•Wows Tinubu with Stellar Performance

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

Good governance has been a lacking ingredient in the Nigeria political space as a result of recruitment process. In most cases, we have always had square pegs in a round holes. Most times, considerations in the choice of leaders are influenced either by one’s deep pocket, narrow group interests or affiliation to godfatherism.

However, like Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” The former appears to be the case with the Enugu State Government today under the leadership of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

Some political pundits have observed that the governor seems to be in a hurry to develop and transform the state because of the pressing circumstances in the various sectors. Just about 18 months on the saddle, Governor Mbah has already stamped his signature on the developmental map of the state and become a symbol of good governance in Nigeria.

On January 5, 2025, he pulled out President Bola Tinubu, from Lagos to Enugu for the commissioning of legacy projects executed by his administration. It was a visit the president was upbeat about as he enthusiastically announced during a New Year luncheon with governors at his Bourdillon residence that he would perform his first official function in 2025 in Enugu and looked forward to adorning the Isiagu dress and a red cap.

Aware of the profligacy majority of those who occupy elective positions are known for, President Tinubu did not hide his excitement as he touched down on the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. He was palpably happy with the reception, but even more importantly, the numbers and quality of projects executed by Mbah in less than two years.

Projects commissioned by the president were the 30 completed and equipped Enugu Smart Green Schools out of 260 under construction across the 260 wards in the state, completed multi-auditorium and multi-functional Enugu International Conference Centre, 90 completed urban roads in Enugu City, and a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre/ 150 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-embedded surveillance cameras.

Of particular interest are the Smart the ultramodern Command and Control Centre. The president symbolically commissioned all the 30 competed Smart Schools at the Government Technical School (GTC), Opposite Shoprite. But it was also gathered that the iconic GTC was left to totally dilapidate, hence the governor relocated students and demolished the buildings. He is currently constructing one of eight massive, brand new Science, Technical, and Vocational Schools (STVS) designated for the eight Federal Constituencies where some of the children will graduate to after completing basic education are well separated through landscaping and roads.

Meanwhile, the Command Centre is by miles the biggest and most sophisticated in Nigeria, according to a security expert. With modern statewide CCTV, and ancillary security infrastructure, security agencies are able to keep surveillance on the entire state. There were also 150 patrol cars with AI-embedded cameras mounted on each of them to keep the state peaceful and spur private sector investment.

Expectedly, President Tinubu could not hide his excitement while commissioning them. He declared, ”I am very proud of Nigeria. Mbah is proud of Nigeria. He is doing everything possible to provide security, attracting foreign investors, and other investors locally. There’s no better investment than the investment to secure lives. I saw those cars, the Distress Response Squad. It is the way to go.

“This has assured me of the fact that more revenue going to sub-national and local government is not a waste. It is for development when we have committed leaders like Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st century development, to greater heights, building our tomorrow today.

“I cannot forget the sight of those small children that I just met in a green 21st century school. We also went to the multi-purpose International Conference Centre and here we are commissioning the investment in security that will bring about rapid development. I could see the gadgets with 21st century technology. Yes, you are indeed planning for today, tomorrow and the future of Enugu.

”It is audacious to have this hall filled with technology and be ready for use to promote investment. One thing we all know, you are a private sector person, we must encourage more private sector to come into politics.

“I usually say that investment is very cowardly, they run away from trouble. And when you assure security, development and give value for their money, they will be your friend.”

But President Tinubu made even more profound statements at engagement with South East stakeholders. In what many see as presidential upbraid of some key members of the party in the state like the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, and some APC governors, who disappeared after the airport reception or boycotted the event altogether, the president stressed that any performing governor is his friend, irrespective of party affiliations.

“I am glad that Enugu got a very good tomorrow, today. I salute Peter Mbah for his commitment to development. Mbah is doing a fantastic job. You have built up a good team and I have reviewed a number of things with you in Abuja. You have encouraged me on the technological advancement of the state. The commitment you have from private sector. I know your background.

“The election is over and we have to move the nation forward. You have demonstrated that irrevocable commitment towards human development. I don’t care which party you come from. You are my friend. You are doing well and very focused. We must build this house called Nigeria to not just satisfy our immediate need, but our tomorrow too. That’s why the removal of the fuel Subsidy was necessary. We can not spend the future of generation yet unborn in advance. Don’t bankrupt the nation before they’re born.

“Again, no one of us has control of the mother tongue. God created us, and you can find yourself in enugu, onitsha, or Lagos. We are all members of one huge family called nigeria, but we live in different rooms in the same house. We must build this house to satisfy our immediate and future needs.

“I am very proud of Nigeria. Mbah is proud of Nigeria. He is doing everything possible to provide security, attracting foreign investors, and other investors locally. There’s no better investment than the investment to secure lives.

“Please, continue to cooporate and collaborate with your son, brother and friend here, Mbah, who is really committed to push the development of Enugu State and be a good symbol of south eastern states,” he stated.
On his part, governor Mbah, who has exhibited a simple lifestyle since he assumed office, told the president that all the projects he commissioned on the day and all his administration was doing were all connected to his vision to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within four years and make the state the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living in the country.
“Our goals include growing Enugu State from the $4.4bn economy that it was on my accession to office, to a $30bn economy in the next four to eight years. It also includes the ambition to make Enugu State one of Nigeria’s top three states in GDP terms.

“But we recognise that insecurity stifles dreams such as we have, and drain life out of a city like untamed criminality – or any hint of it. That understanding is evident in the substantial investments we have made in strengthening security in Enugu State. The framework of our security system was designed to nip crime in the bud, and react swiftly when there is any breach of security.

“However, a sense of security is not simply instilled through the physical presence of arms-bearing personnel. It is rather reinforced by a system that helps guarantee a sense of security even when the threat of crime is remote.
“This is what our AI-enhanced security initiative, which has led to round-the-clock surveillance of our streets and neighbourhoods across the entire state, is helping us to achieve.

“This statewide CCTV network is operated via this Command and Control Centre commissioned today.
‘’Again, we no longer observe sit-at-home in Enugu. Our people go to work every day of the week, and we no longer take orders from non-state actors,” he said.

The governor told the President that some of the Smart Green Schools commissioned during the state visit were part of the modern schools introduced by his administration across 260 wards to equip students with 21st-century skills.

He explained that his administration had also focused on primary healthcare, building 260 Primary Healthcare Centres to maintain consistent quality with 24/7 services, even in remote areas.

Mbah, however added that the projects were substantially made possible by increased funds orchestrated by the removal of fuel subsidy.

“All these infrastructural developments are mainly possible because of your bold initiatives. The courageous pronouncements you made to free up funds for development: the removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the foreign exchange, and several social interventions that your government continues to provide for the people of this country.

“We are now essentially, with those funds freed, able to fully complete these projects. And it’s not just physical infrastructure; social and digital infrastructure are going on,” Governor Mbah said.
With all that transpired, it can be rightly reported that President Tinubu came, he saw things by himself, and was very impressed. The onus is now on Mbah to outperform himself.