Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is Governor-elect of Enugu State.
Dr. Mbah scored 160,895 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party (LP) who scored 157,552 votes, and was declared winner of the governorship election by the INEC State Returning Officer, Prof Maduebibisi O. Iwe, having satisfied the requirements of the law.
Congratulations! Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah
Congratulations!! The Leader of the PDP in Enugu State, His Excellency, the Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, CON
Congratulations!!! Members of the PDP family in the state and beyond.
Congratulations and Thank you the good people of Enugu State.
Tomorrow is indeed here!
Enugu State Is In The Hands of God!
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has won the March 18 governorship election in the state.
He scored 160,895 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party (LP), who polled 157,552 votes.
Frank Nweke Jnr of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 17,983 while Chief Uche Nnaji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 14,575 votes to come a distant third and fourth respectively.
The Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe declared Mbah the winner Wednesday evening at the resumption of the final collation of governorship election results in Enugu, the Enugu State capital just 48 hours after INEC suspended the exercise in the state.
Before the announcement, Prof. Iwe had said he was requested to come to Enugu because the commission had concluded the review of the results of Nkanu East and Nsukka LGAs, which were under contention.
He said: “We have come back to conclude the collation of results. We received some petitions particularly against Nsukka and Nkanu East LGAs and these things were taken to Abuja for resolution.
“The petition against Nsukka was overruled. That means whatever anybody had against Nsukka was not substantiated
Obidient Family leader, ardent supporter of Peter Obi, Comrade Iyere fingers Nnia Nwodo, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Barth Nnaji, Obasanjo in delay over announcement of Enugu guber election results
...Charges INEC to immediately announce collated results and declare Peter Mbah of PDP winner to avert bloodshed in Enugu
Nigeria’s popular humanitarian activist, high-profile social entrepreneur and key leader of the Obidient movement, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the imminent danger in Enugu State following its delay in announcing the already collated results of the March 18 governorship election and declaring Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner.
Comrade Iyere accused Chief Nnia Nwodo, his elder brother, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, and Prof. Barth Nnaji, who are supporting Chijioke Edeoga of Labour Party, of conspiring with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop INEC from announcing the collated results won by Dr. Mbah of the PDP.
"Let me tell you what is happening in Enugu State. Three men are the reason for what is happening in Enugu State: Nnia Nwodo, Okwesilieze Nwodo and Barth Nnaji. They are the reason why we have all of these things happening, and Nnia Nwodo is also using the influence of Obasanjo to do what is happening today in this Enugu.
"Peter Mbah has won this election, he has to be declared winner. The collation centre is not a tribunal. If you have any case, any allegation of rigging go to the tribunal. They should take a clue from what happened at the Presidential election. Mahmood completed the collation process and declared the winner. Today Peter Obi and the Labour Party are in court challenging the election. Why should it be a different case in Enugu?" Comrade Iyere asked.
He affirmed that going by the overall results collated, the INEC State Returning Officer, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe has no excuse for not declaring Barr Peter Mbah the winner of the election after the final collation of results from the 17 local government areas of Enugu State because Mbah met the requirements.
“Prof Iwe for reasons he is yet to tell the world, decided not to announce the actual winner of the 2023 guber poll. Barr Peter Mbah of the PDP won the election. He deserved to have been declared immediately after the collation of the overall results. His counterparts who were the Returning Officers in Lagos, Rivers and Ebonyi, discretionally declared their winners despite the alleged flaws that characterised the polls. But in the case of Enugu, which was relatively peaceful, Prof. Iwe allegedly acted under instructions not to declare the winner. This unhealthy political development is currently gathering clouds of violence. Both INEC and Prof Iwe must at this point take urgent steps to forestall a looming anarchy by ensuring that the winner of the collated 2023 Enugu guber poll, is declared with no further delays”, says Iyere.
"Pressure and tensions are mounting high in Enugu State. The steps INEC has taken thus far, allegedly created suspicion among the indigenes of Enugu State, who largely believed that INEC has been compromised by certain political cabals whose interest is to compel INEC to manipulate the results in favour of their candidate who actually lost the election to Barr Peter Mbah.
“The Collation Centre is not an Electoral Tribunal where issues relating to alleged vote-rigging is addressed. I am sure Prof. Iwe should have known this reality. This is why he needs to act now, else the ongoing post-election protests will lead to violent conflict and this could lead to bloodshed. This need to be proactively averted,” says Iyere
He asked the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and Prof Iwe, not to delay further in declaring the winner of the 2023 Enugu Poll. Iyere urged both Prof. Yakubu and Prof. Iwe to save a life.
March 18 guber election: Enugu political parties ask INEC to announce already collated results from 17 LGAs without further delay
Political parties in Enugu State under the auspices of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have called on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to direct the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu and the State Returning Officer, Prof. Maduebibisi O. Iwe to as a matter of urgency announce the already collated results of governorship election from the 17 local government areas and declare the winner of the election without further delay.
IPAC which made the call during a press conference in Enugu, on Tuesday, stated that “any action short of this will be outside the law and could bring anarchy to an already fragile situation,” stressing that “INEC has no power under our laws to review collated results.”
Leaders of the political parties at the press conference were Hon. Chief Edwin Ikechukwu Alor of Accord Party and State Chairman of IPAC; Hon. Innocent Ezeoha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Deputy Chairman of IPAC; Dr. Afam Ani of APP; Barr. Ken Ikeh of APM; Elvis Ugwoke of ZLP who is the Secretary General of IPAC; and Hon. Nnaemeka Oko of AAC.
Others were Hon. Stella Chukwuma of ADC; Hon. Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Madike of ADP; Hon. Louis Chiedozie Ugwu of NRM and Hon. Sir Magnus Ezea of SDP.
The parties maintained that “the results of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs), including those of Nkanu East and Nsukka LGAs, were all collated by the State Returning Officer on March 19, 2023” stating that “by the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the only other duty remaining for the State Returning Officer, who is acting on INEC’s behalf is to add up the figures, announce them, and declare the winner in line with Section 65 and 66 of the Electoral Act 2022.”
Describing the delay in the announcement of the final result of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Enugu State, which was won by the candidate of the PDP, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, as “needless confusion and restiveness” IPAC said: It is our strong view that the INEC State Returning Officer has discharged his statutory responsibility by collating the results of all the 17 local government areas, including those of Nkanu East and Nsukka Local Government Areas. The remaining responsibility for the State Returning Officer is to announce results and declare the winner. INEC cannot be a judge in its own case, if any.”
The political parties stressed that “the law in Section 130(1) of the Electoral Act is also mindful to make provisions for the adjudication of any complaint against a return made by the Returning Officer.
“Section 130(1) provides: No election and return at an election under this Act shall be questioned in any manner other than by a petition complaining of an undue election or undue return presented to the competent tribunal or court in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution or of this Act, and in which the person elected or returned is joined as a party.
“The collation centre is not an Election Tribunal or the law court where redress is sought. The State Collation Center is to accept results as they come, collate and announce them, and ultimately declare the winner.
“Consequently, it is our strong view that the INEC State Returning Officer has discharged his statutory responsibility by collating the results of all the 17 local government areas, including those of Nkanu East and Nsukka Local Government Areas. The remaining responsibility for the State Returning Officer is to announce results and declare the winner. INEC cannot be a judge in its own case, if any.
“We call INEC’s attention to the case of the Presidential and National Assembly elections where the Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu stood his ground, completed the collation process and announced the result despite all protests.
“Equally, the elections in Ebonyi State, Rivers State and Lagos State, which were fraught with violence, ballot box snatching, over-voting and all sorts of complaints were declared despite these shortcomings.
“So, we see no good reason why the announcement of the final results and declaration of the winner in the Enugu governorship election, which is adjudged comparatively free, fair and credible should be placed on hold because of the desperation of a few individuals and at the expense of the masses who freely exercised their franchise and made a statement through the ballot.
“We are, therefore, urging the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to direct the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State and the State Returning Officer to as a matter of urgency do the needful by announcing the result of governorship election without delay and declare the winner with immediate effect. Any action short of this will be outside the law and could bring anarchy to an already fragile situation.
IPAC further maintained that Enugu State governorship election results from the 17 local government areas of the state were duly collated by INEC State Returning Officer on Sunday, March 19, 2023, reiterating that the statement from INEC National Headquarters suspending collation of results in one LGA in Abia State and two LGAs in Enugu State is not applicable to Enugu case because there is no result that has not been collated in the state prior to the suspension by INEC.
Recall that the Enugu State PDP through its Campaign Council had disagreed with the INEC on its decision to suspend the announcement of the final results and declaration of Dr. Peter Mbah as the winner of the Enugu State governorship contest, stressing that the election management body was overreaching itself, as it could not, by law, suspend the declaration of an already collated result.
The PDP equally also said INEC was wrong to present the Abia and Enugu cases as the same, pointing out that “Putting the Abia and Enugu situations in one basket clearly shows that the national headquarters of INEC is mixing things up or has not been properly briefed. There is absolutely nothing like outstanding local governments as far as the collation process in Enugu State is concerned.
“Unlike the situation in Abia State, the results of the entire 17 LGAs of Enugu State, including those of Nkanu East and Nsukka LGAs, have been fully collated by the Returning Officer, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, on Sunday the 19th of March. What remains for the INEC is to sum up the returns by the Local Government Returning Officers and declare our candidate, Dr. Mbah the governor-elect.
“That is why we are saying that INEC is overreaching itself; they have no powers at this stage to suspend the pronouncement or declaration of the winner of the election, which is our candidate.
