Chime, ride on!

The government of Barrister Sullivan Chime in Enugu state-Nigeria recently introduced a transport scheme to ease transportation difficulties being encountered by indigenes and residents of the state. This flooding of the state, in particular, Enugu city, with a fleet of taxi cabs and luxury buses by Governor Chime is, indeed, a welcome development.

Chime’s government recently spent hundreds of millions of naira to purchase of 200 taxi cabs to operate commercial services in the state. The government is collaborating with Umuchinemere Community Bank, located in Enugu, to run this worthwhile enterprise. The bank, managed by Professor Obiorah Ike, a catholic monsignor, also, procured 200 of the cabs, bringing the number of the vehicles to 400.

Chime's government has, also, procured, from the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMCCO), 20 units of luxury urban mass transit buses to augment the taxis. The buses are to be deployed for intra-city commercial bus service in different parts of Enugu capital city.

This transport scheme runs side by side with the governor’s internet revolution in which the people of the state are currently given free access to the World Wide Web (www). Through the collaborative efforts of ZINOX, an indigenous telecommunications outfit, residents of Enugu within four kilometer radius are presently enjoying free access to the internet on their computer sets.

There is no gainsaying the fact that these projects are people oriented. It is reassuring that in an age of primitive accumulation of wealth by Nigeria’s leaders, a governor spares some thought for the welfare of the common class people in his state.

Following the launch, in the past one month, of these two pro-people schemes, Governor Chime has chosen not to be part of the looting gang of Nigerians.

While the internet cloud continues to thicken, Chime’s taxi cabs, ostensibly, promises to knock down the sky-rocketing transport fares in the state. The scheme will, also, give jobs to over a thousand Nigerians resident in Enugu state! It has to be noted that Governor Chime is introducing these welfare schemes amidst on-going radical road reconstruction across the state.

Although it can be argued that Governor Chime, from the foregoing, is doing what he was elected to do- provision of democratic dividends to the electorates of Enugu state. Because Nigeria is a conscienceless country, Chime had the option of spending Enugu money in baseless and irresponsible foreign trips, but he chose not. He could still siphon out the funds which he is using to touch the lives of the people, but he settled for humanity. And he could still be holed up in any of his guest Houses and squander the funds with a few chosen cronies and sycophants, but he id not. KlinReports says this is commendation worthy and should be kept up.

We, however, urge Chime not to allow these people oriented projects to be meshed up by officials of his government who may, after-all, not be as committed as himself in moving Enugu state and its people forward. It has been discovered that most government well-meant programs and policies develop problems from government officials who think that participation in government is all about amassing wealth.

Governor Chime, Ride on!