The Leader of Save Awgu Forum Enugu (SAFE); His Imperial Majesty Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe presenting a document commending the new administration in Enugu State and as well outlining the needs and expectations of Awgu People from the government of Enugu State durring a courtsey visit to the Executive Governor of Enugu State; His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on the 3rd day of July, 2015.............
AN ADRESS PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ENUGU STATE HON. IFEANYI UGWUANYI (GBURUGBURU) ON THE OCCASION OF SOLIDARITY VISIT BY THE PEOPLE OF AWGU AS REPRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF SAVE AWGU FORUM ENUGU (SAFE).
INTRODUCTION
We, the people of Awgu, as represented by SAFE heartily rejoice with your Excellency and the good people of Enugu State on your successful inauguration as the executive Governor of Enugu State on May 29th, 2015.
It is indeed a position well deserved and our collective prayer is that the Almighty God will guide, preserve and strengthen you as you shoulder the onerous task of governance.
BRIEF HISTORY OF AWGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Awgu is one of the pioneer local governments created by the colonial administration, the others being Udi and the then Nsukka local governments.
Since it was created, the story of Awgu has been a story full of abundant evidence of neglect and backwardness, such that visitors from newly created local governments marvel at the state of infrastructural neglect and paucity of government presence.
When compared with sister pioneer local government like Udi and the then Nsukka, the infrastructural gap is glaring if one considers the total absence or decrepit status of such social overheads like roads, water, health, education and power supply.
POLITICAL REALITIES
Your Excellency Sir, it is our belief that development evolves out of the constructive partnership of both private and public efforts. But in Awgu local government today, such private efforts are lacking due to poverty, which was indirectly enhanced by the manner Awgu people are treated by past governments as a people, who are quiet, self-fulfilled and undemanding.
Sir, inspite of the fact that we have massively supported past governments with our 90, 000 (Ninety thousand) block votes, it is on record that no citizen of Awgu has ever been appointed in Enugu State or courtesy of Enugu State in the following offices: SSG, Chief of Staff, Head of Service, Chairman Civil Service Commission, Vice Chancellor/Rector/Provost, Board Chairmanship, Ministers and Ambassadors.
It is also on record that a holistic and statistical consideration of Enugu State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) will reveal that the percentage of Awgu indigenes are as low as 8% with those in senior cadres less than 2%.
Your Excellency will begin to appreciate the above statistics when he considers the fact that the percentage
of Awgu indigenes working in Awgu local government council is only 15%, the rest 85% being indigenes from other local governments. Denied of employment and appointment, no wonder Awgu is one of the poorest local governments in Nigeria today, thereby rendering her citizens incapable of contributing their own quota in modern complimentary and contributory development.
Sir, it is worthy to be noted that as a people (Awgu) we are all stake holders of our great party PDP, however certain clique, arrogate stake holders status to themselves which excludes all well-meaning Awgu people here represented in SAFE hence, their activities do not allow for all inclusive participation in sharing the dividends of democracy, including nominations /appointments of persons into various political offices in Enugu and Federal level. Therefore, we in SAFE representing the interest of all Awgu, request your Excellency Sir, to consider the participation of all in any democracy dividend meant for Awgu to ensure fairness and equity and to reduce internal agitations which may be inimical to the greater interest of our party.
PRAYERS
Sir, our humble prayers are:
- We are requesting that the developmental pace should be increased to help Awgu catch up with status of other pioneer local governments by locating meaningful projects like branches or departments of Academic institutions, Health institutions and other specialised institutions to the local government.
- We are requesting his Excellency to consider appointing Awgu indigenes in the following positions SSG, Chief of Staff, Head of Service, Chairman Civil Service Commission, Vice Chancellor/Rector/Provost, Board Chairmanship, Minister and Ambassadors and special advisers, Executive offices in both Parklane Teaching Hospital and UNTH.
- Address the issue of under employment of Awgu people in Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Enugu State civil service.
- Rejuvenating and up grading of Awgu General Hospital with its School of Midwifery
- Allocation of Special Development Fund to Awgu to support her developmental efforts and extend such efforts to peculiar mountainous topography.
CONCLUSION
Your Excellency Sir, Awgu people showed how much they accept you as their leader by voting for you massively in the just concluded election. That confidence and support have not changed and we hope to repeat same come 2019. As you begin to unveil your programmes, we shall continue to support you both in prayer and action in the hope that your leadership will once and for all wipe away the accumulated tears of Awgu as a people and as a local government.
We wish you success in your tenure and may God guide and protect you as you deliver democracy dividends and sustainable development in Enugu State
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Long live Enugu State
Long live Awgu Local Government
Long live Save Awgu Forum Enugu.
SAFE ; FOR AND ON BEHALF OF AWGU PEOPLE
Good People, Great Mission!
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