MY MISSION IS TO DELIVER PEOPLE FOCUSED GOVERNANCE, WE’LL VOTE PDP ALL THE WAY – PETER MBAH, ENUGU PDP GUBER CANDIDATE
Enugu: The Enugu State Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has stated that his mission was to “deliver quality, people-focused governance by making Enugu the preferred destination for investment business, tourism and living”
The London trained lawyer and major stakeholder in the down stream sector of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry made the assertion this Thursday while unveiling his manifesto to the citizens of Enugu State at an elaborate ceremony held at Peter Mbah Auditorium, Faculty of Law, Godfrey Okoye University, Thinkers Corner, Enugu.
For over two hours, he gave an elaborate extempore analysis of his “Tomorrow is Here” manifesto, touching all aspects of the manifesto such as provision of adequate portable water, lands administration, security, industrialization, Agro-business , transportation, urban renewal, health care, youth empowerment and job creation.
Afterwards, two Federal lawmakers, Rt Hon Nnoli Nnaji and Rt Hon Toby Okechukwu made brief remarks.
Rt Hon Nnoli Nnaji, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation commended Mbah for his indepth presentation.
“I commend you for your indepth presentation. I’m particularly excited by the interest you have shown in the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and I shall be glad to work with you in that regard.
“However, you missed one important thing: The National Budget. It’s a critical document because it plays a major role in Governance”
He urged Mbah to work effectively with Federal lawmakers from Enugu State and to have periodic meetings with them to evolve ways of assessing funds from it and ensuring that he gets the best from the National Budget, as a Governor, noting that there were several experienced Parliamentarians from the state he could rely on, both serving and former Parliamentarians, including Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi.
In his own contribution, Rt Hon Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives commended him on his comprehensive presentation, assuring him of his support.
“By your presentation, you have given Ndị Enugu a promissory note. You elaborated on the Economics of the politics, the deliverables.
“You’re bankable, people can invest in you. We’re going to work together”
From there, Dr Mbah proceeded to the NUJ Press Centre, Independence Layout, for a World Press conference as part of his manifesto unveiling.
He stated emphatically that there “was no crisis in Enugu State PDP and that PDP Enugu was one family”.
On his view regarding the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, Mbah had this to say:
“We’re voting PDP all the way; our democracy is political party dependent. On the ballot paper, you will see political parties, not individuals”
He also dispelled the rumour that he was under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence, FBI, or any anti-Corruption agency.
“I have never been a subject of any investigation”
On the issue of water supply in the state, he said he would comprehensively tackle it from the up stream, mid stream and down stream stages.
According to him, the water schemes at Ajalli and Oji had enough capacity to meet the state’s needs, if their mechanical and electrical challenges were addressed by ensuring steady power supply.
Specifically, Mbah said that his Government would work towards revamping the Oji power station to ensure that the Oji water scheme had steady uninterrupted power supply.
He explained that in the down stream sector, old reticulation lines that have outlived their “design life” would be replaced.
On the economy, he said his administration will do things differently to enhance productivity, using mechanical implements for agriculture, add value to produce through industrialization that will lift the citizens from poverty.
He promised to ensure that Enugu becomes one of the top three states in Nigeria in terms of gross domestic product and achieve zero percent rate in the poverty headcount index.
Mbah said that he would turn Enugu State around economically by increasing the state’s GDP from N4.5 billion to N30 billion in the next eight years, adding that he would embarked on aggressive road construction and reconstruction to alleviate traffic gridlock in Enugu metropolis and beyond.
On revenue generation, he said his Government would raise revenue by ensuring that the state becomes recognized as an oil producing state. Also, he stated that his Government would dwell on spreading the tax net in the state to ensure that more people paid their taxes instead of increasing the taxes currently being paid.
On transportation, he explained that his Government would employ multimodal transportation systems incorporating light rail, tram services and inland waterway services to complement and equally reduce the burden on the existing road transport infrastructure.
He equally explained that contrary to common belief, Enugu was not landlocked and that his Government would collaborate with the Nigerian Inland Waterways Agency, NIWA, to effectively utilize the state’s Waterways for transportation.
He also promised to build on the education legacies the incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has already built, assuring to make education free, from primary to secondary level.
“Peace and security will be achieved through a three-pronged intervention, (An integrated programme to accelerate youth employment for all Enugu citizens, integrated rural development programmes and community policing and inclusion of all citizens in the governance of the state.”
He equally elaborated on his youth empowerment agenda: “Igbos are known for commerce and enterprise. We shall embark on structured apprenticeship with a N100bn Venture Capital Fund for our talented youths to startup after their apprenticeship”
