By Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku
Governance is a serious business; so it must not be left only to the whims and caprices of the 'career politicians'. Why? Their sole intent is, generally speaking, predicated upon the selfish, the mundane and absurd. Therefore, Ndi-Enugu electorate does not a seer anymore to make them decide who should be the number one man at Lion Building this time around.
Now that the much - awaited gubernatorial campaign is gaining momentum, it is time to look beyond sentiments, to study the manifestoes, track records and profiles of the 2023 gubernatorial candidates. We need to take heed however and single-mindedly ensure that the mistake of picking a governor whose mission do not always match our over-ached expectations, be scrupulously avoided, going forward. That is, the man with the experience and the track record is one to consensually elect and certainly not a joker, nor one chosen through primordial sentiments. Our next governor must be the one who manifestly and transparently has the capacity and persona to lead us to the Enugu of our dreams.
In surveying the field of contestants, Peter Mbah stands out for his uniquely unmatched profile. A politician and businessman who served as the Chief of Staff, as well as Commissioner for Finance during the most admirable administration of Dr. Sen Chimaroke Ogbonnia Nnamani, MD FACOG (Ebeano), Dr. Mbah is no doubt a blessing at this time for the ruling party who is poised to bring new agenda that will be beneficial to Ndi-Enugu.
There are many reasons why Dr. Mbah is the right person for Ndi-Enugu at this time, following his excellent distinction in the private sector and administrative prowess.
Peter Mbah has a blueprint for governance. The former Chief of Staff, as well as Commissioner for Finance who enjoys the company of educated people and is an intellectual in his own right has prepared a policy document with his vision encapsulated in JOBS - Jobs, Opportunity, Being United and Security. In it, he sets out his superb mastery of the developmental challenges facing the state and how he will tackle them, sector by sector when he becomes governor.
On the month of October 2022, Dr. Peter Mbah outlined his governance and political agenda to Ndi-Enugu and a profiled distinguished international audience of foriegn diplomats, Nigerians, politicians, academics, private investors and leading businessmen at the Godfrey Okoye University, Thinkers Corner, Enugu state. In the presentation titled, "The Statement of Purpose", Mbah presented an outline of a cooperative and all - inclusive type of democratic government in which the state and private sector would be partners in a transparent system built on prudent economic management, as against the present situation of master-servant relationship where the state get monthly handouts from the central government.
According to Dr. Mbah and experts who have reviewed the presentation, this system of state-private economic management will liberate the creative energies of the Enugu and encourage her to mobilize and better resources for development in areas where it has comparative advantages.
Dr. Mbah's investment are the Peter Mbah foundation and group of schools in Lagos, and the development institution known as FOCUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, the (FIS) is one of the first best development-oriented institution of higher learning in Nigeria, privately owned by an Owo man, hailed from Enugu state. Dr. Mbah also established Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited which makes distribution for all classes of oil and gas resources. The common trend that runs through all of these investments of the former Chief of Staff is that they employ thousands of Nigerians directly and indirectly, provide quality education and provide skills and entrepreneurship as well as innovation, which is the catalyst of development.
Aside from being a foremost investor and entrepreneur, Dr. Mbah has carved a niche as a good economic manager. As Commissioner for Finance under the administration of Dr. Sen Chimaroke Ogbonnia Nnamani, MD -FACOG (Ebeano), Mbah led an economic council which started a revolution of sorts in the management of the state economy. Under the Dr. Nnamani's administration which Mbah served as Finance Commissioner, Enugu state did well in introducing measures and implementing policies that gave the entire state economy a lease of life and a breath of fresh air and created jobs and regular income for majority of the citizens.
On a final note, therefore; a unique quality which sets Mbah apart from other candidates and which shows that Mbah is better for Ndi-Enugu in 2023 going forward, given the present sorry state of national integration in Nigeria, is that in Mbah's thinking, there is only Enugu state; whose citizens without exception deserve equal access to the good things of life. The way the former Chief of Staff runs his business and family is such that there is no place for tribalism, no nepotism, and exclusion. No one near him is made to feel unwanted, like a stranger or an outsider which are all hallmarks of the persona and decision of some political leaders.
Dr. Peter Mbah, Olileanya Ndi-Enugu and a Nigerian of fine credentials comes in as a breath of fresh air both from the larger Enugu political space that has been poorly represented by some clanish interests. For the APC/LP's change of duplicity to be consigned to the trashcan of unwanted history, Ndi-Enugu voters need to vote for a real organized investor under a man ready, eager and yearning for service. Indeed, Tomorrow Is Here.
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#EnuguState
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#TomorrowIsHere
