As the race to the Lion Building 2023 hots up in Enugu State, it is a time for sober reflection, a moment of accountability and records. It is a time to tell the people your true love for them using a blow by blow account of your past records as your report card.
It is said that if you achieve nothing, you will be able to lay claim to nothing when history (the people) shall confront you demanding a blow by blow account of your stewardship while in position of authority. A man's pedigree and antecedent that the people will use as mirror for your person as a political contender. Politics is record.
As the race is declared open to the political contenders, we must definitely have the jokers, the players, the game spoilers and the people oriented players who come to equity with clean hands. It is time for Ndi-Enugu to throw political, clanish, emotional and personal sentiments to the wind and thoroughly winnow the seeds from the chaff.
Without fear of contradiction and I stand to be quoted any day, among the five South East States, since 1999 of recent Nigerian democracy, Enugu State is the best developing especially in terms of infrastructure and other social amenities that befit a state of that age. Though not enough as expected by the people. With all that has happened to leadership and development in Enugu State since 1999, it is time for Ndi-Enugu to look inwards for a Governor material that will stake his life, stick his neck, pick the gauntlet and take the iconoclastic steps of courage and bravado to give Enugu State a pride of place having gone through leadership challenges over the years.
Among the governorship candidates for 2023 in Enugu State, a man stands tall with his intimidating credentials, leadership mien, love for his people, verifiable and established records of service and passion with a heart of gold for Ndi-Enugu. This man is Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the MD/Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited and President of Focus International schools, Lagos, a true son of Enugu State, a people oriented, youth loving and egalitarian society loving leader with a humble and calm spirit.
Unfortunately since 1999 till date, infrastructural development in Enugu State has suffered untold backwardness in the highly revered coal city state due to leadership pattern and primitive accumulation of state wealth and excess acquisition instinct becomes the other of the day in successive governments. This is actually not the dream of the founding fathers, and of course the yearnings of Ndi-Enugu. The dream of the founding fathers that the state be placed on a very high business and industrial pedestals. But all were truncated by the poor leadership and management of the state resources by few individuals who found themselves in power. It is only a visionary and energetic leader like Dr. Mbah that can change the narrative and restore the hope of Ndi-Enugu in Enugu of their dreams.
As an Enugu born citizen and political scientist, I'm not used to praise singing or ego trip but my conscience will prick me if I fail to speak what I know is a constructive opinion of most people (including non - Ndi-Enugu) who have taken a close look at events in Enugu State and the over the years antecedents of the political gladiators asking for Ndi-Enugu's votes and their individual pedigrees.
By experience, Peter Mbah is standing very tall among his contemporaries for the governorship of Enugu State. He is the most lebelled gubernatorial candidate in the state by the dwindling oppositions, still he remained calmed in this midst of unwanted provocations because he is a man whose time has come to serve Ndi-Enugu. In fairness the time is now.
In youth development, Dr. Mbah is second to none in the state. In empowerment, he stands very tallest. In infrastructural development of his immediate constituency of the state, even with his personal resources, he remains the best. In spite of his billionaire status as an investor, industrialist and entrepreneur, his humility and calmness of spirit is so loud that you cannot even hear his voice. He is a great personality that exudes an aura that is both irresistible and arresting at once, yet the humility in him is so pervasive that one can almost touch it. Beyond the fact that he is a success story, he is also vivacious, accessible and very public and masses oriented. This is the type of a leader Ndi-Enugu need at this time.
Mbah is a man of great political and intellectual fibre and sterner human refinement. Yet his humble spirit will never manifest pride, ego and braggadocio characteristic of an average Nigerian politician. In the year 1908 during famous Balfour declaration, A.J Balfour said and I quote him, "Social progress demands a succession of men and women of more than average intelligence in all leading positions and all actions must be initiated and effected by them". Dr. Mbah is a man of more than average intelligence both academically, politically, socially and otherwise.
In social amenities for his people, his records are larger than life. Dr. Mbah in my candid personal opinion is one of the most development conscious and people oriented characters in recent time in Nigeria and Enugu State is lucky and highly privileged to have him as a son. My very attraction like most rational and constructive thinkers to this great man will help to draw the historical into fictive, the man into the character and the person into the persona. Chief Mbah is stricto-sensu is an embodiment of service to humanity and cannot be denied.
This is child of destiny that was born in a manger, fed with stick spoon but by dint of hard work, Grace, focus, rugged determination, resilience and implicit faith in the Almighty God, he was able to surmount the scourge of poverty and is today a global icon in the business world having made his success story in the import of goods and equipments where he started his life career. He later triumphed into his business conglomerates where also he made his success story in the oil and gas industry as a business mogul before his guest to serve his people spurred him into politics.
The jumbo corruption witnessed in the past and present governance in various political spheres in Nigeria cannot be unconnected with the poverty background factor of a lot of politicians before coming into governance and leadership positions. Such people see office like a helpless ant that suddenly finds itself in a jar of sugar and made criminal and excess acquisition instinct their watch word instead of the primary duty of service to the people. Having seen wealth, tears and joy of life, and having seen as well as in global business, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is not the type of leader that will make primitive acquisition of wealth his priority in governance. He has wealth, his primary mission in politics is service to humanity and the people.
Age is very much on his side, a young 51 and a very successful family man who has excelled in every aspect of life is the type of Governor Ndi-Enugu should be craving for at this time of their political life. It was American politician and writer, William Clay who served in Congress for 32 years that said, "This is quite a game, politics. There are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends, only permanent interests." With all that Ndi-Enugu have seen and gone through in governance before now, this is the right time to embrace one another, bury the hatchet and support Dr. Mbah wisely to bring the Enugu of their dream. People who do not learn from mistakes are doomed to repeat it. Do not judge a son from a sin of his father because the son could be the awaiting messiah.
The choice of this God-given young man as the next Governor of Enugu State come 29 May 2023 will be one of the best decisions ever taken by Ndi-Enugu as the day draws nearer.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei -the voice of the people is the voice of God. Indeed, Tomorrow is here.
