uwakwe Ezeja, has been a labour leader and state chairman of the Local Government Employees before his new appointment.

He speaks on various issues ranging from how his council managed to dislodge kidnappers, live in peace with herdsmen, commending the exemplary leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, which he said will give him automatic ticket to a second tenure despite the plans of the opposition. Excerpts:

Two years ago, Igbo-Eze North was under the grip of kidnappers and other criminalilties, but today, sanity seems to have returned to the council. What magic did you use to achieve that?

I can say so far, so well, in Igbo-Eze North LGA. When I was appointed and sworn in as chairman on 6th January 2016, this council was overran by bandits, criminals, kidnappers, ritualists and all manner of crimes. Our people were afraid of coming home because of the situation and we became a laughing stock in other parts of the country. But I said that this was unacceptable and swore to tackle the menace headlong. Our people were known to be law-abiding and hi-tech crime has not been in our blood before. We are known as very religious people, but we became so surprised over what was happening. We, therefore, vowed that it must come to an end and by the grace of Almighty God, old things have passed away. Today, crime rate in this area has been reduced to almost one per cent.  Issues of kidnapping and other .

What were the things done to make it work?

One was public enlightenment. We went to every community to sensitize them on the need for a new orientation because crime doesn’t pay. We reached out to them, making them realize that no development can take place in an area where there is insecurity and violence. The co-operation of the entire communities did the magic and we also formed and fortified our Neighbourhood Watch.  We identified the criminal elements and with the support of the police and the DSS, intelligence gathering, both the criminals and their supporters/sponsors were routed.  We had to ensure that this place was made conducive both for living and doing business.  People volunteered information and the synergy that existed between the town unions, local government officials, security agents and informants as well helped a lot.  Some repented criminals also helped us in bursting criminal hideouts.

After the herdsmen attack in Nimbo, there was also apprehension in this area over the herdsmen to the extent that there was a stampede in  Eke market day one day. How was that contained?

Igbo-Eze North is unique because of the way we handle criminal issues here. We adopted a formula which I even had to share with my colleagues in other council areas in the state and it worked for them too.  We have a Peace and Security Committee here and what we did was to hold series of meetings with the Hausa-Fulani people living in our area. We did that because we know that before the herdsmen attack became a serious issue, some Hausa-Fulani people migrated here and settled down for more than 80 years.  Many of them were born here so they have been part of us without rancour. What we did was to invite their leaders and we had a Memorandum of Understanding which implies that the Hausa-Fulani people should not go into people’s farms. If they try it and cause damage to somebody’s sweat, they will pay. If any of our people also deliberately kills their cow, such person will also pay. The stringent laws were followed and we had to also appoint a leader among them who monitors their activities to ensure that no infiltrator comes in among them. We know that the killers among the herdsmen are mercenaries who migrate to accomplish their task before fleeing and not actually the residents among them.

Recently, the council here held a mega solidarity rally in support of Governor Ugwuanyi when he defeated Ayogu Eze at the Appeal Court, why did you people do that?

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We believe so much in Governor Ugwuanyi. He has been one of us having represented us at the National Assembly for 12 years. We belong to the same federal constituency, Igbo-Eze North/Udenu,  where he served us well.  He has been so transparent in his representation that most of the amenities here today came as a result of his days as our representative. The governor has so much affected the lives of our people here positively that he commands such a large followership. His challenger in court was also at the National Assembly, but our people didn’t feel his impact.   The governor is very humane and the masses love him for that. His contender was too urbane and inaccessible, but Ugwuanyi understands what it means to be with the people and he is very dependable too with humility. The difference between the two was very clear and our people understand clearly who they want to support.  Gburugburu as we call him has become a phenomenon. This is even beyond party affiliation because if he contests election tomorrow as an independent candidate, he will win. We were at Awgu the other day and when you see the massive crowd for the governor, you will understand what I’m saying. The same thing is going on in Aninri, Oji River, and other parts of the state. So, it is just natural that this place should erupt in jubilation immediately we heard that he won his case in court.

But there are still feelers that he has not done much for the people of Igbo-Eze North in the last two years. How will you react to that?

Anybody saying that is misinformed and doesn’t know how government works. Check the number of primary schools renovated in this local government within two years and you will discover it is higher than the one Sullivan Chime did for us in eight years. As at yesterday, 23 primary schools were awarded for renovation while over 50 have been done before now here. The governor built a hospital in Ette which was commissioned last week, rural electrification in Umuida, the home town of Ayogu Eze. Abandoned school project and new classroom block. Water supply in Uda, Ette centre, electricity project at Umuagama, Olido, Okpo. Road construction at Mkpamute-Igogoro-Okpo road. Contractors in the  abandoned road project at Ugbaike, Amachala , Igogoro road have been told to return to site. In terms of appointment, our people are everywhere. From the clerk of the House of Assembly, High Court Judge, two perm secretaries, a commissioner, SSAs and Eas, among others. So, what are they complaining for? These are mere propaganda and not facts.

But do you think the governor can withstand APC in the build up to the 2019 election considering the number of heavyweights that have decamped so far to the party?

There is no APC in Enugu State so to speak. The so-called heavy weights are old men who will even work for Ugwuanyi at the polls. Politics of today is no more measured by big names, but rather on the ability to mobilize the people. Some of the so-called heavy weights are living in their past glory and the people are now wiser. You don’t just sit down in your place now and start determining what will happen in another place. The masses are no more so stereotyped in their actions. They see the impact of Ugwuanyi and will not bank on somebody who did this or that before. Today, elections are held and the people sit down and count their votes without rigging. So, it is no longer because of a big name in a particular locality. It is now an aggregate effort of leaders in a particular area who say they want to go this way not the wish of a sole individual. So, Ugwuanyi has no threat so to say in 2019.

Most local governments complain that governors seize their allocations thereby making them  financially impotent. What is the situation in Enugu State?

I know you may be saying this because of what happens in other states, but Enugu State is different. Governor Ugwuanyi doesn’t touch local government funds. This is the only state that they brought money meant for the payment of workers’ salaries and the governor handed the money over entirely without touching or diverting the funds. He goes to each local government making sure that backlog of local government salaries are paid. In our neighbouring state, Kogi, some local governments owe 15 months’ salary arrears even after collecting bailout and Paris Club refund.  Because the governor doesn’t touch our fund that is the reason there are fundamental developments in the local councils in Enugu State today. Any money meant for us is given to us and we sometime hear the abomination going on in some states that some local governments are left with a paltry sum of N500,000 every month by the governors.  Remember there are only about four states with Enugu that pays regular salaries today. Our governor is pro-people and masses, listening to the people and understanding that some are suffering. He is not the type that lives in Abuja and comes home to issue instruction. Our own is mass oriented and even when you check the recession in the country and see the kind of projects he does with competent contractors, you will realize what I’m saying.

What are the areas you’ve made impact in the lives of the people here?

We have in spite of the recession emulated the governor too in making impact despite the high wage bill of primary school teachers. We have done a lot to improve the lives of the people at the grassroots. We have 119 primary schools and 1,700 teachers in this local government, but we have made sure workers receive their salary promptly. We have been trying to expand the frontiers of development in the area which included market development, roads and others tangible projects.