The above question becomes pertinent when it is realized that this is not the first, second, or even the third time, that stories have bee circulated purporting that Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State is dead. This is actually the fourth time, by my count.

So, who are these people that are persistently spreading this evil rumor, and are trying to cause tension in the polity, when there is
none? More importantly, perhaps, why are they doing it?

Governor Chime promised God, not man, at the onset of his administration, that he was going to work for those who elected him as
Governor, that is, the good people of Enugu State and he is trying so hard to make a statement, to leave a worthy legacy, when he leaves office. The Chime I know will want to be a free man after his tenure.

Like he always says, he will want to mix up with his people. He will certainly not want to be outside the country, running around because he failed to do things he was supposed to have done. He is so dedicated to the job that he is even putting his own life on the line because he has the good interest of his people very close to his heart.

My consolation is that whoever wishes him dead does not have the right to give or take life, and the person or persons don't even know who will die first. All those who wished the late great Zik of Africa dead before his time, and went on to make obituary announcements in the media, all of them, you will recall, died before the grand old man.

Governor Sullivan Chime is a grand young man; the more they wish him dead, the more God A lmighty is adding more years to his life, and more wisdom to expand in his experience and efforts to accomplish the good things he is doing for his people.

If you come into Enugu, his achievements are there for all to see. I wish to highlight on just a few of them as we look forward to marking his two years of second term in office on May 29th 2013. Governor Chime's administration has tremendously improved the road net work in Enugu state. So far, 585 km of roads have been built, 340 km urban, 245km rural, with asphalt overlay, side drains, walkways, bridges, and culverts; 1,546 double armed and 1,909 single armed street lights were installed along some of the major streets within Enugu state capital, and traffic control lights maintained at 9 major road intersections within the town among others.

Out of 472 communities in the state 434 are already linked to the National Grid while the remaining 38 communities will be completed and linked up to the national grid by December 2013 to ease the problems of commuters and facilitate movement in the urban centres. 720 taxi cabs and 50 Coal City buses were acquired and distributed under Public/Private Partnership; Enugu State Emergency Response Team, ENSERT, was established and equipped with vehicles and other first Aid kits; Free Maternal and Child Health Care, FMCH, was set up and is being implemented; Enugu Songhai (Green City Farm) and San Carlos, a 1000 hectare pineapple farm, were established; 300 buses for all the public secondary and few mission schools in the state, and modern
school infrastructure and equipment installed, as well as training of teachers; Volunteer Teachers Scheme was introduced, to improve the teacher-pupil ratio.

692 high, middle, and low cost houses are already built in partnership with some private estate developers; 4,000km of water pipes of
different sizes have been laid, thus boosting the water supply rate to 60%; 213 rural communities have been provided with access to portable water; crime rate has been reduced by about 70%, through the State government's provision of patrol vans and security gadgets to security agencies, many more have also been procured recently and ready for distribution.

A robust Neigbourhood Watch programme (Youth Community Policing Initiative) set up, with a membership of about 70,000 youths all over the state; a database of unemployed youths has been developed for further planning; and a Conditional Cash Transfe programme
established in the state was designed to empower more than 3000 poorest families, while training 3,150 youths, one from each of the
indigent families, who will be empowered after their training. We could go on and on in this vein.

Things have changed for the better in Enugu. Chime will leave office in 2015 with pride and fulfillment. Generation yet unborn will live to hear that, once upon a time, a man, Sullivan Chime, transformed Enugu State. We wish and pray that his successor in office will continue from where he stopped.

There are still ongoing projects, and new ones are coming up. The Governor has promised that the projects will be completed. The new Secretariat complex, started late last year, already looks as if work has been going on there for at least two years, judging by the rate of progress of construction because they work round the clock.

Construction of Akwata road which is another hallmark of Governor Chime's administration has brought lots of commendations from road users, citizens and residents of Enugu. The Zik avenue (P&T) Twin Bridge under construction is also receiving prompt attention; same is the dualization of Abakiliki road with overhead bypass and many other projects.

Today, people trope into Enugu from different parts of south- east and south-south states to shop in the Polo Shopping Mall which is almost the biggest in the country and houses many reputable international trading firms including Shoprite, Game, Woolworth and so on. The young man is doing well and people should find a way to encourage him, to thank him, to support him, and to think of better ways to move Enugu State forward.

Those who have been opportune to be with Chime, can bear me witness that he does not even see himself as the supposed 'Oga at the Top' but a mere servant. He always loved to be close to his people, exactly the reason he could feel their pulse. It baffles me that someone in his right senses would sit down and begin to think of Governor Chime in a casket! Why? God forbid.

It will really be nice if security operatives and agencies will find a way to track the people who use social media to participate in
criminal and malevolent practices. Unfortunately, some journalists, who should know better, just pick these materials and start working on them for the purpose of one interest or the other, thereby losing credibility in their report and making a whole mess of the profession.

Perhaps, there should be a security code to detect the people who are perpetrating this evil act. Today it is Governor Chime, tomorrow; somebody could go on the net and post something that will bring the whole country into disarray. The earlier these are curbed, the better for all of us.

I say woe, woe to them that wish evil because even the Holy Bible says that there is no peace for the wicked. The more they wish him
dead, the more he is enjoying the blessings of the Almighty God.

I am sure the rumor mongers really covered their faces in shame when Governor Sullivan Chime, in person, not 'ably represented' inaugurated the newly appointed 57 Local Government Development Centre Administrators at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013; his first public function since he returned from his vacation abroad on the 8th of February 2013.

Thank you Mr. President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as you lay the foundation stone of the International Terminal Building of the Akanu-Ibiam airport, Enugu. Again, His Excellency, Governor Chime was present alongside other South-East Governors, National Assembly members, Ministers, major stakeholders of the South-East and many top government functionaries.

The occasion was indeed a clear indication that the transformation agenda of our dear President is still on course and in Enugu state, the 4-point agenda of Governor Chime has contained in all sense of it, the dream of actualizing not only a greater Enugu state, but Nigeria at large.

To all those who believe and have supported the transformation agenda of Governor Chime's administration in Enugu State, I shall leave you with this Quote from the fourth paragraph of his inaugural address, a pledge to do more, on the occasion of his swearing-in for 2nd Term as the Governor of Enugu state on May 29, 2011 at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu ''I cannot, and I will never, take these gestures of love, trust and solidarity for granted. And for these, and for many more, I say a sincere and humble thank you to all the good people of Enugu state. I also thank our friends from outside our state, who have in one way or another, supported us and wished us well in our quest and struggle to use the instrumentality of government to put permanent smiles on the faces of our people . May God continue to bless and reward all of you''.

Afam Okereke writes in from Government House, Enugu, where he is the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sullivan Chime on Media Matters.

© 2013 Nollywoodgists.com

Click the link below to go to...

Ini Edo, Kate Henshaw Shine At 2Face, Annie Traditional Wedding [Picture]

Governor Akpabio Splashes Prado SUV On 2Face, Annie; Promises 30-Man Team For Dubai Wedding

Kate Henshaw, Others For Tuface And Annie Idibia In Eket [PICTURES]

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES ON Tuface & Annie's Tradituional Wedding

Plastic Surgery On Dakore's Nose?

My Ex-Wife Is Foolish-Kayode Salako

Ladies Wise Up! Some Fake Celebs Are Just Impregnating Girls

SHOCKING VIDEO: Nigerians Vandalizing Nigerian Embassy In Senegal

Why Struggling Ghanaian Movie Stars Are Producing Their Own Movies

THE GIFT AND THE CURSE OF BEING TOOLZ (Responds to Haters)