By Prince Ejeh Josh
…as communities vow massive support, present prime needs
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has assured the people that his administration will engage the youths and transform them from job seekers to wealth creators and employers of labour.
Mbah gave this assurance on Sunday at Awhum and Affa, administrative headquarters of Ojebe-Ogene and Ezedike Development Centres in Udi Local Government Area at town-hall meetings, saying that unemployment would be a thing of the past as he had already mapped out strategies to tackle the menace.
The governorship candidate who outlined his development plans for the people of the area, stressed that agro-allied processing industries, special economic zones, building of world standard skills acquisition and vocational centres and upskilling the capacity of the youths with 21st century digital know-how that will industrialise the state will be given attention.
Mbah, who said he had a special interest in the empowerment of young people and women, promised that agriculture will be commercialized, creating a value chain and multiple employments for the people.
He said infrastructure was critical to unlocking the rural economy, growing the economy seven-fold, and making the state a hub for investments and tourism.
The governorship hopeful who further added that the major link roads in the development centres should be taken for granted as they were adequately captured in his manifesto and would be given urgent attention that will expedite their construction, maintaining that more industries that will encourage productivity, generate huge revenue and put the state on the roadmap to prosperity will be prioritized.
He equally re-emphasized his commitment to provide a one hundred billion naira revolving capital for young entrepreneurs, declare a state of emergency on rural water scheme for easy reticulation of water in every household and upgrade health care centres with modern facilities and qualified health workers, while ensuring that other social amenities would be provided.
Speaking earlier, the administrators of the two development centres, Hon Simeon Egwu and Hon Joe Anieze, chairman of the council area, Hon. Philip Okoh, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Engr. Uche Ugwu, candidate of Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Dr. Festus Uzor, candidate of Enugu West senatorial zone, Engr. Osita Ngwu among other speakers, commended the gubernatorial flagbearer for his outstanding development plans and superior economic trajectory which would enable massive revolution when elected.
According to the speakers, Mbah represents a pathfinder and pacesetter who is coming from the private sector with a rich experience that will add value to the state.
Meanwhile, leaders and representatives of the various communities in the development centres, while presenting their prime needs, hailed Mbah for the laudable town-hall meetings, stressing that his government will spur quantum leap in rural and urban integration even as they said their votes for him were intact.
Speaking, the leaders which included Dr. Sam Ugwuozo, Barr. Tahil Ochi, Hon. Uche Agu, Prof. Edwin Nwobodo, Mrs. Gloria Agu, Mrs. Ify Igbochi, Hon. Bibian Anekwe, Prof. Pascal Okorie, among others, said they’d taken the project as their own and would continue to mobilize for him through their door-to-door tours.
Barr. Ochi, while describing the business mogul as a divine project on a rescue mission, expressed confidence that he would steer the state away from the challenges of insecurity, unemployment, dwindling revenues from the federal government, and ensure new narrative in the annals of the state.
On his part, Dr. Ugwuozo described Mbah as a humble, simple, courageous, compassionate man with a sense of justice to redefine governance in the state.
The people, however, appealed to the gubernatorial candidate to construct their 12 kilometers Awhum – Nkana – Nike link road; Awhum – Egede and Ukana – Ebe link roads in order to promote agriculture and expand their market base in the area.
They also requested that the Adaukwu, Amagu and Ebe roads be constructed with drainage against erosion, adding that the communities were in dire need of ultra modern market, solar-powered water project, electricity extension and human capital development that will encourage entrepreneurial drive among their people.