“Section 64( of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that where collation has been completed as in the present case of Enugu State, the duty of the collation officer, who collated the result is to announce the result and make a declaration. Therefore, having collated the results from Nsukka LGA and Nkanu East LGA, the statutory duty and legal responsibility of the State Returning Officer is simply to announce and declare the results, as INEC cannot, by law, suspend the declaration of result already collated,” the PDP said.
On issues relating to accreditation and votes cast in a polling unit and the fate of such votes where they exceed the number of accredited voters in such units, the PDP said such are guided by Section 51(2) of the Act.
“The position of the law is that a Returning Officer has no power to cancel any results at the stage of collation. The only option open to any person dissatisfied with the process is to resort to Section 130(1) of the Electoral Act, which vests the power to receive and adjudicate petitions complaining of an undue election or undue return in an election in the tribunal or court.
“As a matter of fact, we are dissatisfied with the result from Nsukka Local Government Area. We are dissatisfied with the results from Udenu, Isi-Uzo, Ezeagu, and more. But is not for us to take the laws into our hands or indulge in self-help. That is why we are ready to go and interrogate those results at the appropriate quarters because we can no longer complain as the collation has been completed.
“INEC cannot choose the ones you will collate to release the result and the ones you will collate and withhold the result”, the PDP emphasised.
“We believe that the Returning Officer for Nkanu East Local Government Area has duly complied with the provision of Sections 64(4)(a)&(b) and Section 64(a)&(d) of the Electoral Act 2022.
”We consequently restate our position that the only option left to INEC acting through the State Returning Officer for the Enugu State Governorship Election under Section 64( of the Electoral Act 2022 is to announce the results and make a declaration of the winner of the election.
“We therefore call on INEC to immediately announce the summation of the 17 local governments it has already collated and declare Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah the winner of the March election”, the PDP reiterated.
The PDP also expressed worries that the INEC was already overheating the Enugu polity by the needless delay in the pronouncement of the winner of the governorship election.
“We will continue to caution that INEC should not take the patience of the electorate and people of Enugu for granted. We know what it took us today to rein in their voluminous anger as it relates to the delay in the declaration of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah as governor-elect and we are calling on the INEC to cease forthwith this foot-dragging and declare our candidate the duly elected candidate in the last election” the PDP stressed.
The party also condemned what it described as desperate and hypocritical approach of the Labour Party to the elections.
“In the instance, our Enugu East senatorial candidate lost his election to return to the Senate to the Labour Party. It was the same process that produced the result that gave Labour Party the victory that also produced the winner of the governorship election in the Nkanu East in the same senatorial zone. But while the Labour Party has accepted the result for the Senate, they are contesting the governorship that the same process produced. This is hypocrisy”, the party concluded.
The Campaign Council of the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has disagreed with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on its decision to suspend the announcement of the final results and declaration of Peter Mbah as the winner of the State governorship election.
PDP also said the commission was overreaching itself, as it could not, by law, suspend the declaration of an already collated result, insisting that INEC was wrong to present the Abia and Enugu cases as the same.
This is contained in a statement issued by the party following the INEC decision to suspend the collation of the Gubernatorial election results in the State.
DAILY POST reported that the commission on Monday in a statement suspended the collation of gubernatorial election in both Abia and Enugu, stating the elections in both States called for a review
INEC said election from the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East were under a review.
However, the party at a press conference in Enugu, on Monday, argued that INEC putting the Abia and Enugu situations in one basket clearly showed that it was mixing things up or had not been properly briefed.
It also noted that the commission have no powers at the stage the election was to suspend the pronouncement or declaration of the winner of the election, which the party alleged is its candidate.
PDP said that Nkanu East and Nsukka LGAs, had been fully collated by the Returning Officer, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, on Sunday the 19th of March, insisting that what remained was for INEC to sum up the returns from both local governments and declare its candidate, Mbah.
The party, meanwhile, said that the only option open to any person dissatisfied with the process of the election is to go the tribunal or court.
The statement read: “Putting the Abia and Enugu situations in one basket clearly shows that the national headquarters of INEC is mixing things up or has not been properly briefed. There is absolutely nothing like outstanding local governments as far as the collation process in Enugu State is concerned.
“Unlike the situation in Abia State, the results of the entire 17 LGAs of Enugu State, including those of Nkanu East and Nsukka LGAs, have been fully collated by the Returning Officer, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, on Sunday the 19th of March. What remains for the INEC is to sum up the returns by the Local Government Returning Officers and declare our candidate, Dr. Mbah the governor-elect. “That is why we are saying that INEC is overreaching itself; they have no powers at this stage to suspend the pronouncement or declaration of the winner of the election, which is our candidate.
“Section 64( of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that where collation has been completed as in the present case of Enugu State, the duty of the collation officer, who collated the result is to announce the result and make a declaration. Therefore, having collated the results from Nsukka LGA and Nkanu East LGA, the statutory duty and legal responsibility of the State Returning Officer is simply to announce and declare the results, as INEC cannot, by law, suspend the declaration of result already collated”.
“The position of the law is that a Returning Officer has no power to cancel any results at the stage of collation. The only option open to any person dissatisfied with the process is to resort to Section 130(1) of the Electoral Act, which vests the power to receive and adjudicate petitions complaining of an undue election or undue return in an election in the tribunal or court.
“As a matter of fact, we are dissatisfied with the result from Nsukka Local Government Area. We are dissatisfied with the results from Udenu, Isi-Uzo, Ezeagu, and more. But is not for us to take the laws into our hands or indulge in self-help. That is why we are ready to go and interrogate those results at the appropriate quarters because we can no longer complain as the collation has been completed. “INEC cannot choose the ones you will collate to release the result and the ones you will collate and withhold the result”, the PDP emphasised.
“We believe that the Returning Officer for Nkanu East Local Government Area has duly complied with the provision of Sections 64(4)(a)&(b) and Section 64(a)&(d) of the Electoral Act 2022.
”We consequently restate our position that the only option left to INEC acting through the State Returning Officer for the Enugu State Governorship Election under Section 64( of the Electoral Act 2022 is to announce the results and make a declaration of the winner of the election.
“We therefore call on INEC to immediately announce the summation of the 17 local governments it has already collated and declare Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah the winner of the March election”, the PDP reiterated.
The PDP also expressed worries that the INEC was already overheating the Enugu polity by the needless delay in the pronouncement of the winner of the governorship election.
“We will continue to caution that INEC should not take the patience of the electorate and people of Enugu for granted. We know what it took us today to rein in their voluminous anger as it relates to the delay in the declaration of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah as governor-elect and we are calling on the INEC to cease forthwith this foot-dragging and declare our candidate the duly elected candidate in the last election” the PDP stressed.
The party also condemned what it described as desperate and hypocritical approach of the Labour Party to the elections.”
Thousands of PDP supporters protest in INEC Headquarters Enugu over the delay in declaring Peter Mbah of the PDP as winner of the governorship election by INEC.
The protesters are agitating and saying that the INEC State collation/Returning Officer and Resident Electoral Commission (REC) have no power to cancel results at this stage the outcomes have been formally collated and received at the INEC Headquarters in Enugu.
The PDP supporters added that the INEC State Returning Officer should announce the result as collated and any party not satisfied with it should go to the Election Petition Tribunal and challenge the result as the INEC National Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood did during the collation of Presidential Election on February 25.
The PDP supporters accused Chief Nnia Nwodo, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo who are rooting for Chijioke Edeoga of Labour Party (LP) of interference in the final announcement of the Enugu State governorship result won by Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of the PDP, warning that any attempt to disrupt the announcement of the result may lead to anarchy.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday approved the release of 2021 and 2022 promotion list for civil servants in the state.
The beneficiaries were eligible civil servants across the state’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who participated in the promotion exercise conducted by Enugu State Civil Service Commission (ESCSC) in November 2022.
Announcing the release of the promotions, the Chairman of ESCSC, Mr. Robinson Odo, stated that “about 3,089 civil servants on salary grade levels 04 to 16 benefited from the promotions.”
Mr. Odo disclosed that the promotion exercise “was in fulfillment of Governor Ugwuanyi's earlier promise to clear all backlogs of promotions for civil servants in the state.”
The ESCSC Chairman added that the exercise followed due process, explaining that promotional examination was conducted in written form for the eligible staff, followed by oral interview held at the commission’s premises.
He reiterated Governor Ugwuanyi administration’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants and thanked all those who worked round the clock to ensure that the promotion exercise was successful.
My dear fellow members of Obidient family worldwide, just look at how the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga is talking down on our hero, Mr. Peter Obi in a radio programme.
Ndi Enugu, my fellow members of the Obidient movement, please let's not make the costly mistakes we made on February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections when we ignorantly voted for incompetent and violence-prone National Assembly candidates of Labour Party, such as Barr. Okey Ezea (see video 2), in our passionate push to ensure that our brother, Mr. Peter Obi wins the Presidential election.
The guber candidate of Labour Party in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga is no match to Barr. Peter Mbah of the PDP in terms of competence, capacity, credibility, fear of God, respect for Church leaders, preparedness for the job and sense of discipline and responsibility.
As Peter Obi rightly said, let's VOTE for Barr. Peter Mbah on March 18. His track records, background, leadership qualities and well-thought-out manifesto show that he is competent, disciplined and prepared for the job.
Please, also VOTE all PDP candidates for the State House of Assembly seats to give Peter Mbah the needed support and cooperation to actualise his lofty visions for Enugu State, when elected.
