Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Friday, inaugurated a 5.4 kilometre Amagunze road, constructed by one of the governorship aspirants in the state, Everest Nnaji.
Popularly known as Odengene, Nnaji took his philanthropy to an entirely new level by personally embarking on the construction of the 5.4km, which was commissioned by the Enugu state governor, Ugwuanyi.
The singular act is still revibrating across the length and breath of the state as the people kept saying “we haven’t seen anything like this,” while prayers, blessings and encomiums continue.
Commissioning the project, Governor Ugwuanyi said this is a “wonderful project deserving of our commendation,” adding that those who wish to be remembered make tough choices just like Odengene has made.
“Chief Nnaji, I laud you for this uncommon feat and pray that the Almighty, most merciful and most loving God will bless and give him good health.”
The Governor added that his administration is fully committed to identifying with such projects, from flag-off to inauguration and enjoined “all well-to-do and public-spirited individuals to support the delivery of public goods to Ndi Enugu.”
Speaking earlier, Odengene said he got “drawn to the governor because he is a man who places God in everything he does. A man that never care about peoples past.”
According to the philanthropist, he watched what the governor is doing from a distance and “I got convinced you’re a good man.”
“Our Governor goes to the rural areas, people who ordinarily will never be remembered, fix their roads and will not demand any unnecessary publicity. You have connected so many hinterlands and made life easier for them.
“By my own count and what I have read, you have built over 700km of road in one administration, yet, nobody is talking about it and he doesn’t care.
“I have two cogent why I undertook the construction of this road. One is about what you are doing in this state. This encouraged me to support the government in this direction because, the government can’t provide road for every place at the same time.
“The road connects four autonomous communities that are very productive and this will aid them in moving their produce to the market in what you are doing in other rural communities.”
He also commended the transformation strides of the Ugwuanyi in the areas of sports development and health stressing that “these interventions will improve the economy of the state in no small way” and called on Ndi Enugu to support the Governor because “he is a sincere person while praying to God to enlarge his coast and give him higher grounds to continue serving the public.”
In his remarks, Eze Agabi II of Ihuokpara, HRH, Igwe SA Nwatu, who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers, said today is a great day in their lives, adding that the Governor is blessed and has a good God who takes care of his own.
The revered traditional ruler revealed that the OAS Chairman, Nnaji didn’t start today as his philanthropy dates back to decades ago when he was doing remedial work on the road that connects us to other parts of the state repeatedly, stressing that he didn’t start the transformation of rural areas today.
He also said that Odengene played a vital role in the creation of Nkanu East local government area, stressing that he has been with them.
Hon. Sydney Okey Edeh, Council Chairman, Nkanu East local government, in his remark thanked the Governor for coming to their place despite his tight schedule.
Speaking on the massive road project, Edeh said it’s a clear demonstration of the saying, “When the righteous persons are in power, good things happen” and commended Odengene whom he said he has been hearing of his good deeds as a child and even in his adulthood, he’s still doing good and thanked him immensely for his good works in Nkanu East.
In his speech, Okey J. S. Nwatu, the President General of Isienu Amagunze, said aside the multi million naira road project, Nnaji “has equally embarked on other numerous programmes to better the living standard of our people, some of which are award of scholarship to deserving sons and daughters of our communities and beyond up to university level.
“He contributed immensely to the creation of Nkanu East LGA and the construction of some structures therein, he designed and contributed to the construction, completion and beatification of Holy Innocent Catholic Church, Amagunze and other humanitarian projects, too numerous to mention.”
Other speakers at the event which includes Princess Peace Nnaji, Commissioner for Gender and Social Development; the former Chief Judge of Enugu State, FS Emehelu; SPA to the Governor on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe took turns to thank the Governor for the enablement and hailed Odengene for the project.
Ferotex CEO, Chief Festus Onu, while speaking on the road thanked the Governor for all the opportunities in the state; Odengene for giving them the job and the people of Amagunze for their support all through the time the construction lasted adding that the work was delivered according to specifications and on time too.
Other dignitaries at the event include the speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly.
