By Francis Igata

ENUGU — Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime, has admitted stepping on many toes in the course of his eight year stay in office but said he did so to bring his vision of transformation for the state to fruition.

Chime, who spoke, yesterday, at a valedictory thanksgiving Mass at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, said he was satisfied that the people of the state appreciated the positive changes his administration had brought to their lives.

He, however, apologized to those he might have wrongly hurt in pursuit of the greater good of the people, stressing that none of the policies or actions of his administration was deliberately designed to offend anyone.

*Chime

He said: “We cannot change the society without stepping on toes, every serious government must take necessary measures to correct the wrongs in the society, if not we will not have the new environment we are enjoying in Enugu today.

‘’So, I beg for forgiveness and understanding from those on whose toes we must have stepped, they must understand that we did whatever we did for the benefit of all.”

Governor Chime described the emergence of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as his successor as an act of God in answer to the prayers of the people for a worthy replacement.

He, however, called for intense prayers for the new administration and stressed that while the people’s expectations were high, the steady dwindle in allocations from the Federal Government posed a challenge for any government.

“Our resources are going down on a daily basis. So many states are unable to pay salaries because of dwindling federal allocations, so let’s pray that we get it right at the centre so that it will trickle down to the states,” he said.
The governor, however, expressed confidence that Ugwuanyi would do better than he had done, urging the people to continue to pray for him and the state in the light of emerging challenges

Thanking God,   people of Enugu State and the church for the opportunity to serve and for their prayers and support, Chime said his greatest achievements laid in not disappointing the people.

Earlier in his homily at the service presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, with governor-elect, Ugwuanyi, and his deputy, Cecilia Ezeilo, in attendance, the Vicar General of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Msgr. Obiora Ike, described Governor Chime as a “child of promise who fulfilled his promises to the people of Enugu State.”

He noted that Chime succeeded in restoring the “beauty, tranquility and civility” for which Enugu was previously known.

“Frankly speaking, I do not find a city like Enugu in Nigeria. it is common knowledge that the state receives about the least allocation from the Federal Government, but today, we are bearing testimony to the good works that have been done with so little,” he said.