EverydayNews Telescope
Three Years On the Saddle : The Governor Peter Mbah score card that is a tall order
By Nwobodo Onyekwere
Long before I joined the Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah team, I had once predicted, on record, that, by the time Governor Peter Mbah would be out of office in eight years, there would be no basis for comparison, between his government and any other before it, in Enugu, including the much vaunted Sullivan Chime regime!
I didn’t mince words; in fact I was, quite unusually , so unequivocal in my assertion that Chime’s records “would be a child’s play…” by the time Barrister Mbah would’ve ended his tour of duty as it were , as Governor.
That I was not part of his administration didn’t influence my judgement in coming to that irrefutable conclusion. I could see, feel and follow the consistent change of trajectory of governance in our dear Enugu, a clear departure from whatever Ndi Enugu had known or seen before!
Some folks who felt or reckoned they had known or followed my own evolution over the years, as implacable social critic, made contacts with me in private, seeking clarifications, even assurances that I hadn’t been beclouded by primordial considerations the Governor and I being of same Nkanu ancestral stock! They reckoned
I had always been ‘a little to the left of Centre…’ (to borrow from our local political lexicon), and rarely given to such copious, unreserved positive assessment of any government in power! I had seen and felt something different, I told them then.
Now, being part of the system has only reinforced my original assessment that Governor Peter Ndubuisi as leader is imbued with uncommon leadership traits: he’s compassionate, yet visionary, original, focused, thorough, determined and intentional!
This is a man who has clear conviction about whatever he sets out to do, and chases down the project with uncommon, committed single- mindedness!
It’s obvious Governor Mbah isn’t on a knee- jerk endeavour as Governor ; he had apparently prepared so hard for this journey and had a clear plan on virtually every facet of what a modern society ought to have to grow the people and the society: a proper, comprehensive blueprint to govern Enugu, for Ndi Enugu.
As Enugu boy, he certainly had a good idea what was missing, what the city, the state and Ndi Enugu desired and what was needed to grow the city and people.
After exactly three years in office, Thursday this past week, Governor Mbah has,in objective reflection, demonstrated capacity to govern, broken boundaries and barriers in delivering good governance and touched, in very intentional and fundamental ways, areas of need of Ndi Enugu, be it roads, water, education, transport, health and economy !
Forget the naysayers!
For instance,
no previous government in the state, since the current political dispensation revived or even attempted to revive, any cottage industry in the state, let alone commission any start-up; but just a year into his administration, Governor Mbah had left no one in doubt about his vision and mission to reinvent Enugu, and position it as destination of choice for researchers seeking genuine information and knowledge in accountable governance even in a heavily compromised , treacherous society!
Governor Mbah has become the ‘poster boy’ in Nigeria for his demonstrable developmental strides in Enugu, and that is for a reason, a good reason at that : murribund state-owned industries like Niger Gas, Hotel Presidential, Sunrise flour Mills, Enugu United Palm Products Limited, are up and running! Aren’t they? Ask around…
He has also established a couple of new ones, including the Enugu Haier Factory, a $20m local assembly/manufacturing plant for laptops, smartphones and renewable energy solutions.
You would’ve heard about the world acclaimed International Conference Centre(ICC), which had been abandoned in the middle of a thick jungle, in the city centre, since 1999, was revamped and restored to the envy of the world and glory of God!
This facility alone has turned Enugu capital city into the conference capital of Nigeria. The Chimaroke Nnamani administration started the project,couldn’t deliver it, and the two successive governments after, in 16 years,didn’t bother either, overlooked the project and it’s potentials as both a revenue earner, employer of labour, and an iconic,signature project!
The Enugu Smart Green Schools are the more popular innovation Governor Mbah has brought to Enugu: the imposing structures in the 260 political wards could be mistaken for 4- star hotels for a visitor who view them from outside! They were conceived as incubation laboratories, educational edifices for our children from pre-nursery 01 to the 9th grade! A lot of them are ready and functional, while the rest are near-completion!
These Smart Green Schools are Mbah’s signature initiative, technology -driven and curriculum designed to introduce the pupils to trainings in robotics, Artificial Intelligence, etc, and for free!
Apart from free smartphones and tablets, pupils in Smart schools would also receive one free balanced meal, per day!
Enugu has never had it this good!