ENUGU STATE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs):
The Enugu SMEs Centre under Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration initiated a sustained and radical transformation that ensured that Enugu youths are equipped with 21st century high income skills that provide pathways to employability and entrepreneurship development.
The SMEs Centre instituted the innovative Human Capital Development Loan, a zero interest loan to enable unemployed and underemployed to access technical and professional training with job access or entrepreneurship support upon completion.
The Enugu State SMEs under the scheme consummated the following programmes:
• Enugu Tech, a certified training on Programming and Product Design, preparing our youths for globally sought-after tech skills
• Enugu Youth Empowerment Scheme, a certified training in high income digital marketing skills
• Enugu Cybersecurity Learning Programme (EDAT), a certified training programme on globally relevant cybersecurity skills as a means to combat poverty, cybercrime and unemployment
• Enugu Data Analytics Training Programme (ECSL) that trained Ndi Enugu youths on core Data Analytics competencies delivered through a project-based learning approach that provides a solid post-training path to encourage the participants to become fast-rising data talents for both local and global organisations
• Enugu SMEs Construction Artisan Training Programme that provided youths with high demand construction skills for employment upon completion
• Enugu Auto Revamp Innovation Training Programme (AITP) that provided comprehensive training in all aspects of auto body work including auto painting, surface prepping, metal works, interior finishing, among others;
• Enugu jobs initiated in partnership with private sector players like Capitis Global and Jobberman Nigeria to provide a job portal for Ndi Enugu to get access to jobs here in Enugu and outside Enugu
• Enugu Wi-Fi project, a Municipal Wireless Network, offered by independent data resellers deployed in Enugu State, Nigeria, that is a low-cost paid secure Wi-Fi connection sponsored by Enugu State government, through the Enugu SMEs Centre
• Enugu SMEs Hardware Garage Training (ESHG) Programme which provided the youths with first-hand technical knowledge in building of inverters, installation of smart solar home systems, and the general operations and maintenance of power, mobility manufacturing, computer-controlled systems, and agricultural technologies
• Enugu SMEs Access to Capital Programmes, such as the Enugu SMEs Business Support Cash Advance Programme and the Enugu Micro Credit Lending Programme, which helped to resolve the number one problem of entrepreneurs - availability of capital.
AGRICULTURE:
• Procured twenty (20) tractors for Mechanized Agriculture
• Launched the Coal City Rice, Enugu – a highly sought- after staple in the South East and beyond
• Approved the establishment of two World Bank projects, namely IFAD and APPEALS programme for women and youths agricultural empowerment and pays the state’s counterpart funds regularly• Trained 520 youths from the 260 Wards of the State in new techniques and acquisition of skills in agricultural value chain in CSS Global Integrated Farms, Keffi, Nasarawa State as part of the strategy to develop farmers and improve food security in the State
• Heavy investment in Basic Agricultural Education to inculcate the culture of farming in the early lives of our younger generation, achievable through the provision of irrigated and non-irrigated School crop farms as well as construction/reconstruction of poultry and animal houses for rearing of chicken and animals in Primary and Basic Secondary Schools in selected LGAs of the State, which are ongoing
• Holistic investment in the production of both livestock and crops support to 275 farmers, under the APPEALS Productivity Enhancement, with improved inputs and technologies under the Commodity Interest Group with a total sum of One Billion, One Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Seventy-Six Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira, Sixty-Two Kobo (NGN1,171,076,156.62) within year 2022
• Construction of 15 nos. Aggregation/Cottage Processing Centres, under the APPEALS Infrastructural Development, which are at various level of completion in Udenu, Isi-Uzo, Ezeagu, Uzo-Uwani, Aninri, Nkanu-East, Nsukka, Udi, and Enugu South LGAs
• Supported 295 rice farmers and 98 cassava farmers with 11,800kg of Faro 44-Rice Seed, 4,900 Cassava bundles, 78,600kg of NPK fertilizer, 29,500kg of UREA, 393 litres of Non-Selective Agro Chemical and 393 litres of Selective Agro Chemical for both wet and dry season farming in the 2022 production cycles, under the IFAD/ENVCDP programme
• Also through IFAD/ENVCDP, supported rice and cassava processors and producers including Women and Youths with processing and production equipment including ultra-modern rice milling machines, rice haulers, destoners, bag sealers, weighing scales, cassava graters, dewatering press, hammer mills, nutrient-dense equipment, thresher and Winnowers, tricycles, (13Hp) power tillers, Seed Planters, and Water pumps for dry season rice farmers.
All these are in addition to the gains recorded with the Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project, the FGN (Federal Government of Nigeria)/IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) / Enugu State Value Chain Development Project (ENVCDP), and ATASP-1 in the past two years.
ENUGU STATE CARES PROGRAMME:
The Enugu State Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Programme is an emergency operation built on existing delivery platforms of Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), FADAMA and Enugu SME Centre. The programme is designed to restore the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security, and facilitating recovery of MSMEs in response to COVID-19 induced economic crises. Within year 2022, the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (NGN500 million) was distributed to the delivery platforms using the following percentages 32.7%, 34.11%, 30.34 and 2.7% for CSDA, FADAMA, Enugu SME Centre and State CARES Coordinating Unit (SCCU) respectively. Achievements thus far includes:
• CSDA: On-going construction & renovation of health centers, water borehole and school blocks in 5 (five) intervention LGAs of Udenu, Nsukka, Igbo-Eze South, Ezeagu and Udi.
• FADAMA:
-Supplied 10,486 different agricultural inputs comprising of cassava stems, rice seed, pepper seed, fertilizers, liters of herbicides/insecticide to 630 participating farmers across the 5 intervention LGAs of Aninri, Udenu, Ezeagu, Isi Uzo, and Nsukka.
-Supplied 2,227 agricultural production and processing assets comprising of 1,984 Personal Protective Equipment, 160 Knapsack Sprayers; 3 Mini rice mills, 16 Cassava graters, 35 water pumps, 15 multi-purpose grinders, etc. to 560 farmers in the 5 intervention LGAs of Aninri, Udenu, Ezeagu, Isi Uzo, and Nsukka.
-Built the capacity of the benefitting farmers on the use of the acquired assets and best agronomic practices, group dynamics, record and basic book-keeping, etc.
• SME: Over 10,000 applications from Small and Micro firms for Operations and IT Enhancement Grants have been received, awaiting vetting and disbursements.
HOUSING:
• Site and services at Valley Estate, GRA, Enugu; WTC Estate; Victory Estate; Trinity Estate; Fidelity Estate adjacent to the popular Ebeano Tunnel with massive erosion/flood control work, Diamond Estate, Rangers Estate, among others.
• HELIU Residence project – a world class Residential Estate with infrastructure worth N25 billion embarked upon by the state government in partnership with Fit-Consult and China Shenyang International Economic and Technical Cooperation Limited, Shenyang, China through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide quality and affordable houses to address the accommodation deficit in Enugu because of high inflow of people into the state.
INVESTMENT:
• Inaugurated the Enugu Industrial Park – FTZ (ENPOWER Free Trade Zone) at the 9th Mile Corner, Enugu, known as Lion Business Park, modeled after the Dragon Market in Dubai.
SPORTS:
• Gov. Ugwuanyi’s love and support for sports saw Rangers International Football Club of Enugu lifting both the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title after 32 years and 2018 AITEO Cup after 35 years
ECONOMIC RATINGS:
• Rated among the 1,000 cities in the world with the most impressive and vibrant startup ecosystem by StartupBlink, a Swiss-based research hub that publishes an annual global startup index,
• Rated among the six (6) economically viable states in Nigeria that can survive without federal allocations, by Economic Confidential.
• Rated as the second most advanced state in Nigeria on the Ease of Doing Business by the World Bank Group.
• 9th best performing state in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the year 2019.
• Best state in the judicious utilisation of the bailout funds (Senate Verdict)
• Enugu listed alongside Lagos and Rivers as the only three states out of the 36 states of the federation that have fulfilled obligations to their workers (BudgIT).
• Listed among the seven states that are solvent with impressive over 30 per cent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund additional economic activities (Economic Confidential magazine verdict).
• The fifth most competitive state in Nigeria, according to the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria
• The third most debt sustainable State in Nigeria
• The first state in Nigeria to publish its Audited State Final Account for consecutive three years.
• First in the South East geo-political zone and ninth in the country based on IGR as against Federal Allocation.
• One of the twelve states in Nigeria that can survive without federal allocations.
• Empowered 3,600 traders with N50,000 each under the Enugu State Traders Empowerment Scheme;
• Empowered 750 youths in skills acquisition under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme
• Offered scholarship to 680 indigent engineering students of Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Ezeagu L.G.A. and the IMT, Enugu
• Awarded scholarship to 22 post-secondary school indigent students presently studying at Mewar University, India
• Engaged 1000 youths to clean up the state, under Enugu Clean Team Project
• Granted Bursary allowance to 246 students of the state at the Nigeria Law School
• Ongoing mentorship programme for youths of Enugu State - admissions and scholarships have already been secured for seven persons with full funding into some of the best universities in the United States of America (USA), through the State Scholarship and Education Loans Board (ESSELB).
• Secured fully funded postgraduate scholarships for Forty (40) Enugu State students to study in various parts of Europe, America, Australia and Asia through the Mentorship Masterclass of Enugu State Scholarship Scheme and Loans Board, valued at over Three Billion Naira (N3,000,000,000.00).
• Provided, in addition, One Million Naira each to the 40 students as international travel allowances to enable them depart Nigeria to their various schools overseas to ease the financial burden on parents/guardians in providing education for their children, grant the less privileged the opportunity to go to school, and encourage students to work hard.
