By Prince Ejeh Josh
Following the ongoing town-hall meetings initiated by the governorship flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, the residents of Enugu North Local Government Area of the state, have appealed to the industrialist to provide more infrastructures, consider urban renewal as key to his development programmes, and declare a state of emergency on the suburbs across the urban city.
The people, who came out in large numbers pledged to deliver their votes for the gubernatorial candidate at the 2023 general elections. They commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the state for running an inclusive and responsive government, stressing that they would continue to partner with the party for more development projects.
Speaking at Iva Valley and GRA, both headquarters of Enugu North East and Enugu North South Development Centres, the Executive Chairman of the council area, Hon. Emeka Onueze stated that the council area, with its huge population of voters, would continue to identify with the PDP because of the party’s impactful governance in the area.
Commending Mbah’s peerless records in the private sector, the deputy chairman of the area, Hon. Christopher Ani expressed confidence that Mbah’s administration will be driven by the desire to serve the people, especially the poor ones in the society, insisting that if the philanthropist could be building roads, hospitals, schools and reaching out to the less privilege with his personal resource, he will utilize public funds to advance the cause of humanity.
Lending his voice, a member of the House of Assembly in the area, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh assured Mbah that he had already secured the trust of his people through his integrated development programmes and rural-urban development encapsulated in his manifesto.
He further maintained that the stakeholders in the area had been inundating every household with the excellent blueprint and the good news the candidate has for the state.
“We are confident Enugu North local government area will benefit immensely from your outstanding development plans. Our people are impressed with what you’ve been able to present, and they’ve said you’re the only candidate of their choice.
“We appreciate the circumstances and time of your coming. It’s strategic in the history of our state when we look at what’s happening in Nigeria. We have that confidence in you because we know where you are coming from. You’ve done well in the private sector and you’re going to lead Enugu State to a socio-economic path of emancipation,” he added.
A bishop of the Anglican Communion who also spoke at the meetings, Rt. Rev. Dr. Christian Onyia said among those vying for the position of governor in the state, the PDP gubernatorial standard bearer stood out with his flashpoints of achievements in the private businesses managed by him.
Stating that Mbah is not a regular politician, the revered bishop added that his business interest in the oil and gas industry through his Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd, which has given massive employments to Nigerians, has endeared the people to him while lashing out on some candidates that depended on politics to feed.
Commending Mbah for initiating the town-hall meetings in order to bring the government down to the people at the grassroots, the member representing Enugu South and North Federal Constituency, Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo promised that no single vote would be lost to the opposition parties in the area.
The ranking lawmaker, who noted that he had attracted dividends of democracy to his people through the construction of many classroom blocks in Iva Valley and Ngwo, and construction of new roads in the constituency, asked Mbah to put the people of Oloko and Ugwu Aaron in his development plans when he assumes office as governor.
In their separate speeches, Prof Gab Agu Gab, Comrade Lambert Onoh, Barr. Mrs Ngozi Ani, Mr. Kester Agu, Hon. Kizito Awalu, Mrs. Chris Ottih, among others appealed to Mbah to facilitate urban renewal, open up alternative roads that will expand the city and create more markets for their people.
According to them, the Ngenevu, Ugwu Aaron, Camp 2, Poultry communities should be given priority in terms of new Infrastructure while also calling for rapid attendance to the welfare of the people living in the city’s slums.
Assuring the people that his administration will put their requests at the forefront of his development programmes, Mbah reiterated his commitment to run an inclusive, transparent and responsive government that will make the welfare of the citizens the epicentre of his government.
According to him, infrastructure, which is a key economic stimulus that will attract investors into the state will be given attention.
He further assured of rural-urban integration through service roads, rural electrification, pipe borne water, transformation of urban slums to world class cities which would be achieved through robust urbanisation policies deliberately captured by his manifesto.
Describing the challenges usually associated with urban cities, Mbah vowed to leave no stone unturned in expanding the city through new infrastructures such as dualisation of roads, construction of tunnels, flyovers to decongest the growing population of the state, adding that those slums will be turned to cities through basic amenities found in highbrow areas.
“Because of the type of development we are bringing here, we are already thinking ahead on how to make the city the best place for investment. We will create multi-modal system of transportation which includes light rail.
“We are ready to absorb the influx of investments we are expecting because we have plans to grow our economy seven-fold. It’s going to be government-enabled-private-sector driven. The businesses will provide employment for our youths.
“We are assuring you we’ll make sure our infrastructures are topnotch,” the governorship hopeful added.