Have you flown the Enugu Air? You need this lifetime experience: This is one of Governor Mbah’s many legacy projects, a government-owned airline in Nigeria, which grew its fleet to six in a record time! Governor Mbah has promised that his administration would inject additional 14 aircraft to raise Enugu Sur fleet to 20 by this year’s end!
“Mbah is working; we dey see am..” has become a popular Enugu sing-song, and you can’t acknowlement!
Mbah’s first challenge was security! The whole South East was on lockdown, Enugu inclusive. He instantly demonstrated he was adept at both gamesmanship and brickmanship! He got to work, dismantled all the criminal gangs in and around Enugu, thereby giving Ndi Enugu back their life!
The Enugu Command and Control Centre is testament to the Governor’s recourse to solving persistent malady with technology, ingenious, drastic cure!
Today, Enugu is perhaps, the only state in the South East, where residents live and move freely, day or night, every day of the week, without exception!
Mbah did it!
Recently,a large population of student leaders from across Nigeria paid the Governor a solidarity visit. They were downright sincere and effusive in their praise of his decisive,visionary leadership, highlighting his investment in transport, in partivular, which they said,has made movement easier and affordable in Enugu : some of them confessed they now commute from Enugu to UNN Nsukka daily, using Mbah’s CNG, air-conditioned buses with Wifi, at affordable cost!
The Imposing Terminals are built for these buses in Enugu, Nsukka Garki, Abakpa and they are classical, imposing legacy monuments, which you don’t find anywhere else in Nigeria!
Just like the Smart schools, there are 260 Type-2,functional Primary Health Centres located in all the political wards in Enugu state to boost health care delivery, with particular consideration for mother and childcare.
The government’s 300-bed, Super Specialist Hospital to cater to the need of Nigerians and boost health tourism, is ready and would be commissioned.
The Mba administration is also paving and asphalting old, neglected and delapidated roads and constructing new ones, opening up a host of alternative pathways, and hitherto neglected communities!
Do you know Enugu now has a brand new tractor assembly plant, to boost agricultural production through improved technology?
There is no sector that I can recall does not or has not got the needed attention under this administration, in just three years!
The list is endless, but be assured am available for those with interest in specific areas…ask and you shall get the information you need.
Stating that Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is the legitimate reference point for good, effective and productive governance in Nigeria,and one for whom all electoral votes, past and future, are well invested, is saying the obvious!
His developmental strides are real and verifiable,not for the optics, even though the vocal minority, active only on social media, would not tell you what’s on ground in Enugu.
But, we’ll tell you our story, the Mbah story,by ourselves , and when I speak, it’s on my honour !
I restate that, based on current form and speed of delivery, when the story of real impact of all previous administrations in Enugu put together, are written, put side-by-side with Mbah’s, theirs would be a child’s play.
Truly, “Tomorrow Is Here” isn’t a vain mantra; it is an assurance you can take to the bank!
(Nwobodo Onyekwere, Member of Nigeria Guild of Editors, is Special Adviser, Media, to His Excellency, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah).
By PETRUS OBI.
The appointment of a replacement for former Minister of Innovative Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji who resigned over certificate controversies may have come and gone, but the echoes are all around.
While the appointment received wide spread commendations from across the states there were still pockets of behind the scene complaints from some interested politicians and their followers.
I have decided to write for those who may have lost their voices. Seek answers to those who are still shocked by the choice of a serving Commissioner.
The lobbying for the appointment of a new Enugu Minister was a serious contest amongst political players in a long queue. Even when very few names featured prominently, many others maneuvered behind the scene.
But Governor Peter Mbah made his choice and Barr. Kingsley Udeh, a serving Commissioner became the lucky one.
Many were shocked. Its time to tell ourselves the truth. Enugu didn’t see it coming. And, here lies the title of this write up, “The Silence Of Angry Politicians.”
Personally, as a journalist, I was hoping for an Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi nomination; others rooted for Sullivan Chime, but the Governor had better plans. And having closely followed this administration, I didn’t have doubts in his decision. Rather, he made me put on my thinking cap in search of answers.
The search took me back in time to May 29, 2023 at the Okpara Square. I found the Governor’s inaugural speech when he stated, inter alia…” this administration will be business unusual. Tough decisions will be taken. Those decisions will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general.
“We will pursue an infrastructural revolution in Enugu State by turning our state into one huge construction site…
”
From day one, the Governor had a vision, and his actions have shown focus, determination and desire to succeed. He has also refused to be distracted.