• Waived the payment of Personal Income Tax as well as Market Tax, for all traders in the major markets of the state, since the inception of the administration, in May 2015, with the firm resolve to sustain the pro-poor policies till the end of the tenure.
• Established 2 Tech Hubs and Youth Innovation Centres at Independence Layout, Enugu North LGA, and in Obollo Afor, in Udenu Local Government Area with several students passing through the Hubs equipped with skills in Product Design, Front and Back End Development, Digital Marketing, Data science, Gaming and Animation, and Cybersecurity amongst others. As at today, some of the graduated students have already been poached by local Tech Start-ups and Companies.
• Construction of Eke Likke - Iheaka Junction - Amagu Uwani - Ekoyi Iheaka -Uhunuowerre - Iheakpu Awka road in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area (ongoing)
• Reconstruction of Ibagwa Junction-Itchi in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area (ongoing)
• Construction of road network in the Crystal Court estate beside NTA premises, Independence Layout, Enugu (Ongoing)
• Constructed access road and internal road network in the House of Assembly Layout behind ENHA, Independence Layout, Enugu
• Asphaltic concrete road and drainage system on the road to Udenu LGA
• Spot improvements of urban roads within the EnuguMetropolis
• Emergency erosion control and protective works at Atavu Stream, Amaechi – Amodu - Umueze Road, Nkanu West LGA; Neke/Mbu - Ogbodu Abba/Obollo Road at Chainage 3+210 in Isiuzo LGA; Asata River, Lagos Street, Enugu North LGA; Agu Orba and Imiliki Etiti in Udenu LGA; Ogui River at Works Road, GRA; University Road, Nsukka; Works Road at Works Layout, GRA amongst others
• Constructed the Mission Junction – Owolloti - Ogoma Ring Road (Phase II), Iwollo Oghe, Ezeagu LGA amongst others
• Swamp reclamation at Works Road layout, GRA, Enugu
BUILDINGS/OTHER INFRASTRCUTURE:
• Renovated the House of Assembly Complex
• Rehabilitated and re-asphalted the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu
• Completed the new Lion Building, Government House, Enugu, with additional works such as landscaping and installation of floodlights and security lights
• Renovated the Deputy Governor’s office, Abuja Building, parking lots, among others, within the premises of the Government House, Enugu, among others
• Constructed the first phase of the Enugu State Secretariat Annex in Nsukka satellite town
• Remodelled the old Premier Lodge into Zik Centre (an ultra-modern tourist centre today) in honour of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first Premier of Eastern Region
• Constructed a befitting conference centre at Nsukka adjacent to the State Secretariat Annex comprising multiple halls, other indoor activity hubs and recreation facilities such as adult and children swimming pools and Lawn Tennis Court
• Constructed and inaugurated the massive Unity Park, formerly known as Forest Reserve, Enugu, to serve as a tourist attraction and a place for relaxation and recreation;
• Constructed 10 units of Executive Guest House at the Old Government Lodge, G.R.A, Enugu, for routine guests of the state government
• Constructed the first Christian Chapel of Worship at the Government House, Enugu
• Remodelled the Old Government Lodge, GRA, Enugu and constructed an Annex
• Constructed a befitting Banquet Hall at the remodelled Old Government Lodge, GRA, Enugu
• Constructed 24 units of Guest Flats at remodelled Old Government Lodge, GRA, Enugu
• Reconstructed and rehabilitated the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Building, Enugu
• Construction of Nsukka Press Centre at Nsukka Local Government Area
• Construction of Enugu State Fire Service Headquarters as the 1st Headquarters for the Service at Ogui Road Fire Station by Otigba Junction to enhance the fire response capacity of the Service
• Renovation of buildings (blocks A and B) at the Enugu State Marketing Company Limited
• Constructed/reconstructed INEC Office Buildings at Awgu, Udenu, and Independence Layout
• Procured 140 pieces of Waste Bins to replace old ones scattered across the Metropolis to enhance the cleanliness of Enugu City
• Provided transformers for Awha Ndiagu Community in Ezeagu LGA; Igga Community in Uzo Uwani LGA; Odume Sub-station, Agbudu Udi LGA; Agamede Isienu, Amutenyi Obollo; St. Patrick’s Parish, Ohom Orba, Udenu LGA; Abakpa Cantonment Water Works; Mary Agro Farms Udi, Udi LGA; Abakpa Military Cantonment Waterworks, amongst others, to ensure and enhance power supply to the communities and facilities
RURAL DEVELOPMENT:
• Uncommon rural development policy, concentrating more infrastructure in the rural and long-neglected communities, such as simultaneously executing 35 grassroots development projects (completed) across the 17 LGAs and the N5 million “one community, one project” scheme in each of the 471 autonomous communities in the state
HEALTH SECTOR:
• Completed the state-of-the-art Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu, and handed over to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as "Medical Diagnostic and Oncology (Cancer) Treatment Centre, Enugu" to provide comprehensive medical, diagnostic and oncology (cancer) treatment services to the people of Enugu State and beyond
• Construction and renovation of district hospitals and health centres in the state, especially in the rural areas under the Primary healthcare programme
• Upgraded Udi District Hospital and Poly Clinic, Asata to General Hospitals, after their rehabilitation
• Constructed new buildings/remodelled the Colliery Hospital Enugu now known as the Enugu State Infectious Disease Hospital, Enugu, for isolation and treatment of patients with infectious diseases
• Intervened and integrated faith-based rural health facilities into the Free Maternal and Child Health Programme
• Constructed 7 units of Model Type 3 Primary Healthcare Centre in 7 LGAs
• Ongoing construction of 3 additional Model Type 3 Primary Healthcare Centres in 3 LGAs
• Upgraded and rehabilitated the General Hospital Ogrute, Enugu Ezike, and Nsukka District Hospital, among others
• Massive construction of a Teaching Hospital for the newly licensed State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno
• Constructed and equipped 2 nos. 12-classroom faculty buildings, 2 nos. 10-classroom faculty buildings and 2 nos. Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno
• Constructed two-block of student hostels with 120 bed spaces at SUMAS, Igbo-Eno
• Provided 10 industrial water boreholes with overhead tanks and external electrification engineering services at SUMAS, Igbo-Eno
• Constructed a Specialist Hospital in Igbo-Eno and re-designated it as SUMAS Medical Centre
• Construction of Cottage Hospital with isolation wing in Awgu, Oji River, Ogrute (Enugu Ezike) General Hospitals, and also in Orba, Udenu LGA
• Constructed, landscaped and equipped the Amenity Facility at Enugu-Ezike General Hospital, Ogurute, Igbo-Eze North LGA.
• Constructed and upgraded the Accident & Emergency building of the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu to a 2-storey building, furnished and put to use
• Procured equipment such as Laparoscopic machine, Cardiotocography & Ultrasound (CTG & USS) machines, Feto-maternal patient monitor, among others, for ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu to enhance the capacity
of the hospital in diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and antenatal care
• Successfully launched the Universal Health Coverage Scheme through the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage to enable the delivery of free healthcare to vulnerable persons, with a target to enroll all Enugu State residents into the Scheme
• Monthly release of capitation fund to 161 accredited Primary Health Centres across the 17 LGAs for the provision of free healthcare to 42,000 registered vulnerable, physically challenged and indigent persons in the State
• Registration of 145,000 vulnerable persons representing 3% of Enugu State population for healthcare priorities for 2023 under the Universal Health Coverage Scheme
• Efforts currently geared at increasing the number of accredited Primary Health Centres to ensure that every Electoral Ward has a Primary Health Centre providing free services for vulnerable persons
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC:
• Released N350 million to the state’s COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Rapid Response Team
• Establishment of Isolation and Treatment Centres for COVID-19 in Nsukka and the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu
• Equipped the ultra-modern Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre (then) and designated it as an isolation and treatment centre
• Approved welfare packages for all health workers in the state as incentive to battle COVID-19
• Purchased two additional ambulances and one incident vehicle
• Rehabilitation of facilities and provision of essential supplies in 34 health facilities across the 17 LGAs, to scale up delivery of linked services and preparedness against community spread of COVID-19 pandemic by the Enugu State Save One Million Lives (SOML) Project
• Life assurance policy for frontline workers
•Distribution of palliatives to persons, vulnerable groups, poorest of the poor and religious groups
• Granted tax relief and incentives to tax payers in the state to cushion the adverse economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents, especially ordinary masses
EDUCATION:
• Established the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) which is to commence academic session soon
• Recruited over 7,030 primary and secondary school teachers
• Executed over 1,355 verifiable projects in various primary and secondary schools across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state under ENSUBEB and PPSMB, in line with the administration’s vision to improve the learning condition of the students
• Procured and distributed 22,150 lockers and 22,150 chairs for primary school children, 1,228 tables, 1,228 arm chairs and 2,456 armless chairs for the teachers, as well as 1,130 marker boards for teaching and 1,960 ceiling fans, for conducive learning environment (under ENSUBEB)
• Procured and distributed 12,480 writing desks and chairs for primary school pupils in the state and 868 tables and chairs for teachers to improve the standard of learning (ENSUBEB)
• Massive construction and reconstruction of classroom blocks, offices and hostels in the secondary schools across the six education zones of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB)
• Provided Science equipment to more than 151 secondary schools (under PPSMB)
• Supplied and installed computers to 490 secondary schools (under ENSUBEB and PPSMB)
• Converted 1,000 volunteer teachers to permanent staff and release of all outstanding arrears of promotion to date (under PPSMB)
• Ongoing construction of the state-of-the-art administrative building of the first degree-awarding institution in Education in the South East zone, the Enugu State University of Education in Ihe, Awgu LGA, established by Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration to serve as a centre for training of teachers for primary, secondary and tertiary education
• Massive infrastructure development and upgrade of facilities in the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, including construction of four massive academic buildings and other structures, to address the challenges associated with shortage of classrooms, laboratories, studios and offices
• Transition of IMT into a degree-awarding institution and the holding of its first convocation, after 11 years as well as the rehabilitation of the school’s internal roads, Administrative Block, Mass Communication Block, Engineering Blocks, among other buildings
• Notwithstanding the consistent and timely releases of monthly subventions for smooth running of other State-owned Tertiary Institutions, namely the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); Institute of Management and Technology (IMT); the Enugu State College of Education Technical (ESCET); and the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, these Institutions have continued to witness various degrees of interventions in the provision of infrastructure, teaching, learning, laboratory and workshop equipment for the purposes of programmes accreditation, teaching and learning. Aside these, (6) programmes including Nursing; Midwifery; Physiotherapy; Community Medicine; Family Medicine; and Paediatrics have been accredited in Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Parklane, while a School of Entrepreneurship has been established in Iwollo Polytechnic
WORKERS’ WELFARE:
• Enhancement of civil servants’ welfare
• Among the first to implement the N30,000 new Minimum Wage in Nigeria with its consequential adjustment
• Regular payment of workers’ salaries and retirees’ pensions before the end of the month
•Regular promotion, training and retraining of workers
• Paid the 13th month salary to workers as Christmas bonus
• Payment of 54 percent equity contribution for 100 lucky civil servants who won the 100 units one bedroom apartments at Elim Estate, Enugu through open lottery
SECURITY:
• Procured and donated 100 units of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) patrol vans with communication gadgets to the security agencies to aid their operations
• Employed 1,700 Forest Guards, first in the South East geo-political zone
• Repositioned the Vigilante/Neighbourhood Watch groups and purchased 260 security vehicles for their Community and purchased 260 security vehicles for their Community Policing operations
• Procured and distributed 260 motorcycles and 300 bicycles to the 260 electoral wards in the state, to complement and facilitate the operations of the Forest Guards
• Training, employment and deployment of Community Policing Constabularies
• Construction of the 76 Police Mobile Force Squadron Facility at Ekwegbe, Igbo-Etiti LGA, with the construction of the Commander’s House, Deputy Commander’s House, 2km Perimeter Fence, Parade Ground, Sickbay with basic furnishing, canteen, access roads, Quarter Guard and car parks; Borehole and water reticulation; supply and installation of external electrical engineering services infrastructure, installation of all-in-one 80 watts Solar Street lighting.
