Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
“Tolerance isn’t about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.”
― Timothy Keller
Even if we decide to toy with anything in this generation, let us not forget the top-notch tolerance, and principled level-headedness that His Excellency Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi brought to governance. He gave himself out in the interest of transparency in leadership to be scrutinized, criticized, and appraised by his people at will.
What this means is: even if you don’t love Gov. Ugwuanyi for what he has achieved over the years, at least love him for the errors he never committed, which is asphyxiation of the media space and intolerance of dissenting voices.
Whereas his contemporaries elsewhere have had records of victimizing their critics, and roundly vilifying opposition politicians, Gov. Ugwuanyi had maintained a steeled self control worthy of a father.
A governor in one of the neighbouring states, in the recent past, went cross-border to pick someone in Nsukka who was alleged to have made some irking posts about him on social media. The case of Agba Jalingo in Cross River State is not far away in the memory. In 2020, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a courageous journalist, was sanctioned by Kano state Governor, Alh. Umar Ganduje, for what he called “unguarded” utterances on the person of President Buhari on social media platforms.
But here we are, since Ugwuanyi came to power, there has been no single political prisoner in the state. Opposition is allowed to thrive and compete at a level playing ground.
In October, immediately INEC lifted embargo on outdoor campaigns, a certain Bar. Okey Ezea (Ideke) was seen in a viral video clip abusing Gov. Ugwuanyi, inciting Nsukka people against their leader. It was as if he was vitriolically waiting for the commencement of campaigns to attack the governor. Instead of marketing himself to the people, the serial contestant who fraudulently obtained a contentious Labour Party senatorial ticket for Enugu North, he was busy castigating His Excellency the governor who was coasting to glory in the upcoming senatorial polls.
Yet, Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi never raised an eyebrow against that. Such virtuous display of the spirit of sportsmanship by a man who wears executive power of the state!
Ideke by his insultive utterances exhibited apparent evidence that he has lost the election before the polls.
Earlier in April this year, Ugwuanyi’s age-old reputation was acutely attacked by no less a personality than Mr. Charles Obi Ngene, in flurry of falsehood he coined to smear the Governor’s chaste robe. He coined malicious writeup aimed at dimming the Governor’s exemplary leadership style. His Excellency did nothing against him. He didn’t even raise an eyebrow despite knowing that Ngene’s outing was full of lies and malice. And that’s the marvel. Nothing disturbs the heart of a man like seeing another man utter false and blasphemous words against him.
Related Posts
That Mr. Ngene choose to make himself an adversary of the governor was not the marvel; but that the governor left him unfettered despite having every right to legal redress.
Temperance, tolerance, gentility, broad-heartedness are the essential attributes of a worthy leader. Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi have them in abundance. Posterity will pencil him on the good book of history for these virtues. Like former President Jonathan said: “I am the most maligned president in Nigeria, but when I’m gone, you will remember me for the freedom you enjoyed under me.” In Ugwuanyi, Enugu have a replica of this quote.
He is a disciple of Voltaire who taught: “I may not like what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
May God bless His Excellency, for being such amiable and accommodating leader and father of all. Enugu is indisputably in the hand of God.
And no one is more suited to represent Enugu North in the red chamber in the current situation of Ndi Nsukka than a man with such a sublime character. He has been in the national assembly before. He knew the terrain. His antecedents speak for him! He has made men. He has built infrastructures. He has been around. He’s closest to his people.
These are qualities ultimately lacking in Ideke and his other desperados in opposition.
© Jack Solo Support Group
jacksologroup@gmail.com
