By Prince Ejeh Josh
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah has reiterated his administration’s commitment to fight insecurity through the deployment of modern technology, job creation, massive infrastructure, engagement of youths and provisions of social services across the state if elected governor in the March 11, 2023 elections.
Dr. Mbah, who gave this assurance on Thursday at Unadu and Ibagwa-Aka, headquarters of Udeze and Igboeze South West Central Development Centres, in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, at town hall meetings where he interfaced with the stakeholders of the different communities in the area, stated that he had put in place the required apparatuses for the transformation of the state.
The governorship flagbearer maintained that security is at the core of his governance and strategic policy that will make the state envious and attractive to investors.
According to him, modern technology, intelligence gathering, strengthening of community policing, and engagement of youths in productive enterprises will eradicate insecurity across the state, saying that he would leave no stone unturned in harnessing the abundant resources in the area which will create more wealth for the people.
While reacting to the demands of the development centres, Dr. Mbah said new infrastructure, such as road construction that will link communities in the state, functional primary and secondary health care facilities, skills acquisition and vocational training centres, total overhaul of the education curricula and installation of information and communications technology for pedagogical learning are all key to his administration’s development agenda as contained in his manifesto.
Reiterating that the state, under his leadership, will witness unprecedented development that will attract workforce from other states, the governorship hopeful vowed that he would grow the economy seven-fold, open up rural areas for industrialisation and create economic zones that will make the state the food basket of the nation.
“Our industrialisation policy will discourage our youths from migrating outside the country in search of green pastures because we will constructively and productively engage them.
“Agriculture is going to be a profitable business because we’re going to invest massively in the sector such that we will be producing, processing, packaging, marketing, exporting and creating more value chain in the process,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the administrators of the development centres, Hon. Ernest Ayaogu and Hon. James Obiora, chairman of the council area, Hon. Vitus Okechi, member representing the people at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Madu, and candidate for Igboeze South/Udenu federal constituency, Engr. Vita Abba, applauded Dr. Mbah for embarking on the impactful town hall meetings initiated to reach out to people in the grassroots, promising to vote for him en masse.
On their part, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Emma Ugwu, House of Representatives member for the constituency, Rt. Hon. Pat Asadu, Director General, Enugu G 17, Hon. Emeka Ajogwu, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Chief Chuks Ugwuoke assured the gubernatorial flagbearer that their people had already concluded to deliver bloc votes for his electoral victory.
While underscoring that Mbah’s development trajectory would redefine governance in the state, Ajogwu expressed optimism that Udeze and its environment will be liberated from dearth of infrastructure under the next administration, adding that his proposed 10,000 kilometers of roads had brought hope for his people.
Asadu, extolling the uncommon leadership capacity the business mogul is bringing to the state, stated that Dr. Mbah epitomized virtue and success having managed his business to an international status.
“We believe in you and we are audacious that you’re going to work for the state. I can sign for Mbah with my blood. I can vouch for both Mbah and Ossai any time, any day. If I was given the opportunity to pick the next governor of the state, I will pick Dr. Peter Mbah for the job,” he added.
Lending his voice, a ranking stakeholder from the community, Engr. James Ajebo disclosed that the local government had met and agreed to vote for all the PDP candidates across the zone, including the governorship candidate.
He noted that the council has arable lands for agriculture and other raw materials which should be activated to yield exponential revenue, adding that Dr. Mbah should build skills acquisition and vocational training centres to address the issue of restiveness among the youth.
Further dismissing the presence of opposition parties in the area, the oil and gas magnate stated that PDP would sweep the entire development centres, leaving less than five percent votes for the opposition. This, he argued, was possible because of the excellent programmes presented by Dr. Mbah as encapsulated in his statement of purpose.