IMPROVEMENT IN WATER RESOURCES:
• Rehabilitated facilities at Ajalli and Oji River Water Treatment Schemes which have consequentially improved the supply of water to Enugu metropolis and its environs.
• Rehabilitated the 9th Mile Crash Borehole programme powered by solar technology which produces over 10,000,000Litres (10,000 cubic meters) of water per day into the daily water supply to Enugu metropolis. The rehabilitation was planned as a stop-gap measure to mitigate the water supply problem in the State metropolis before the AFD-funded 3rd National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (3rd NUWSRP) comes fully on stream.
• Procurement and installation of new pumps at Oji Water Scheme that has resulted in the production of 30,000,000 Litres (30,000cubic meters) of water per day to Enugu Metropolis.
• Completion of the rehabilitation of Boreholes at Nsukka which has increased water supply by over 10,000,000Litres (10,000 cubic metres) of water daily.
• Pipeline network extension works to Justina Eze Street, Oloto Street, Techtonics Road, Umudiaka Community, Umuoyo Community, Amukwa Community, Ezema Nru Road, Mkpuruikwere Community, St. Theresa’s Road, Chinedu Ugwu Street, Eziama/Edem Community have been completed.
• Rehabilitation of 2 Nos. boreholes at Lejja (Ejuona and Akaibite Communities) in Nsukka LGA.
• Construction of 2 Nos. Solar-Powered RSI Inverter Borehole at Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGA.
• Provision of Commercial Capacity Borehole at Mary Agro Farms Udi, Udi LGA.
FIRE SERVICE:
• Constructed, for the first time, 5 ultra-modern Fire Service Stations across the 3 senatorial districts of Enugu State, after 56 years of their previous existence
• Constructed an ultra-modern and befitting Head Office of Enugu State Fire Service in Enugu.
• Procured five (5) IVM fire-fighting trucks for the five ultra-modern Fire Service Stations
• Recruited 66 firefighters to the workforce of the state fire service and provided them with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for safety, etc.
• Donated and installed different types and sizes of fire extinguishers in all major markets in Enugu State as part of proactive measures towards safety of life and property of the traders and the public.
INTERVENTIONS IN THE STATE JUDICIARY:
• Constructed the first Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters complex in Enugu
• Construction of 14 new court buildings and open registries in the judicial divisions and magisterial districts across the state
• Construction of 34 modern Customary Courts across the state, two (2) per LGA
• Massive renovation of the State Judiciary Headquarters complex, Enugu
• Renovated the former DAD Building Enugu and converted same to the State Ministry of Justice Headquarters
• Establishment of Multi-Door Court House in Enugu among other interventions
• Constructed a befitting headquarters (building) for Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse in Enugu named after Hon. Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo of the Court of Appeal
• On-going Construction of 2 (nos.) High Court of Justices at Nike, Enugu East LGA and Orba, Udenu LGA.
• Construction of Two (nos.) Exhibit Storage Facility, one at the Magistrate Court premises and the other at the High Court of Justice Premises, Enugu, which have reached an advance stage of completion
• Constructed and equipped a Judiciary Health Clinic to carter for the health care needs of our valued Judges and other staff located within the High Court premises Independence Layout and manned by Doctors and Nurses of the State Health Management Board
• Provided various sums of financial support to the following respected institutions, such as the Nigerian Bar Association, Enugu State branch for the completion of the roofing of the New Bar Centre, Enugu and enhancement of facilities at the Justice Chima Nweze Moot Court, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus; Students Auditorium and Lecturers’ Quarters at Augustine Nnamani Campus of the Nigeria Law School, Agbani, to improve teaching and learning of the Law profession.
Placing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State in Court of Justice, Posterity
By Louis Amoke
He became governor of Enugu State in 2015 when Enugu’s purse grew leaner and Nigeria’s economy was in recession as federal allocations dwindled to an all-time low - a major setback his predecessor, Mr. Sullivan Chime acknowledged during a thanksgiving Mass to commemorate the end of his administration.
His administration was receiving less than 30% of federal allocations the previous administration received due to the nation’s economic downturn occasioned by the nose-dive of oil prices in the international market.
Notwithstanding this, it was up-to-date in the payment of the new N30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustment to the state civil servants - a huge burden on the state’s lean resources.
At the peak of nation’s economic recession between 2015 and 2016, he was able to pay workers’ salaries when 27 states of the federation could not pay, let alone embark on capital projects, as state governors resorted to bailout funds unlike their predecessors who had access to crude oil funds which enabled them to execute capital projects.
He is the only governor in the history of Enugu State to witness two national economic recessions within five years of his administration, and also witnessed the enervating #EndSARS protests, the novel COVID-19 pandemic, security challenges, among others, which brought major setbacks to the actualisation of his lofty visions for the state, as contained in his well-spelt-out four-point agenda (manifesto) of seamless continuity and consolidation.
With Enugu State’s huge monthly wage bill to be serviced in spite of the state’s limited resources following the status of its capital, Enugu, as the historical capital of Southern Nigeria, Eastern Region, East Central State, old Anambra State, old Enugu State and present Enugu State, his administration has been dutifully committed to payment of great number of retired pensioners from other South East states who served the old states with Enugu as their capital and still receive their monthly pensions and other retirement benefits from the coffers of the Enugu State government. What a huge financial obligation eating deep into the state’s meager resources!
He is the first governor of Enugu State since 1999 to lead the state on the platform of a political party (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) that is in opposition to the political party at the national level (All Progressives Congress, APC). What an obvious disadvantage, vis-à-vis setback in terms of federal government patronages and considerations.
In keeping with his inaugural address in 2015, his administration has championed an unprecedented rural development drive, concentrating development more in the rural communities than in the urban areas to strike a balance and give the rural dwellers, who are equally bona fide citizens of Enugu State but were hitherto neglected for a long time, a sense of belonging.
Also in keeping faith with his promises in his inaugural address to pay a special attention to rural development “because majority of our people live in the rural areas”, and to equip and modernise Nsukka - a University town founded over half a century ago, his administration executed most of its development projects in Nsukka zone and rural areas, while deploying the state’s meager resources to execute and maintain new and existing facilities in Enugu urban respectively, such as the first flyover bridge to be constructed by the state government, located at T-junction, Nike Lake Road.
After Zik of Africa (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe) who attracted the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) to Nsukka, he is the second person to bring a university to Nsukka zone, the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State.
He also attracted a federal polytechnic to Nsukka zone, in Ohodo, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, transformed the university town of Nsukka with a befitting State Secretariat Annex, Conference Centre, 5,000-seat Township Stadium and network of roads fitted with street and traffic lights including the state-of-the-art 12km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with underground drainage system, the 31km Udenu Ring Road, modern educational and health facilities, among numerous others.
He is the man behind the listing of Enugu as an oil producing state, a lifeline for the incoming administration.
