Prof. Osita Ogbu
Renowned Economist, Prof. Osita Ogbu has said that the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, “is turning the State from a civil servants state to an entrepreneurial state” by building structures and industries that would bring about the desired transformation.
Prof. Ogbu, a one-time Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also said that Mbah has activated plans to strengthen the Enugu State economic base so that it will not rely too much on federal allocation. Ogbu spoke during a Dialogue Series 1, organized by the Enugu State Coalition for Progress, Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch, with the theme: “His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah Administration – The Journey So far.”
The event was held at Adada Hall, Nsukka on Friday. The economist said that Governor Mbah has set plans in motion and is committed to achieving them to develop the state. Ogbu, who also explained his interpretation of Governor Mbah’s ‘Tomorrow is Here,’ slogan, said it was meant to make the leadership, and the citizens continue to think and act ahead for onward movement of the state.
He advised Chairmen of all the local government areas in the state to key into the philosophy of the slogan so that the state would witness a holistic economic development and transformation.
He said: “Mbah’s ‘Tomorrow is Here’ mantra is a philosophy aimed at development and transformation by thinking out of the box. Tomorrow is Here means not looking at the rear mirror in order to move forward. Tomorrow is Here is also for the local government chairmen. While the governor is working, the local government chairmen should as well be working. Tomorrow is Here is for all three tiers of government.”
The erstwhile Economic Adviser likened Mbah to world leaders such as the former Chinese, Malaysian and Israeli leaders who dutifully transformed their country without looking at “hindrances and obstacles” with his philosophy of ‘Tomorrow is Here’.
Ogbu said that Mbah, in his developmental transformation of the state, “does not discriminate against those that voted for him and those that did not” because he saw Enugu State as his constituency. He quoted Gov. Mbah as saying that,” whether you voted for me or not, I’ll develop the state. I’ll wean Enugu State from the Nigerian dependence on the Federation Account.”
Praising Mbah’s leadership qualities and legacies, Ogbu described Enugu State as the “highest spender on Education.”
“We are among the three states in the country that can say bye-bye to Federal Allocation,” he remarked.
A resource person, General Victor Eze Ugwu (rtd), lauded Mbah for his commitment to ensuring security in the state, and urged the local government chairmen not to leave security to the governor alone but to do their own beat in order to ensure the safety and security of Enugu State.
However, the Coordinator of the Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch of the Coalition for Progress, Dr. Chinedu Onuh, said that the era of politics was over and “now is the era of development and the zone is determined” to join hands with the governor in his development strategy.
“We have decided as a people to play developmental politics. Nsukka are united in our loyalty. When he came with the mantra, Tomorrow is Here, we did not understand it but today we understand it.”
