Prepare for tough time

The new Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Friday at the Okpara Square in Enugu urged the people of the state to tighten their belts in the face of declining allocations from the Federation Account.

Ugwuanyi, who succeeded Sullivan Chime, described his government as one of “seamless continuity and consolidation.”

                              

Enumerating areas his administration intends to pay greater attention, Ugwuanyi pointed out that the sharp decline in the state’s revenue as a result of the fall in the price of crude oil would present a major challenge.

He, however, promised to rise up to the challenge, noting that the difficult times occasioned by the reduced revenue “is the best period to be the governor” of the state.

While asking the people of the state to tighten their belts, Ugwuanyi promised to lead by example by running an efficient government.

He said, “We must bear in mind that the resource flow has nosedived due to the decline in oil prices. A friend told me that ‘you are becoming governor at a very bad time.’ But I told him that this is indeed the best time to be the governor of Enugu State – if Theodore Roosevelt can lead the United States out of the Great Depression, and Barack Obama was able to lead the country out of economic recession, we can also do it.

“I call on the people of Enugu State to tighten their belts.

“All revenue generating agencies must get ready to remit to the state government. Tax defaulters will no longer be friends of Enugu State Government.”

Areas which the governor plans to focus his attention on include agriculture, infrastructure, health care, rural development, investment promotion, education, security and human capacity development.

In his last address to the people, Chime advised party chieftains and other supporters to refrain from pestering the new governor with requests for favours.

Chime said, “We all campaigned for the governor, nobody campaigned more than the other person. Do not go reminding him how you campaigned. Give him space to form his own government.”