The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige
has said that political godfathers fought him in the 34 months he was in the
office as governor of Anambra state because he decided to work for the good of
the people.
Ngige recalled that his administration embarked on mega
infrastructural projects, public service reforms, prioritised workers and
pensioners welfare, attracted federal presence and enthroned peace and security
in the entire State, not minding the humongous debts he inherited from his
predecessor.
The two-time minister spoke on Thursday at the Awka Egwu Uzu
festival, where the traditional ruler of the Ancient Awka Kingdom, Eze Uzu (Dr)
Gibson Nwosu conferred on him the Igbo royal title of “Onyili Mmagba,”meaning
the man who wrestled everybody to the ground, escaped and gave freedom to
others.
Speaking with journalists after receiving the title, Senator
Ngige recalled that as Governor, he was kidnapped, though he didn’t pay any
ransom to free himself.
According to him, “I decided to work for the people because
that was the main crux of the problem. Will you stand and work for the people
or the godfathers? So, I stood with the people and worked for them.
“Hitherto, Awka was a village but we tranformed the village
to a befitting capital city. We brought infrastructure development and
introduced reforms in the public service. We tarred all the roads in the GRA
Awka. We dualised Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and put street lights on them. We
repaired the water scheme and got water running in three quarters of the city
including Akwata.
“We also improved electricity. The Agu Awka power station
with a big 60KVA sub-injector station was brought during my time as Governor to
complement the Nibo power station and we had electricity here in Awka. We put
up the Ngozika Housing Estate. The Housing Estate for workers was done by us.
“We brought CBN to Awka. Before then, land grabbers like the
people who claim to be fighting for traditional rulership of Awka had taken the
land from CBN but we recovered and returned it to CBN. I also recovered the land
near gulf course from the land grabbers and handed it over to NNPC and they
brought mega station to us here in Awka. All these things made Awka a befitting
state capital. These were the few things we were able to do in 34 months.”
Speaking on his new title, Ngige said the people of Awka
remembered all he had done and invited him to show appreciation and he came to
receive the thank you.
The minister thanked Eze Uzu for the honour done to him and
prayed that God should bless the title for him to use it and work for Anambra
State and Nigeria.
He threw his weight behind Eze Gibson Nwosu as the only
Government recognized traditional ruler in Awka.
“There is only one sovereign government at any given time.
So, the government of Anambra State recognises Eze Uzu. I recognised him. My
predecessors recognised him. He is not yet dead. He is still alive. So, he is
the traditional ruler recognised by all.”
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion and former Governor of
Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, urged Ndigbo not to abandon their culture
and tradition.
Ezeife who was represented by Hon. Ben Nwankwo, said the
social and political circumstances Igbos found themselves today can never be
permanent.
He urged Ndigbo to focus on the future as what lies ahead is
greater than what is being witnessed today.
Notable among other dignitaries at the event include
business mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, the National Chairman of All Progressive
Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Oye, Anambra State Deputy Governor-elect, Dr
Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Niger and Bishop
of the Awka Diocese Anglican Communion, Alexander Ibezim and other top clerics.
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