The people of Ugwuomu Nike community in Enugu East Local Government Area have declared Enugu Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, their sole candidate and political party for the 2027 governorship election, in recognition of his unprecedented transformation of their once-neglected and abandoned community.
At a colourful thanksgiving and civic reception, Sunday, in honour of their son and Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Dr Felix Nnamani, the community conferred on the governor the traditional title of “Ekwueme 1 of Enugu State.”
The celebration, which began with a Holy Mass presided by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev’d Calistus Onaga, soon turned into a vibrant display of culture, with masquerade performances, traditional dances and goodwill messages from dignitaries.
Dr. Nnamani, who hosted the event, recalled his childhood years of deprivation, describing how he trekked long distances to school because Ugwuomu which was once a solitary community had neither roads nor educational facilities, saying the situation remained unchanged for decades until Governor Mbah came and “rewrote their story.”
He also commended the governor for revolutionizing agriculture in Ugwuomu, noting that the people, once dependent on crude farming methods, now benefit from large scale modern technologies introduced by the Mbah administration to boost agriculture.
Listing ongoing infrastructure works, Nnamani said the governor had constructed 15 kilometres of road from Owo through Ubahu to Ugwuomu Nike, linking to Godfrey Okoye University, while another 15-kilometre road from Ugwuogo Nike through Ako Nike to the Goodluck Jonathan International Market was progressing under RAMP, adding that an 11-kilometre Ugwuomu–Juhel–Emene road had also been approved for construction.
Reaffirming their support for the governor, the traditional ruler of the ancient community, Chief Austin Anike, said Governor Mbah had “wiped away our tears,” maintaining that his developmental strides had erased decades of neglect. He urged the governor to further honour the community by supporting one of their sons for the position of Enugu East Local Government chairman.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Enugu East Local Government, Engr. Beloved-Dan Anike, praised Mbah’s inclusive governance and noted that before his emergence, more than 70 percent of Nike communities were inaccessible. “All these were now history as the governor is constructing over 30 roads in Nike.”
Speaking, the governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, appreciated the people for the honour, assuring them that his administration would continue to deliver on its campaign pledges.
Earlier, in his homily, Bishop Onaga described Governor Mbah as a model of governance whose leadership had set new standards in Enugu and Nigeria at large.
Among dignitaries at the event were the immediate past Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, former Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Priscilla Emehelu, members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Princess Obiajulu Ugwu and Hon. Raymond Ugwu, former House of Representatives member and 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, among others.
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