News analysis

Enugu guber: Stop blackmailing opponents with EFCC, go and campaign

Published

4 years ago

May 18, 2022

The much fuss about the EFCC and some Enugu Governoship aspirants have become so much that someone must call this aspirant to order.

If you think you have anything to offer to the good people of Enugu State please reach out and tell them about such lofty projects that will endear you to them.

Yes, it’s not too late. Even if you have not shown them love in the past you can start now. It’s never too late.

Your recent use of an online medium to blackmail fellow aspirants cannot make you Governor of Enugu State. In-fact your ambition is still born. So you may stop dissipating your energy thinking you are undoing anyone.

The latest is a list of leading guber aspirants which you claimed have issues with the EFCC and would be excess load for the PDP if given the guber ticket.

You even went a step further to warn that PDP will lose the election should any of them be picked as candidate.

Nobody is supporting any form of fraud, no way, but this is Nigeria where politcial opponents see the anti graft agency as a weapon.

It has thus become common for public officers to have petitions at EFCC.

A former Local Government Chairman in Enugu was dragged to EFCC for allegegy building a shopping mall which his accusers said was a multi billion naira project.

At the end of Investigations it was discovered that the Chairman did not even know the owner of that property.

Sullivan Chime, who many believe did well as governor, has petitions at EFCC.

Governor Dave Umahi, a governor who is said to have done well in infrastructure, has petitions at EFCC. The same with former Anambra governor, Peter Obi.

The point here is that it’s no longer news that a public officer has a matter with EFCC, because over 85% do, and we now know why.

What will make news, which even the PDP cannot ignore is who and who has been indicted or convicted for fraud.

Instructively, Enugu has the most quality aspirants especially in the PDP. Most of these aspirants have held top positions in the country where they passed through serious security screening.

We are not unaware that same people shouting EFCC actually sponsored some EFCC matters against perceived opponents.

Of particular interest is a matter where a plaintiff in a fraud related matter said he had never seen the accused in his life. That the accused was not part of the fraud against him.

He openly denied knowing or having had anything with the accused person in the case of fraud.

Same matter has been sponsored to be revisited just to list the aspirant among those in EFCC net. But those who know the facts of the matter knows he has no case to answer.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is an experienced politician who is always ahead in tactics and schemings. He knows what obtains and the on going moves to undo some aspirants.

He can’t be distracted or confused by these fourth columnists. He will rather shock them as the D-Day approaches.

News analysis

Threat to Life: How Enugu North LGA Chair’s Actions Triggered a Crisis—and Why Gov. Mbah Must Intervene

Published

4 months ago

January 19, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

The allegations by a developer, Mr. Michael Aniagboso Aka, that his life is under threat following a dispute with the Enugu North Local Government Council raise serious governance, legal and investor-confidence concerns. While the claims remain allegations pending investigation, the issues highlighted in the dispute point to several areas where the local government leadership, particularly the Council Chairman, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh, appears to have made critical mistakes that now threaten public trust and investment climate in Enugu State.

Failure to Respect an Existing BOT Agreement

At the heart of the crisis is a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract reportedly signed in 2020 between Diamond M & B Construction and the Enugu North Local Government Council. Under this agreement, the developer was to manage the “Jesus Bu Eze Plaza” for 25 years before transfer to the council.
If, as alleged, the council unilaterally took over revenue collection less than a year after commissioning the project, such action amounts to a breach of contract. A BOT arrangement is legally binding, and any dissatisfaction by a new administration should be addressed through renegotiation, arbitration or the courts—not unilateral takeover. This alleged action creates the impression of policy inconsistency and contractual instability.

Ignoring Legislative Intervention and Advice

Aniagboso claims that the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly intervened and advised the chairman to adhere strictly to the agreed 70:30 revenue-sharing formula and the original Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The refusal to heed this intervention suggests a disregard for institutional conflict-resolution mechanisms.
In a democratic system, local government authorities are expected to respect the advisory and oversight roles of the legislature, especially in disputes that could escalate into security and reputational crises.

Lack of Transparency in Revenue Management

One of the most troubling allegations is that revenues were allegedly directed into personal or unofficial accounts rather than a properly constituted joint account with mandated local government signatories.
If true, this represents a serious governance failure. Public revenue must be paid into transparent, traceable accounts in line with financial regulations. Any deviation not only exposes officials to legal risk but also fuels suspicion, mistrust and accusations of impropriety.

Poor Handling of Security and Subcontractor Dispute

The developer’s account of repeated harassment by a subcontractor, despite a court restraining order, raises questions about the council’s response to security threats within its jurisdiction. More concerning is the allegation that the local government chairman failed to act decisively after being notified of assaults on workers and threats to life.
A chairman’s primary responsibility includes ensuring safety of lives and property. Downplaying or ignoring such complaints—especially when court orders are allegedly being flouted—can be seen as abdication of duty.

Escalation Instead of Mediation

Rather than de-escalate tensions, the alleged decision to announce a takeover of the project and stop the developer from collecting revenue appears to have worsened the conflict. In investment-related disputes, government officials are expected to prioritize dialogue, mediation and legal clarity.
By allegedly opting for forceful takeover, the council risks being perceived as hostile to private investors—an image that directly contradicts Enugu State’s broader investment-friendly narrative.

Investor Confidence and State Image at Risk

Perhaps the most far-reaching implication of this dispute is its effect on investor confidence. BOT and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects rely heavily on trust that agreements will survive changes in political leadership.
Allegations of contract breach, intimidation and threats to life—whether eventually proven or not—send a chilling message to potential investors. This undermines the efforts of the state government to attract private capital for infrastructure and market development.

Conclusion
While all parties deserve the right of reply and allegations must be properly investigated, the issues raised by this dispute point to avoidable governance lapses. Respect for contracts, transparency in revenue management, adherence to legislative and legal processes, and proactive security intervention are non-negotiable responsibilities of public office.
The situation calls for urgent, impartial investigation by the Enugu State Government. Resolving the matter in line with the law—either by enforcing the BOT agreement or ensuring fair compensation—will not only address the developer’s claims of threat to life but also reaffirm Enugu State’s commitment to rule of law and investor protection.
Until then, the controversy remains a cautionary tale of how administrative missteps at the local government level can escalate into a full-blown crisis with human, legal and economic consequences.