Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia (Ozowaluona)
There is jubilation galore in Enugu state as His Excellency, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is expected to officially join the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Dr. Michael Okpara Square on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. There are two major sources for the jubilation:
First, the people of Enugu State want to demonstrate that any incumbent can command respect, loyalty, followership and legitimacy so long as he discharges creditably the functions and fulfils the roles expected of his office. Mbah has convinced the people of Enugu State that he is a visionary; a man who wills into existence that which does not exist, and pursues its actualization with zeal, passion, integrity, and physical and intellectual prowess. He espouses and exemplifies a creative, innovative, and disruptive governance model with visible outcomes. He has shown that a state government can achieve much within a space of two years. He has recalibrated governance in diverse ways, and the Igbo are proud of him, such that many have named him a Magic Governor. Therefore, any slightest affront to such a peoples’ leader attracts the venom of the followers.
Second: I am one of the Founders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State. I doubled as the Director of Operations for Alex Ekwueme Campaign Organisation (ALEPCO) in Enugu State and the Campaign Manager of Prince Nduka Agu Campaign Organisation in 1998/1999. I have remained very passionate about my party, the PDP, but when the leadership of the PDP deliberately engages in a macabre dance or to sink its ship for filthy lucre, the followers will be expected to explore some other options.
For instance, on October 3, 2022, as the National publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I reminded Alh. Atiku Abubakar that Ohanaeze Ndigbo expected him to reciprocate the Igbo support to him in 2019 by throwing his weight behind the Igbo, especially the South East for presidency in 2023. (see Atiku Knows It’s Igbo’s Turn To Be Nigerian President, And …Sahara Reporters https://saharareporters.com › 2022/10/03 › atiku-knows-i…) As the Ohanaeze spokesman, I reminded Atiku that “it is the turn of the Igbo people to produce the president after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner”. Apart from Atiku Abubakar, many other eminent Northerners in PDP declared their interests for presidency in 2019. So bad. In fact, that was the height of insincerity, political shenanigan and the nemesis of the onetime great party, the PDP.
The last of the PDP intrigues was the treachery displayed against the candidacy of the Rt. Hon. SKE Ude-Okoye, the South East consensus candidate for the office of the National Secretary of the PDP. For the PDP to ignore the position of Governor Mbah, the Leader of the party in the South East is, to say the least, very disastrous. The PDP narratives since 1999 is full of woes to Ndigbo, and in Enugu State, we say that “Enough is Enough!
We are delighted that Governor Peter Mbah has been able to navigate a new path for Ndi Enugu. For Ndi Enugu, the Igbo proverb says miri maru Ugo… a paradox where an intended injury turns an entirely new leaf of life, a serendipity, and a precious eureka.
Beyond the sterling performance of Governor Peter Mbah is his suave, calm, prudent, pleasant, and cosmopolitan public conduct. These are the priceless attributes that will continue to catapult him to greater heights. In addition, Mbah has demonstrated love and equity for every part of Enugu State by building 260 smart schools and Type 2 Hospitals in every ward of Enugu State. I don’t intend to list such accomplishments as the International Conference Centre, Enugu, the dualization of the Nike-Nsukka Road, the Presidential Hotel, Enugu, and numerous projects in the State.
The Mbah reflective acumen and deep sense of history would reveal that as at 1919, the administrative structures of the present Enugu State were Awgu, Udi, and Nsukka Divisions. Enugu State has metamorphosed to four cultural zones, namely: Awgu, Agbaja, Nkanu, and Nsukka. His Excellency knows that since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, it is pathetic that Awgu Cultural zone is the only area amongst its peers that has never produced a full-fledged minister, no deputy governor, no governor, and has never been appointed an Ambassador, and so on and so forth.
I therefore plead with His Excellency to break the above jinx by appointing an indigene from the Greater Awgu cultural zone to fill the gap created by the exit of Chief Uche Nnaji, as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Greater Awgu comprising Aninri, Awgu, and Oji River Local Government Areas, is star-studded with enormous human capital. The indigenes of Greater Awgu epitomize hard work, discipline, robust intellect, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and above all, loyalty. I am encouraged to place this request because His Excellency has at various times displayed a noble heart of empathy, equity, social justice, and moral edifice.
The above humble request is far from being a condition precedent for an unalloyed support, but a moral imperative that beckons the attention of His Excellency.
Let it be on record that I have today, October 13, 2025, resigned my membership of the PDP, the party I sacrificed a lot to nurture in 1998/1999. I therefore use this opportunity to enjoin the good people of Awgu LGA, Enugu West Senatorial District, and Enugu State to continue to support His Excellency, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in his vision for a better Enugu State.
