The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, said former Gov. Sullivan Chime’s administration in Enugu state, neglected the people of Aninri Local Government Area for eight years.
Speaking on Saturday in Aninri during the flag-off of nine rural projects funded by the state government, Ekweremadu said that the Chime’s tenure was the darkest in the lives of Aninri people.
He said that during the period, the state government had no presence in the entire council, adding that projects executed in the area were by the federal and local governments.
“Eight years ago all development projects in this area were done by the federal and local governments, but we now have a governor that is ready to work for our people.
“Between 2007 and 2015, no indigene of Aninri was employed in the state civil service and from statistics, we have the least number of civil servants in the state,” he said.
The deputy senate president said that the local government area had only 400 workers in the state service, adding that no permanent secretary was from the area.
“This neglect of our people for eight years was that bad but God has raised someone who will raise us.
“For instance, at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), we only have four staff members from Aninri while Udi, Awgu and Oji River Local Government Areas have 360, 85 and 60 staff, respectively, in the institution,” he said.
Ekweremadu said that it was the governor of the state, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who drew his attention to the anomalies, and said that the governor had taken steps to redress the ills.
“The governor has appointed our son as permanent secretary and another one as director of works in IMT. The state commissioner of works is also from Aninri and more are coming,” he said.
According to him, it is gratifying that our people are now feeling the impact of the state government and we will continue to support the governor.
Ekweremadu appealed to the people of the area to unite and move the place forward, adding that greater things were ahead.
