There have been increasing calls for private sector operators who have made great marks in their chosen areas of operations to participate in politics to replicate their feats in public offices. Since the return of Nigeria to civil rule, a number of states have been governed by private sector players. In many cases, the difference has been clear.
A few states have also done well in terms of governance since 1999. Enugu State is one of them. From the foundation laid by the Chimaroke Nnamani, to building on the great infrastructural excellence of the Sullivan Chime administration, to the current efforts of the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration at cementing the efforts, Peter Mbah, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, has pledged to take the state to greater heights. In a town hall meeting with the people of Nsukka East and West development areas in Nsukka LGA Enugu State, Mbah enunciated some of his programmes, which he said would be translated into reality when inaugurated as governor in 29th May, 2023. Hinting that all their request have been carefully captured in his manifesto, or statement of purpose.
Mbah gave the assurance that once taken over office next year, he would grow the state's economy to an enviable position, leveraging his secret of success in his private business. Dr. Mbah said that it was his projection to grow the state economy from $4.4billion to $30 billion with the private sector
playing greater role in the economic development of the state. But reminded that it was going to be gargantuan task to achieve that, he said that the experience of what he has done in the past and what he does with his business, the ambitious projection was realizable.
On his plans to continue with the projects and programmes of his the current administration in the state, Mbah said that since government is a continuum, there would be no issue with continuing with where his predecessor would stop on May 29, 2023 especially on good governance, peace and security and other infrastructural projects since such projects are in the interest of the people of the state. The gubernatorial candidate, who is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company, said Enugu would be opened to the world for business, pointing out that the ease of doing business would be made a priority and private sector would be given the opportunity to drive the economy.
Assuring the people of these development areas, "what we are going to witness in Enugu is going to be massive. We will enable private sector development and open Enugu state for business as we will invite private sectors to inject huge funds for the development of the state," he said. Asked how he hoped to combat the perennial water problem in the state, particularly in the capital city of Enugu, the businessman cum politician said that giving the people pipe-borne water was top on his priority list. According to him, the water shortage in Enugu will be a thing of the past.
"The issue of water scarcity in Enugu has been a challenge for so long. It is one of our priorities to combat it. We are going to give the people of Enugu pipe-borne water. We want to make sure that our people will go to the taps and be able to get water," he said. He also promised that his administration would return the state to a prime spot for tourism, adding that there are many beautiful places in the state that remain tourist attraction, which also would be a focus towards increasing the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.
It is also his plan to collaborate with other sister-states in the southeast geopolitical zone to combat the insecurity that is hindering meaningful business and development in the zone. Dr. Mbah assured the people of his programmes on agro-allied industry in the area. This will enable our farmers to have access to funds and modern technological know-how.
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