I am not from Enugu State, but I went to school there and have an emotional attachment to the Coal City. I also visit it often.
Yesterday, I went there on the invitation of Lady Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, fnipr, LAUX, former Commissioner for Education, Anambra State and currently acting Vice Chancellor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam. Her son, Damian Ifeanyichukwu, was among the 40 seminarians ordained as Deacons of the Catholic Church at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu.
The journalist in me couldn’t stop me from going round Enugu after the ordination ceremonies to feel the good work Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is doing.
I dare say that, indeed, Enugu is now working. Somebody had challenged me when I wrote this few days ago, by saying “he is working on a stolen mandate”. I don’t know about that. INEC said he won. The courts said he won. Therefore, he won. I think that’s the civilized thing to do.
But what interests me is what the governor is doing. How he emerged may be debatable, especially to the supporters of the Labour Party whose candidate, Chijioke Edoga, laid claim to victory.
I went to the International Conference Center to behold a comprehensive transformation of the complex that had been abandoned for about three decades and which didn’t receive any attention from more than four different civilian administrations, beginning from the military experiment when Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo was the governor up to the last administration of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi alias Gburugburu.
I was on the press team that went with former military administrator of old Anambra State, late Group Captain Sampson Emeka Omeruah (later promoted Air Commodore) when the conference center foundation was laid. That was in the 80s. Since then, the place had remained abandoned.
Not anymore.
I used to go to hotel presidential to swim. In fact, I learnt how to swim there. I used to go there to hero worship Kris Okotie who was then a law student at the Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria. He had just released his chart bursting album, “I Need Someone”. He was the rave of the moment then.
The hotel last functioned under Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. It was inherited by Enugu State after the creation of the new Anambra. Before that, Rivers State took the one in Port Harcourt and the old Anambra inherited the one in Enugu. (Please pardon me if I don’t get these facts right; I’m writing while being driven round Enugu).
Anyway, Gov. Mbah is also rebuilding the hotel.
Governor Mbah is changing the landscape of the Coal City in an admirable manner. The roundabout at Okpara Avenue, by Rangers Avenue, by New Haven junction, by the Government House, have been remodelled and they have given the city a new beautiful look.
He’s working on roads, on pipe borne water, on electricity, etc. And I ask, where is he getting the money to do all these?
I am not writing this as a public relations article for Governor Mbah; I am doing so because I have always desired good governance that delivers democracy dividends to the long-suffering masses.
Enugu State had been placed “in the hands of God”, has seen the mantra, “Enugu is working”. But none of the exponents of those cliches have been able to transform the former capital of the defunct Eastern Nigeria, East Central State, old Anambra State like Gov. Peter Mbah. Sullivan Iheanacho Chime did his best. But of all, and within so short a time, Governor Mbah will likely take his rightful place in the annals of the State with what he’s doing.
I am completely convinced the man has a purpose and it is to truly make Enugu State better than anybody has ever imagined.
If you’re from Enugu State, count yourself lucky that Mbah is your governor. His emergence may not have been without some controversies, but if he continues the way he’s going, you guys may echo unequivocally that ‘Enugu State is truly in the hands of God’ and that Enugu State is truly Working’.
(c) Fred Chukwuelobe, fnipr.
