Mbah transforming Enugu State genuinely, quietly - Anyaoku

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By Iheanyi Chukwudi

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, has been described as an epitome of good governance, by the former Commonwealth of Nations Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

Eulogizing Mbah on Tuesday at the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance, with the theme, “The Imperative of Good Governance: Nigeria in a Global Comparative perspective,” the diplomat noted that the governor was genuinely and quietly transforming Enugu state.

The 14th lecture series held at the Enugu International Conference Centre, was organised by the board of Youth Affairs International Foundation.

He stressed that visionary leadership and speedy development, such as being witnessed in Enugu State under Mbah, would become a mere routine with a genuine federal constitution.

Anyaoku said, “Allow me the privilege of describing him (Mbah) as a truly performing governor. Yesterday, I was given glimpses of projects that have either been completed or in active progress towards completion.

I saw, for example, this magnificent International Conference Centre. I saw an array of CNG buses at the Okpara Square. I saw the Smart Green Schools, which I gather that the governor’s plan is to replicate in every electoral constituency (wards), and I learnt that there are as many as 260 of them. I was also able to visit a state-of-the-art bus station, the Holy Ghost Terminal.

So, I would say that Governor Peter Mbah is genuinely transforming Enugu State, which used to be described as a civil service state. He is transforming it into an industrial, educational hub and agricultural innovation.

The surprising thing is that all these developments are going on with little publicity. I had expected, as my experience visiting many other states in this country has shown me that in places where you have two to three projects going, you will have massive publicity of them. But not so in Enugu. So, Governor Peter Mbah is not just a performing governor, but he is also a quiet and noiseless performing governor."

In his speech, Governor Mbah emphasised that “good governance – or lack of it – is often the fine margins between an ascendant state and one on a downward trajectory.”

He, therefore, charged leaders to move beyond the realm of ideas into the realm of practicality and renewed his call for people-centred governance and investment in the youth.

He said, “Good intentions alone do not translate to good leadership. Good leadership proceeds from the understanding that the people should be the centerpiece of state policies and projects.”