By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu – Mr Petrus Obi, the Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (South-East), has congratulated Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enough state on his re-election for a second tenure.
Obi made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, while speaking on Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly polls in the state.
He said: “the people have spoken through their votes and we must respect their wishes and aspirations.
“Journalists from South-East (Zone C) congratulate Ugwuanyi on his re-election to serve his people for another four years.
“The election on Saturday in Enugu state, which I personally monitored, was peaceful and hitch-free.
“INEC and the electorate played their roles well for the success of the polls at the end of the day.’’
Obi expressed delight that Ugwuanyi demystified governance by bringing the people personally close to himself and being there for them when they needed government’s presence.
“Ugwuanyi’s government has continued to touch the lives of the people both as individuals, group or community.
“In about four years into his administration, he had touched each community in the state with one or two highly needed development projects.
“Ugwuanyi has built more rural roads to the remotest part of the state,” Obi said.
He said that the rural communities in the state now have good roads to move their agricultural produce to the cities.
He further said that Ugwuanyi ran an all-inclusive administration, adding that his appointees and projects cut across party affiliation.
“Politically, he had over time carried everybody along due to his peaceful and inclusive nature as a person.
“He had brought back veteran politicians into the Peoples Democratic Party’s fold, while ensuring that his welfare package gets to all,’’ Obi said.
He described Ugwuanyi as the most media friendly governor in the country.
“I do not think there is any governor in the country that is as free and open with the media as Ugwuanyi so far,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Ugwuanyi won in the 17 local government areas of the state, polling 449,935 votes to beat Sen. Ayogu Eze of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 10,423 votes.
