…lauds him for transforming a civil servant state into an entrepreneurial state — Prof. Ogbu

By Chinedu Adonu

Stakeholders from the Enugu North Senatorial Zone have hailed the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah, as a proactive and responsive leader who is driving significant progress in infrastructure, education, security, and equitable development.

This was expressed during the Dialogue Series 1, organized by the Enugu State Coalition for Progress, Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch, with the theme: “His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah Administration – The Journey So Far,” held at Adada Hall, Nsukka on Friday.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Osita Ogbu, former Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, praised Governor Mbah for his vision of transforming Enugu from a predominantly civil service state into an entrepreneurial hub.

Ogbu noted that Mbah’s administration is building industries and infrastructure that strengthen the state’s economic base, reducing dependence on federal allocations.

“He is turning Enugu State into an entrepreneurial state, just like the transformations seen in China, Malaysia, and Israel under their visionary leaders,” Ogbu stated.

He further quoted Mbah’s commitment to inclusive development: “Whether you voted for me or not, I’ll develop the state. I will wean Enugu State off its dependency on the Federation Account.”

Prof. Ogbu highlighted Enugu’s commitment to education, describing it as the “highest spender on education” among Nigerian states. He also emphasized Mbah’s Tomorrow is Here mantra, which he defined as a forward-looking philosophy for economic transformation.

“We are among the three states in the country that can say goodbye to Federal Allocation,” Ogbu remarked, urging local government chairmen to adopt this philosophy for holistic development.

The Coordinator of the Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch of the Coalition for Progress, Dr. Chinedu Onuh, stressed that the era of politics is over, giving way to development.

“We have decided to embrace developmental politics. Nsukka is united in its loyalty to Mbah’s vision. We now understand the significance of Tomorrow is Here,” he stated.

Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Simon Otuanya, commended Mbah for his rapid achievements across multiple sectors, marking a shift from a civil service-dependent state to an emerging industrial hub.

Otuanya revealed that the Coalition for Progress in Enugu State recently passed a vote of gratitude and endorsed Mbah’s continued leadership, recognizing his impactful governance. He also noted major improvements in education through substantial investments and reforms.

Rt. Hon. Dennis Agbo, representing Igboeze/Udenu in the National Assembly, applauded Mbah’s equitable project distribution across wards.

Major General Victor Ezeugwu (rtd.) praised Mbah’s commitment to state security and urged local government chairmen to contribute to security efforts instead of leaving it solely to the governor. He commended Mbah’s responsiveness, increased salaries for local security personnel, and his use of technology in enhancing security measures.