An APGA House of Assembly candidate in the 2023 general elections in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State, Anayo Uneke has described the first democratically elected Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Egwu as the best Governor to have governed the state so far.
In an article he wrote, Mr Uneke described the former Governor as a bag of treasure for the people of Ebonyi State as he remains the reason people of the state afforded education and exposure. The article reads:
THE BEST GOVERNOR AND SELFLESS FATHER OF EBONYI STATE Dr Sam Egwu
Dr Sam Egwu won the 1999 gubernatorial election and became the first indigenous governor of Ebonyi state.
Dr Sam Egwu inherited an Ebonyi State of just 2 years and 7 months old. As at then, Ebonyi state is ranked the second poorest state in Nigeria, the state with the highest level of illiteracy in southern Nigeria.
In 1999 one can count how many graduates we have in Ebonyi state, education zero, no healthy water, nothing was functioning in Ebonyi state.
Dr Sam Egwu introduced free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school. I could remember how his taskforce was arresting children hawking during school hours both in the urban and rural areas. He forced Ebonyians to embrace education.
Dr Sam Egwu paid bursary to indigenous university students, he reduced tuition fees of indigenous students in Ebonyi state university.
Dr Sam Egwu sponsored thousands of Ebonyians abroad to acquire degrees and masters.
Dr Sam Egwu gave Ebonyians the first clean water supply, there was constant water supply in urban areas, government installed water pipes connecting different houses and streets of Abakaliki.
Dr Sam Egwu introduced EBSEPA as he employed thousands of illiterate women who were charged with sweeping the streets of Abakaliki as a way of empowering them.
Rural electrification project was kicked off by the government of Dr Sam Egwu
Under the leadership of Sam Egwu, he paid the full minimum wage to the Ebonyi state workers, he gave out contracts to Ebonyians who in turn became millionaires and billionaires.
Dr Sam Egwu in his quest to transform Ebonyi state and ending poverty created new LG which was later rejected by the then president Obasanjo administration but Sam Egwu retained them and turned them to development centers in his quest to bringing development to the grassroot. He employed thousands and adequately funded the development centers that even the coordinators then received tens of millions allocations just like the LG and lived large.
Dr Sam Egwu started fertilizer loan to the farmers.
He built new schools
He renovated almost all the primary and secondary schools in Ebonyi state and build new class room blocks, he equipped many secondary schools in Abakaliki with laboratory halls. Government technically college Abakaliki GTC became the best tech college where students can easily learn crafts, many were already doing electrician jobs while still in school, some roofing houses, furniture makers, welding jobs etc were all thought at GTC Abakaliki. All thanks to Dr Sam Egwu.
Dr Sam Egwu curtailed the activities of occultists which was unbearable in Abakaliki, before Dr Sam Egwu, one can hardly move around by 6pm in Abakaliki while you cannot even imagine sleeping at night because of criminals who break houses and rob and kill every now and then in Abakaliki. If you wake up every morning, it is one news of robbery here or there. Dr Sam Egwu curtailed this security challenges.
Dr Sam Egwu had special advisers who are reputable men and women instead of the special assistance we have today. Dr Sam Egwu special advisers all had offices and they are well funded. I remember the then special adviser on religion and conflicts resolution Rev Agwu Nnachi Ukuoma will be going to PRESCO high school a college perceived to harbor the highest group of cultists in the state. He will conduct assembly for them, preaching and trying to change the students orientation. He worked so hard.
Dr Sam Egwu built Health centers and equipped our hospitals. Ebonyi state university teaching hospital was ranked among the third best in Nigeria during the tenures of Dr Sam Egwu.
He adequately funded the Ebonyi state university and before he left office, Ebonyi state university was the best medical university in Nigeria thanks to his funding and management of former Ebonyi state university teaching hospital which Prof Chigozie Ogbu was the medical director.
Dr Sam Egwu invested in the youths and organized school sports which I participated. School inter house sports used to be wonderful, we used to compete in different sports.
Dr Sam Egwu formed the EBONYI ANGELS a state owned football club registered in the Nigeria league. I could remember how the stadium used to fill up every saturday when the EBONYI ANGELS will be playing at home. This players were well paid, I used to look up to them, they shining faces. They were well taken care of.
In all this I must say that Sam Egwu didn’t kill any Ebonyian through cultists groups, he didn’t give pump actions or guns to our youths. Dr Sam Egwu didn’t pick any of his loyalists to succeed him, he rather honoured the founding fathers and he went and pick Elechi as mark of honour to those that fought for the creation of the state. Finally Dr Sam Egwu didn’t pick the senatorial form to go to senate, he humbly bow out of the scene.