He is one unique, humble and God-fearing leader who has entrenched enduring peace in Enugu State and maintained a peaceful relationship with his predecessors and other leaders of political, religious and traditional institutions.
He enjoys an uncommon harmonious working relationship with the state workforce and the leaders of the organized labour from the inception of his administration - a feat that was never experienced in the past.
Cut to the bone, this is the brief story of #Governor Ifeanyi #Ugwuanyi of #Enugu State as he circumspectly comes to the concluding phase of his administration, amid local, national and global governance challenges.
Consequently, the governor’s worthy stewardship, sheer dexterity and commitment to the progress of Enugu State in spite of all these challenges are highlighted below, placing him in the court of justice and posterity:
ROADS/BRIDGES:
• Rehabilitated and remodeled the ancient, historic and undulating 11km Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile road
• Constructed the first flyover bridge by Enugu State Government located at T-Junction, Nike Lake Road, Enugu
• Constructed the 12km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with underground drainage system fitted with street and traffic lights up to University of Nigeria (UNN) gate
• Constructed the Ebonyi River Bridge, Ikem, Isi-Uzo LGA;
• Constructed the 31km Udenu Ring road with two high-tech bridges, Udenu LGA
• Rehabilitated the Iva Valley roads in Enugu North LGA
• Constructed the 8.8km Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road in Isi-Uzo LGA, neglected for over 35 years
• Constructed the 26.66km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene -Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGA (RAMP-2)
• Constructed the 22.443km Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti inter-community road linking Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGAs (RAMP-2)
• Constructed (Earthwork) the 16km erosion ravaged Eha-Ulo/Eha-Etiti/Eha-Ndiagu-Mbu road and 24km Premier Junction-Umabor-Mbu road (RAMP-2), covering 40km, being constructed across thick forests and difficult terrains
• Constructed (Earthwork) 8.580km road project linking Ihe with Ogbaku Town in Awgu Local Government Area (RAMP-2)
• Constructed the 13km Nike Lake junction-Harmony Estate-Amorji Nike-Adoration Pilgrimage Centre-Orie Emene road linking the ever-busy Abakpa Nike with Emene satellite town in Enugu East LGA
• Reconstructed the Nike Lake Road and Abakpa Nike Road in Enugu East LGA
• Constructed the Amaeke-Ngwo-Nsude-9th Mile and Amankwo-Amaeke-Amah Brewery Junction-9th Mile bypasses in Udi LGA
• Reconstructed the Airport Roundabout/Orie-Emene/ St. Patrick’s College/Eke-Obinagu Road in Enugu East LGA
• Reconstructed the Enugu Road (Nsukka) Junction-Umuezebi-Nru Junction-University Gate road in Nsukka town
• Reconstructed the Post Office Roundabout-Odenigbo Roundabout -Ogurugu Road-Ikenga road in Nsukka town
• Reconstructed the Obechara Road Junction-Umunkashi- Mechanic Village-Ikenga Hotels Junction road in Nsukka town
• Constructed the 8.2km Inyi-Akpugoeze road in Oji River LGA
• Constructed the Ituku Road in Awgu LGA and the Amurri road in Nkanu West LGA
• Simultaneously executed 35 grassroots development projects across the 17 LGAs
• Rehabilitated urban and rural roads in Emene, Abakpa-Nike, 9th Mile Corner and the University town of Nsukka
• Rehabilitated more internal roads in the University town of Nsukka, covering over 11km, namely Aku Road, Echara Road, Beach Junction-Umanu Road, New Anglican Road, Amaobi Road, New Market- Aludele - Eruchara Road, Sen. Fide Okoro-Amaeze- Saint Theresa's- Anglican Road, Justina Eze Street, etc
• Rehabilitated the old UNTH-Bunker road, Enugu; constructed the Holy Trinity Street -Bishop Michael Eneja Street, Independence Layout; Mount Crescent, GRA; Orofia Street, off Nza Street, Independence Layout; Dental School-Tipper Garage road Trans Ekulu, Enugu; Ugwuaji-Loma Linda-Timber Shed road, Maryland, Enugu; Nwafia Street, Independence Layout;Mbanefo Street, New Haven; The Secretariat Road, G.R.A; Court Avenue by new State Secretariat; Ibuza Street at Independence Layout; Isi Uzo Street at Independence Layout; Owerri Road; Poly Clinic Road, Asata; Carter Street, off Ogui Road; IMT Boulevard, Phase II; Prof. Ofili Ugwudioha Street, Independence Layout, Enugu etc
• Construction of a network of roads with drainage system at GRA, Enugu (Justice Nwazota-Ilogu Close Road with a spur to Works Road Layout, GRA, Enugu)
• Reconstructed the 5km University of Nigeria Nsukka (New Gate) by Nru Junction - 9th Mile-Makurdi expressway
• Constructed the 2.35km access road to Legacy Estate, Trans Ekulu, Enugu
• Reconstructed the Agbani Road (from Police Detective College - Garki Flyover by Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway;
• Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike - Obollo Afor link road with smart solar streetlight
• Eke Amala – Otukpo Old Road; Amadi – Agbougwu-Amajioke road
Enugu auto crash: Gov. Ugwuanyi visits scene, hospitalised victims, commiserates with deceased families
…Directs adequate, free medical treatment for survivors
Following the unfortunate auto crash along Enugu-Onitsha expressway by CBN bus stop, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, on Thursday, which was allegedly caused by wrong overtaking, leaving some people dead and others injured, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has visited the scene of the accident.
Governor Ugwuanyi who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, thereafter, proceeded to ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, to empathise with the survivors of the accident and ensure that they are receiving adequate medical treatment.
The governor, who commiserated with the families of the deceased, empathised with surviving victims and directed the management of the hospital to deploy all possible medical expertise to ensure their survival.
He, therefore, announced that the state government will offset the medical bills and take other necessary measures to ensure that the victims are properly taken care of.
“Now that this administration has taken it upon itself to offset the medical bills, let nothing delay their treatment please,” he said.
Responding the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of ESUT Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Hyacinth Onah commended Governor Ugwuanyi for his prompt intervention and consolatory visit to the victims “at the most trying time in their lives.”
Represented by Dr. Titus Okpara, the CMD assured the governor of the management’s commitment to proper treatment of the survivors.
Reacting, some relatives of the hospitalised victims prayed for God’s healing on them and thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for his care and magnanimity, asking God to continue to protect, guide and bless him
A reflection on the man, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, his humble beginning, enviable track records, leadership qualities and ambitious economic plans (manifesto) for Enugu State.
The difference is clear!
Dr. Peter Mbah came prepared for the job.
Vote competence, capacity, credibility, humility, character, vision, peace, good governance and fear of God.
Vote Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for Governor, Enugu State. It is a Defined Mandate!
Vote PDP (Umbrella) during the Governorship and State Assembly Elections in Enugu State.
Our Tomorrow is indeed Here!
His citation...
Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is a native of Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
A Maritime Lawyer of International repute, business magnate, public administrator, philanthropist and politician.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd., a leading indigenous oil and gas company in the downstream petroleum sector.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Honours Degree from the University of East London (UEL), where he acquitted himself brilliantly as a first class organiser of men, a leader and an intellectual.
As a comrade, between 1998 and 1999 he was the President of the university’s Student Law Society; member, Student Representative Council 1999 – 2000 and member of the school Law Board between 1999 and 2000. He distinguished himself as a foremost student leader with a team and throng of following known as “Peterites”.
As a believer in continuous improvement, he attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Thereafter, he proceeded to acquire a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) in Maritime and Commercial Law from the Lagos State University in 2004.
In the spirit of lifelong learning and education being from the cradle to the grave, he has continued to expand his boundaries of knowledge by participating in numerous academic and capacity building programmes.
Thus, he acquired a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the IESE Business School, University of Nararra, Barcelona Spain. A Chief Executive Programme at the Lagos Business School, Nigeria. A post graduate diploma in Strategy and Innovation from the Saíd Business School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Participated in a number of executive certificate programmes, notably in Harvard Business School and Stanford University both in the USA.
He is also a recipient of an Honourary Doctorate Degree in Political Science from the Godffery Okoye University, Enugu.
Being defined by a passion for excellence, focus, creativity and innovation, Mbah became eminent in both business and public service.
In business as an entrepreneur, venturing into business at an early age, he has many businesses: Peter Mbah Investment Limited, GIPEL Industries Ltd., Focus International Schools, Pinnacle Pointers and his signature business Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. A business which commenced in 2008 and has grown to become the leader in that sector: a position underlined with the recent commissioning of the company’s ultra – modern offshore petroleum products intake and off-take and storage facility at the Lekki Free Zone, the first of its kind in West Africa. A one billion dollar project of multiple offshore mooring and a 1,000,000m3 of petroleum storage and is already changing the face of the Nigerian downstream oil and gas industry by eliminating numerous inefficiencies in the current product import processes.
In public service, he has contributed immensely to Enugu State. He served as Chief of Staff, Government House, Enugu. He also served as Commissioner for Finance, in the capacity of which he headed many agencies under the same government.
The Newswatch Magazine at the time in its edition of July 3rd 2006 identified him as one of the top 10 commissioners of finance in Nigeria.
Peter is a Fellow of the Certified Institute of Public Administration and Management (CIPM) a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
He founded Peter Mbah Foundation (PMF), a non-profit, non-political, humanitarian-oriented organisation aimed at improving healthcare and standards of living in rural communities.
He equally established St. Cecilia’s Memorial Hospital Owo, equipped to ultramodern standard for effective healthcare delivery.
He is married with children.