There was also a flashback to his 100 days in office. While others were hurriedly trying to get one or two projects commissioned, the Governor reminded Enugu people that the race wasn’t a 100 meters dash, but a mile race that will last for four years. He said he was still at planning stage. And by the time he got started, he left doubting Thomas’s tongue-tied.
The bulldozers went roaring, project sites evolved. The roads became transformed, developmental project sites ubiquitous.
Like Mbah said, its a total departure from the old style of governance. But, is it working? The answer surely, is in the positive.
Even a few persons who have unsuccessfully tried to paint a negative image of his administration accepted the fact that he has done well. The only issue appear to be individual benefit.
For a Governor who fought hard for victory at the polls, Mbah appear to have won the hearts of the Enugu masses with his development projects.
He may not have satisfied the individual yearnings of politicians in both appointment and patronage, but no right thinking individual would not want to identify with such a success story.
As I continue to solve the puzzle on what may have informed the nomination of the State Attorney General over more established politicians as many expected, my mind kept going over this excerpt from the same inaugural speech, when he echoed;
”
This is not time for politics. It is not time for passion as well. It is time for the sowing of the seed for the Enugu of our dream.”
By PETRUS OBI
Lest we forget, during the ENDSARS protest, some warehouses and Local government headquarters were attacked and palliatives which were meant for the masses, but never got to them, taken away by protesters.
Again, another palliative just like the story of school feeding in the past, and other failed government measures has cropped up.
We understand, the government is in a hurry to stop the protest. Yes, the protest will do more harm than good and the same masses would suffer it more. But how long will it take us to learn from mistakes of the past?
For one, the government itself knows that it’s almost impossible for this rice to get to the targeted destination, the masses. That is, if those handling the project will procure half of the numbers budgeted for. Are we no longer Nigerians?
This same government has spent billions of Naira on similar palliative in recent times; where there efforts to find out how those projects fared? We don’t have such time.
This is a ‘panic’ decision for fear of what the planned protest could lead to. It also exposes the government more. Thus, we ask again, who is the rice for? How many bags go to the Senators and House of Reps members, Ministers, Presidential Aides, Special Advisers, Ambassadors, Governors, Local Government Chairmen, Commissioners, the list is longer than the number of bags to be procured.
Not long ago the naira gained so much in such a short time that the government warned those hoarding the dollar to bring them out or lose their money. Another fire service approach that backfired.
Why are the people protesting?
From Onanuga, who is pointing accusing fingers at Peter Obi, to Senate President Akpabio who is blaming people that lost election, it appears the government doesn’t really know why the masses are on edge.
Those who seemed to know, and tried to speak out, like Senator Ali Ndume was removed from his position in the Senate.
Your Excellency Mr. President, in case you don’t know what the problem is, Everydaynewsngr.net can assist.
Your people are starving. The cost of food is out of the Common man’s reach. Fuel prices are on the rise and so is the cost of transportation.
In the midst of these, those in government continue to display affluence. Government body-movement also doesn’t show the pain of the people. An expensive residence for the Vice President may not be out of place but not the right time. Not when millions cannot put food on the table. These are part of the problems, your Excellency.
The people are hungry and they are not seeing signs of hope, signs of a better tomorrow.
Patronising people who voted and supported your emergence as President is not out of place but it mustn’t be to the detriment of the people.
Issues of Rivers Crisis and that of Kano Emirship tussle are also masses related and must be handled with caution. The people are waiting to see what happens to Governor Fubara when Assembly members openly decamped to the APC.
Your Excellency, it happened in Ebonyi State when former Governor, Dave Umahi joined APC with Assembly members. That Assembly never sat until the end of that tenure. The Court matter was tactically allowed to linger until that tenure elapsed. We cannot shift the goal post now. The people will say No.
We have seen a local government chairman openly insulting Fubara, can this happen in any other State? There should be a level playing ground for all. Injustices breed anger and could lead to protests.
Everyday News feels the government should rather bring together a think-tank of professionals to look into the problems and seek solutions. Let it not be another ‘government magic’ but a genuine attempt to correct some anomalies. Credible people who are selfless individuals with ability to study the situation and make recommendations to the government. Even the opposition could take part in this. That’s the way Nigerians will believe you have their interest at heart. Such recommendations and it’s implementation should be in public domain.
