Dr. Alex Ogbonnia
By Tony Adibe
The former members of Enugu State House of Assembly have reviewed and appraised Governor Peter Mbah’s two years in office, insisting that he has performed very well.
The former legislators made their position known after their monthly meeting on Thursday at the Enugu Sports Club within the Enugu metropolis.
They were made up all the former principal officers of the House, from across political party affiliations, and from different parts of Enugu State, and did what they regarded as a thorough review of the two years in Office of Governor Mbah of Enugu State.
Giving their ‘verdict’ on Mbah’s 2-year administration, the former lawmakers acknowledged that there has been, “a dramatic departure, quantum leap, a novelty, and a disruptive, imaginative, exemplary governance model that has touched all the 17 local government areas of Enugu State, in terms of education, security, health-care delivery, tourism, agriculture, road infrastructure, transportation, human empowerment, etc.”
Also, they said: “There is no gainsaying that Enugu State is the safest and most peaceful of all the states in Nigeria; an unusual political culture where all the former governors, former and current Lawmakers at all levels share in banters, camaraderie and fraternity.”
The former lawmakers expressed immense delight that the Enugu magic has attracted global attention with awards such as the Vanguard Good Governance Award (2024); Leadership Governor of the Year (2024), for his visionary leadership, particularly his ambitious goal to increase Enugu State’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within six years; the Sun Governor of the Year (2023); Nigeria Excellence in Public Service (NEPS) Distinguished Award for Infrastructure (2024); Silverbird Governor of the Year (2024); National MSME Award (2024) for an outstanding accomplishments in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Enugu State; the United Nations SDG Champion Award, for his sustainable development initiatives in education, healthcare, and environmental conservation, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; amongst others.
The leader of the former legislators, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, in a statement issued on Thursday, explained that some of the heartwarming projects in Enugu State include the International Conference Centre, Hotel Presidential Enugu, Sunrise Flour Mills, 260 Smart Schools, 260 type 2 Health facilities, Awgu Games Village, medical facilities in the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Dual Carriageway from Enugu to Nsukka, notwithstanding that the entire Enugu has been converted into a huge construction site.
They commended the cordial relationship between the current legislature led by Rt. Hon Uche Ugwu and the Executive stressed that “acrimony, frictions or conflicts between the legislature and the executive had in the past derailed the focus of the state government.”
Ogbonnia also said: “It is our hope that the full dividends of democracy to the people of Enugu State will be best realized in a coherent, peaceful Legislature and Executive.
“As senior citizens of Enugu State, the core interest of the Former Lawmakers is the rancor-free progressive development of Enugu State; a solemn commitment to the goals, aims, and objectives of the founding fathers of the State, which Governor Mbah fulfils diligently.”