His leisure is spent reading biographies and autobiographies. He also spends his leisure time sailing, as a member of the Lagos Yacht Club.
Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State for the forthcoming 2023 governorship election in the state.
Day Enugu State APGA Governorship Candidate, Frank Nweke Jnr. hailed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi...
"I want to start by thanking His Excellency, our Governor and our Leader for his humility, for his accommodation, for his fidelity.
"A good man, a man of great remembrance, a man of great memory, a compassionate leader, a man of great humility, a man of great kindness, a man of nobility of spirit, His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State (Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi).
"We thank you for making today possible. That we are here today is because of you. If you had not given permission for this to happen, we will not be here today. And it is just a reinforcement of what you are known for - your humility and accommodation, and your fidelity to history. We thank you. We can never thank you enough"
~ Frank Nweke, Jnr. (19/9/20) APGA Guber Candidate, Enugu State
2023: Why are Chijioke Edeoga, Okey Ezea and other Enugu Labour Party leaders beating war drum, destroying Peter Obi’s integrity, sanctity of Church leaders in a desperate move to snatch power?
The recent outburst that the forthcoming governorship election in Enugu State will be a “do-or-die game” by the Labour Party Senator-elect, Okey Ezea, who was ignorantly voted for by the electorate through the influence and determination of the Igbos, Christians and Obidient family to deliver the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi as president of Nigeria, is not only condemnable but also an inciting act which is at variance with what Peter Obi represents in the struggle.
Secondly, the derogatory statement by Ken Eze, one of the key social media hatchet men of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga alleging that “Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Anglican Diocese of Enugu has been rumoured to have collected millions of Naira to tell Ndi Enugu to vote back the PDP” is the highest level of insult on the sanctity of the Church and yet another condemnable act that does not represent what Peter Obi and the Labour Party stand for.
The worst aspect of it all is that Chijioke Edeoga is an Anglican who instead of standing in defence of the Church has like the Biblical story of Saul, gladly watched his foot soldiers cast aspersion on ministers of God and ridiculously drag the name of the Church in the mud in his crass desperation to grab political power. Ken Eze, Edeoga's undisputable attack dog on social media has written and published series of write ups promoting his (Edeoga’s) candidacy and at the same time maligning every perceived opponent of Edeoga including those who tried to guide him on the right path.
As at today, Chijioke Edeoga, an Anglican from Enugu East Senatorial District of Enugu State has not made any statement condemning or dissociating himself from such a brazen attack on a man of God and a revered Archbishop of the Anglican Church for that matter.
What is Enugu State trying to turn to just because some desperate and insensitive politicians mistakenly benefited from the mass movement to deliver Peter Obi as president of Nigeria?
Archbishop Chukwuma’s sin for the undeserving insult on his sacred personality by the Labour Party’s opportunists in Enugu State was that he was quoted to have said: "Apart from the Presidential election last Saturday, a lot of mistakes were made because of wrong emotion. Some who were elected have no experience and cannot legislate. That mistake must be avoided on the 11th pls. The Church will surely speak!" ~ Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma.”
Reacting to the statement by Archbishop Chukwuma, Ken Eze, Edeoga’s hatchet man wrote:
“If any man of God suddenly starts advocating for the PDP to be voted back to power, just know that he has compromised his faith by taking bribe from the govt. Ken Eze.”
From all indications, Chijioke Edeoga, Okey Ezea and their Labour Party cohorts in Enugu State are not interested in the electoral fortunes of Peter Obi and the Obidient movement. They have no respect for the sanctity of the Church and the clergymen. They do not promote peace and unity rather they are promoters of violence and war. They are only interested in their personal and parochial political agenda to occupy the Government House at all cost. God forbid!
As our revered Archbishop Chukwuma rightly said, “That mistake must be avoided on the 11th pls. The Church will surely speak!”
Enugu State needs someone who is competent, respectful, disciplined, prepared for the job, has a defined manifesto and fears God.
Edeoga who has been sponsoring mischievous and malicious publications against his political opponents especially the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Peter Mbah and the Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who graciously appointed him as a Commissioner for two consecutive times, biting the finger that fed him, lacks the above leadership qualities.
As an in-law to Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Edeoga is nothing but a stooge to the Nwodos who are doing every humanly possible including character assassination and baseless clannish sentiments to grab power through the back door. Ndi Enugu will resist that!
The good news is that Peter Mbah of the PDP has received the overwhelming endorsements of the people of Enugu State including the political, religious and traditional leaders such as former Governor Sullivan Chime and Archbishop Chukwuma, based on his competence, character, credibility and vision for Enugu State as contained in his manifesto.
Edeoga and his co-travellers need no soothsayer to tell them that the upcoming March 11 Governorship and State Assembly Elections will be a different ball game from the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly Elections as Peter Obi is not contesting election on March 11 and will consequently not be a saving grace for any candidate of the Labour Party as it was the case on the February 25 elections.
Okey Ezea, Chijioke Edeoga allegedly mobilize thugs to lay ambush on Enugu PDP guber candidate
In reaffirming his promise that the forthcoming guber election in Enugu must be a do-or-die affair, the senator-elect in Enugu North, Okey Ezea, and the Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, on getting information that the Catholic priests and the youths of the church had called the PDP guber candidate, Peter Mbah, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, to come and have an interactive session with the congregation at Ugwu-Di Nso mobilized some thugs reportedly from Nsukka and other parts of the state to lay siege on the guber candidate.
A source who narrated the incident said that he saw numerous 4 buses dropping youths welding dangerous weapons who were strange from the youths gathered for the programme. The angry-looking thugs who infiltrated the youths were said to have had team leaders who have been issuing orders to them in the Nsukka dialect to do everything possible to incite the youths and possibly provoke the security to react to accuse Mbah of high-handedness.
Shortly after Mbah’s arrival with his entourage, the alleged Labour Party thugs started regrouping, threatening to spill blood if the entourage did not leave the environment. To bring their threat to fruition, the thugs sent by Edeoga and Ezea started attacking the vehicles but the drivers were able to manoeuvre their way to a safe place as only the bus carrying the press team was badly attacked and damaged.
Our source also narrated that the situation made the security personnel attached to the guber candidate take cover and maximally restrained themselves to avoid casualties. However, the thugs zoomed away when they saw the heavy presence of armed policemen after destroying the press bus and items being sold by retailers there.
Mr Mbah was said to have been welcomed by the joyful supporters in the church who were shouting “the incoming governor of Enugu state” until the thugs started threatening violence and incitement.
“I saw busses dropping a large number of people this morning just before the road leading to the church. The youths who were numbered over fifty had some leaders in their midst who were issuing orders in Nsukka dialects. Shortly after they came, Peter Mbah landed with his convoy but was ambushed but their drivers were too smart to have escaped the angry-fierce-looking men. Only one of Mbah’s convoys carrying his press team was badly destroyed”, our source narrated.
It was later reported that the Reverend Fathers came out along with other youths to welcome Mbah who later addressed the youth leaders even as they asked questions about his programmes for them, assuring them that his administration shall be governed by the principles of justice, equity and fairness as being taught by Christ.
The youths leader, Maxwell Ogwudire, who said they invited Mbah to come and share his ideas with them to enable them to decide on who to vote for, tendered an unreserved apology for the secret breach by the criminal elements that infiltrated the youths.
2023 Elections: We'll reward your good works with massive votes, Igbo-Eze North people tell Gov. Ugwuanyi as he inaugurates novel Amenity Facility at General Hospital, Ogrute, Enugu Ezike
…Governor joins Igbo-Eze North PDP campaign train in Essodo Ward 1, gets endorsement
The people of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State comprising the clergy, traditional rulers, stakeholders, women and youths have reassured Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District in the forthcoming elections that they will appreciate him for the special attention his administration has paid to their council, through massive votes at the polls.
They said that their 100 percent vote for Governor Ugwuanyi is non-negotiable, adding that the numerous development projects the governor has executed in the council are enough reason for them to vote massively for him to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, and also vote for other PDP candidates in the elections.
The grateful people of Igbo-Eze North LGA gave the endorsement yesterday, when Governor Ugwuanyi inaugurated the Amenity Facility, located within the premises of the recently upgraded and rehabilitated General Hospital, Ogrute, Enugu Ezike.
They said that Governor Ugwuanyi has written his name in gold as the first and only governor in Enugu State that executed numerous development projects in Ogrute, the headquarters of Igbo-Eze North LGA.
The people disclosed that Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration did not only construct and equip the Amenity Facility but also built other landmark projects such as a Cottage Hospital with isolation wing also located within the premises of the upgraded and rehabilitated General Hospital, Ogrute; constructed and reconstructed the major roads in Ogrute and other communities with drainages; constructed and renovated classroom blocks and equipped them with modern furniture, and other educational facilities for conducive teaching and learning atmosphere; constructed an ultra-modern fire service station and court buildings in Ogrute, etc. They pointed out that the projects were unprecedented in the annals of the local government area.
Recall that Governor Ugwuanyi, a few days ago, unveiled the newly established State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, located in Enugu North Senatorial District for increased access to medical university education; quality, accessible and affordable healthcare service delivery; job creation and empowerment; rural development among others.
The Amenity Facility at General Hospital, Ogrute, Enugu Ezike, the first of its kind in the state, is a specialised medical outfit that takes care of both the aged and the young and offers specialised medical care.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Amenity Facility, the traditional ruler of Ogrute Ulo Autonomous Community, HRH Igwe Wilfred Ogbonna Ekere, stressed that they are delighted at Governor Ugwuanyi’s interventions in Igbo Eze North LGA, stressing that the medical facility will be of immense benefit not only to the people of the council but also to other councils in Enugu North Senatorial District and beyond.
