Enugu: The Raped Haven

@ernestomoarelojie 

Enugu used to be the scenic beauty that sat atop a hill as its original name, Enu-Ugwu, suggests. More or less, it was a haven by every stretch of the imagination. Demure but lively in a poignant way, its original planners, including resident colonialists, could not resist the temptation to up the beauty of its compelling allure by putting into place a number of essential life-enhancing heritage landmarks, all designed to preserve its nature. And they did so without leaving anything to chance.

Thankfully, early modern South East leaders, including Owelle Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Okpara and a few others also saw the importance of reserving these sights given their relevance.

Like their predecessors, they also left nothing to chance in their determined bid to make the city a befitting headquarters for the Igbo nation. Sadly however, those that came after them did not only fail to see the need to preserve the worthy ideals, they went ahead to carve the monuments into private estates which they partitioned to themselves and cronies. Predictably, they reduced the city left into a classic case of a haven raped by its minders.

Enugu used to have one of the most compelling zoological parks and botanical gardens in the country. Among others, the park and garden were some of the most thriving centres for public exhibitions, researches, conservation and educational purposes.

But for reasons that are not unconnected to unhinged profligacy, the places were destroyed, plundered and turned into private estates by the same leaders elected to protect and preserve them. Accusing fingers have not stopped pointing in the direction of former governors Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Remarkably, Enugu was built as a millennium city, complete with tree-laden ventilation sites to oxygenate the city's atmosphere, alongside those of its immediate surrounding areas. Those who conceived the life-enhancing idea were convinced that their successors would follow up with more trees, additional parks and garden every few kilometres apart.

Unfortunately, the original millennium park has not only been reduced to a Polo Park, the greater part of the site has since been carved out as private properties. The present golf course is another disfigured reflection of Enugu's story. Indeed, what happened in its case is more like the sad song that says so much.

Originally part of the several kilometre-long line of pine trees, a forestry of some sort, it was deliberately planted by both Azikiwe and Okpara to give the city that unique and peculiar natural ambience. But as it is with other heritage landmarks, the site has been appropriated as private property by the same people who were supposed to preserve them.

Enugu had a proposed Olympic Centre for sports and all other recreational activities. But in a manner that confounds reason, the Sullivan administration reduced it to what it termed the Liberty Estate, with all adjoining land handed over to his kilts and kins. Behind the Conference Centre being built by the current administration sits a large expance of land once reserved for the development of the city. As it is the case with others, the administrations of both Nnamani and Chime concluded it is better off as prime allocations to their kilts and kins.

Generally, Enugu was conceived as the premier city, the headquarters of the Igbo nation. It was even more developed than a number of South West cities, including Ibadan. But Coal City, as it is often referred to, is currently struggling to hold a semblance of its old pride of place. It has since been overtaken by Owerri and Abakaliki, with Umuahia on the verge of joining the upper league, relating the once Eastern beautiful bride.

Part of the story of Enugu is essentially akin to that of a maiden violated by those meant to be her minders. The reality is not only sickening but also disheartening. The only good side to her story is that all hope is not lost. What is left is for the people to rise in protection of her dignity and take her away from the perfidious grip of those violating her.

It is a sacred choice the people will have to make in the days ahead. One can only hope and pray they get it right.