EverydayNews Telescope
Harassment of motorists by Enugu LG touts must stop, chairman should be called to order
They are not members of the MOT – Ministry of Transport who control traffic. They are not VIO. They have no job specifications, yet they are ubiquitous in major roads in Enugu East Local Government Area.
They could best be described as thugs or touts whichever you choose. They put on dirty yellow, pink T-shirts and operate on keke, parading fake ID cards.
They have one aim – to extort motorists.
At the slightest opportunity they pounce and threaten to take you to the Local Government headquarters, yet they have no proof of any traffic offence.
They try to intimidate the driver and would attack if money is not forthcoming.
People who know their rights have severally refused to be intimidated and often escape from them.
But for those who may not be connected to the authority, their story is pathetic.
Many have been robbed by these miscreants. Cash, phones, ATM cards are always their targets.
Recently, a man who said he was traveling from Anambra to Abuja was stopped as he parked to buy water. The man was still in his vehicle waiting for the water when they pounced on him.
Clearly the man had not committed any crime, nor contravened any traffic offence and they couldn’t pin him down to any offence.
For refusing to part with his money they pounced on him. The man fought back and by the time people intervened, the man had received sufficient beating and his clothes torn.
This is one of several victims amongst vehicle owners who ply the Nike/Timber/Nike LAKE roads.
This daylight robbery and harassment is allegedly encouraged by the local government administration.
A police source confirmed that severally they had been arrested only to be set free on the orders of the Local Government Chairman.
This is unacceptable and a dent on the new administration led by a refined gentleman Governor Peter Mbah.
This is a new government which is about to make its mark and must not allow miscreants and executive rascality in the Local Government Area to smear its image.
There must be better ways of compensating political thugs rather than unleash them on innocent citizens.
The Enugu/Ugwogo/Opi bypass is a gateway and link road to Abuja and other Northern States. The impression travelers take away is negative and bad public relations for this young administration.
Governor Peter Mbah must act fast and save the poor masses from the daily robbery going on on this road.
A stitch in time…..
The governor, who made the statement during a book launch written about his administration, said he was bent on continuing the move so his successor would not need to do it again.
El-Rufai said, “Any bad thing we find, we will remove it so that the next governor does not need to do it again. Watch out till the eleventh hour when we shall quit office, we will continue to sack bad persons and remove bad things.”
In his remarks, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, described El-Rufai as a fearless, outspoken politician that speaks truth to power.
He donated N20m for the book launch and advised other guests to buy the books and stock them in public and private school libraries in the country.
EverydayNews Telescope
Enugu: Let the probes start, N300m in private account in Lands, T-Junction toll gate
That the Enugu Ministry of Land was a mess, is not in doubt. That the Commissioner allegedly
resigned as things were about to be exposed, could be placed side-by-side his claims that his lieutenants were punished “for doing there jobs diligently.”
The prompt redeployment of the former Information Commissioner, Hon Chidi Aroh to the Ministry of Lands is a welcome development.
Also laudable is the news that the commissioner has already taken over after a church service in the Ministry Thursday.
Now the probe must start. And the public has to be carried along. The people must know how the probe is going and findings too.
EverydayNews reliably gathered that over N300 million has been discovered in a single account of one of the principal staff in the Ministry. Landed property not included.
This super Civil Servant may be worth over N1 billion in cash and assets. Is this the beginning of the end of sharp practices in the ministry?
While the people await for the proper thing to be done and those indicted prosecuted, EverydayNews Telescope turns to the Toll Gate mounted at the T-Junction flyover which is under construction.
His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was there on inspection Thursday, but may not know of the Toll Gate which has been generating millions of naira to those in charge.
Since the closure of the T-Junction, motorists were forced to use other connecting roads. At first it was very rough and tough for motorists but things are gradually improving.
However, those who can afford the N200 and more toll gate mounted at both ends of the road are allowed access.
The unanswered questions are: who put up this toll gate; is it the government, the contractors or an individual; and for what purpose?
Are the funds going into Government or private purse? It is an open secreet and those who still use the T-Junction have been discussing it in whispers and hushed tones pointing fingers at the Government.
EverydayNews is of the view that the Toll Gate should be probed and the masses properly informed.
LET THE PROBES START
Next on EverydayNews Telescope is the appointment of the next Information Commissioner. Enugu must get it right this time.
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