“We are saying that he (Ugwuanyi) is going to the Senate. We will reward him with our votes during these coming elections,” Igwe Ekere said.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency and the PDP candidate for the seat, Hon. Engr. Simon Atigwe and the Chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Hon. Engr. Ejike Itodo commended Governor Ugwuanyi for his remarkable achievements in the council especially the Amenity Facility, revealing that their people are happy and have resolved to vote massively for him and other PDP candidates as a way of paying him back for his good works.
They maintained that Governor Ugwuanyi with his vast legislative and executive experience has an outstanding advantage to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, stating that the governor’s transformational programmes in the district are remarkable, visible and worthy of commendation.
Earlier in his remark, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, describing Governor Ugwuanyi as “a man with the Midas touch” stated that “there is nowhere in Enugu State you will find this kind of medical facility.”
Engr. Nnaji urged the people of Igbo-Eze North LGA to reciprocate the governor’s kind gesture by “voting massively for him on Saturday to become the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also vote other PDP candidates.”
The PDP deputy governorship candidate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; the lawmaker representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Pat. Asadu; the lawmakers representing Igbo-Eze North 1 and 11 constituencies, Rt. Hon. Mrs. Ethel Ugwuanyi and Hon. Innocent Ugwu respectively; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Development and Implementation (PDI), Engr. Dr. Obiageli Abba; her counterparts, Hon. Kentus Eze and Hon. Uwakwe Azikiwe; the PDP candidates for Igbo-Eze North 1 and 11 constituencies, Hon. Ngozi Ezeja Nze and Hon. Clifford Obe respectively; the PDP Zonal Chairman, Enugu North Senatorial District, Nze Michael Onyeze; and Rev. Fr. Dickson Asogwa, were among the dignitaries at the inauguration of the Amenity Facility.
Shortly after the event, Governor Ugwuanyi joined the campaign train of the PDP in Igbo-Eze North LGA to Essodu Ward 1 to canvass votes for the PDP.
The governor was accorded a rousing reception as the people reassured him of their massive votes at the polls.
2023 elections: Opi Agu Nsukka jubilantly stands still for Gov. Ugwuanyi as he emerges first governor to visit community
...Assures governor of massive votes for him, other PDP candidates at the polls
Opi Agu was in jubilant mood on Tuesday as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District visited the agrarian community, going down in history as the first governor to visit the hinterland of Opi in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.
The elated people of Opi Agu comprising the clergy, traditional rulers, elders, stakeholders, women and youths expressed profound gratitude to Governor Ugwuanyi for the rare visit as well as the funds his administration released to them for electrification project and intervention in their road which made it possible for vehicles to now access their community after decades of neglect.
The people also appreciated the governor for the classroom blocks constructed in the community among other interventions.
They assured Governor Ugwuanyi of their massive votes for him and other PDP candidates at the forthcoming general election, stressing that the governor has wiped away their tears by putting an end to their inability to access the community with vehicles over the years.
Opi Agu stakeholders and dignitaries who spoke at the colourful and well-attended reception for Governor Ugwuanyi include the traditional ruler of Opi Agu Community, HRH Igwe Pius Agbo; the President General of Opi Town Union, Barr. Kelvin Abonyi; Chairman, Opi Agu Development Initiative, Comrade Isaiah Abonyi; Member, Igwe's Cabinet, Barr. Alex Ugwuanyi; and the Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Opi Agu, Rev. Fr. Dennis Alumona.
Other speakers were the former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dan Shere, the former Chairman of Nsukka LGA and Special Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Barr. Cosmas Ugwueze, and the PDP candidate for Nsukka East Constituency, Barr. Mrs. Christiana Onah.
Addressing the people of Opi Agu, Governor Ugwuanyi thanked them for their support and urged them to come out en masse on February 25 and March 11 to vote massively for the PDP, where there is a symbol of an umbrella on the ballot paper, reassuring them of the state government’s commitment to their wellbeing.
Enugu North Senatorial District is #PDP! PDP is Enugu North Senatorial District!
Enugu State is PDP, PDP is Enugu State!
The Enugu North Senatorial District Endorsement Rally for #Governor Ifeanyi #Ugwuanyi of #Enugu State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the district, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the party's candidates for House of Representatives and State House of Assembly positions in the zone, and other PDP candidates in the forthcoming general election.
Development: Conspiracy of the elites can’t eliminate the fact that Gov. Ugwuanyi has done for Nsukka what no leader did in the past, says Barr. Peter Okonkwo
…As Echara community endorses governor for Senate, other PDP candidates in Enugu
...Commences door-to-door campaign
...Hails governor's achievements
Expressing satisfaction with the development trajectory of #Governor Ifeanyi #Ugwuanyi’s administration in #Enugu State and Enugu North Senatorial District, particularly in the university town of Nsukka in line with the governor’s inaugural address, the people of Echara Nsukka Autonomous Community on Monday said that they are grateful to Governor Ugwuanyi for being major beneficiaries of his good works in terms of infrastructure and empowerment.
The people stated that Governor Ugwuanyi who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District deserves their commendation and overwhelming votes at the poll for being the only leader from Nsukka zone who brought meaningful developments to the area in terms of critical infrastructure and human capital development.
They pointed out that no other leader from Enugu North Senatorial District who held government position in the past or currently in government was able to attract any form of developmental project to Nsukka zone.
The people added that Governor Ugwuanyi as a just and selfless leader in transforming Nsukka zone in keeping with his inaugural address did not concentrate developments in his Udenu Local Government Area but out of his passion and commitment for rapid development of Enugu North Senatorial District for socio-economic expansion chose to concentrate most transformational projects in the university town of Nsukka.
They frowned at what they described as conspiracy of a few elites in Nsukka to undermine the good works and genuine intention of Governor Ugwuanyi for the people of the district, stressing that the conspiracy cannot eliminate the fact that the governor has done a lot for Nsukka people.
Speaking when Governor Ugwuanyi visited the traditional ruler of Echara Nsukka Autonomous Community, HRH Igwe Christopher Ezugwu, at his palace, where the grateful people of the community including the elders, women and stakeholders endorsed the governor for Senate and gave him a traditional blessing, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs and a seasoned political gladiator, Hon. Barr. Peter Okonkwo, said that Governor Ugwuanyi “holds the oat of justice against the Nsukka elites conspiring against his good works.”
Barr. Okonkwo revealed that “there is a conspiracy of the elites, but the conspiracy cannot eliminate fact,” saying: “People of Nsukka, this man (Ugwuanyi) here God has brought to us to govern us has done for Nsukka what have not been done before since the history of democracy.
“The only time we saw something like that was when Zik (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe) brought the University of Nigeria to Nsukka. What this man has done for Nsukka, he never did for his people in Orba and Udenu Local Government Area.
“The road (dual carriageway) constructed from Opi down to Nsukka was done by RCC. RCC did not construct any single road in his place in Orba. RCC has never done any road in Nigeria except the ones awarded by the Federal Government, but he (Ugwuanyi) used it for Nsukka. The other road from Obechara was done by Arab Contractors and no other road in the state was done by Arab Contractors except the one done in Nsukka land, in Echara land.
“Let’s also take the New Anglican Road for instance, we suffered flood on the road for over 20 years. There was no solution until he (Ugwuanyi) intervened. After seeing the things and roads he constructed in Nsukka land which everyone of us ply today, just know that you have benefited and Nsukka land has also benefited.
“Your Excellency, the people gathered here today are organic people from their different homes; these are the true voters. Echara is indebted to you, Your Excellency and we are going to pay you back in folds.
“What we are doing now is door-to-door campaign. Rally is just for public show. We have bulk votes and we will deliver you and other PDP candidates in the state. Your Excellency, Echara Community is solidly behind you.”
Other speakers, namely the host, Igwe Ezugwu, the councilor of Nkpunanaw Ward, Hon. Dickson Tochukwu Ezeah, the President General of Echara Town Union, George Okonkwo, the leader of Echara Youth Association, Engr. Onyekachi Ezema, the PDP Zonal Woman Leader, Enugu North Senatorial District, Mrs. Esther Nnenna Agu Nwangwu and Hon. Emmanuel Onyebuchi Asogwa (TM) all spoke in the same vein, appreciating Governor Ugwuanyi for the network of roads his administration constructed in Nsukka town which their community benefited largely from and other numerous development projects in Nsukka zone such as the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, SUMAS, Igbo-Eno; the newly constructed ultra-modern Township Stadium in Nsukka; the Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo which he attracted; primary, secondary and tertiary school projects; health facilities, among others.
They reassured Governor Ugwuanyi of their 100 percent votes for him and other PDP candidates including the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the PDP candidate for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Engr. Vita Abba and the candidate for Nsukka West Constituency, Hon. Amos Amadi Agbo.
The climax of the event was a traditional ritual performed by ‘Akpuruarua Nsukka’ affirming Echara people’s endorsement of Governor Ugwuanyi’s candidature to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly on the platform of the PDP.
Ndishi Echara, Umuada Nsukka, Igwe’s cabinet and stakeholders of Echara Community all joined Igwe Ezugwu at his palace to host the governor, who was accompanied by the Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Hon. Barr. Walter Ozioko, the Board Chairman of Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA), Pastor Chinweike Amoke, Nicholas Ogbonna, his (Ugwuanyi’s) friends, supporters and university classmates.
Politics / PDP's Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Declared Governor-elect Of Enugu by OEPHIUS(m): 10:55pm On Mar 22, 2023 
