No no no Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, said that President Bola Tinubu has travelled over 260 days outside the country, but can’t spend 36 days to go round the states of the federation to campaign for next year’s general election.

President Tinubu had said that he may not campaign in all the 36 states of the country for next year’s general election because governance also require his attention.

Obi who declared himself as the leading presidential candidate for the 2027 election, said the President does not have the energy and competence to run the country and therefore should pack out of Aso Rock, go home and rest.

He stated this on Thursday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, during a town hall political summit.

“I want President Tinubu to come to Abakaliki to tell the people what he has done in the past three years. I want him to come to Abakaliki to tell you what he used the money he has been borrowing to do for the past three years.

The former governor of Anambra state urged the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), to made himself available in Ebonyi state to tell Nigerians what he has used their monies he borrowed to do.

“President Tinubu has stayed over 260 days out of Nigeria yet, he cannot spend up to 36 days to go round Nigeria to tell the people what he has been doing for the past three years. We will not do that.

“President Tinubu does not have the competence to run Nigeria. He does not have the energy to run Nigeria. He should pack his things, go home and rest”, he said

Obi warned against dividing South East and declared that he was seeking votes of the electorate as a Nigerian who is eminently qualified for the presidency.

“Let nobody divide the South East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the South East. I don’t want you to vote for me because I am an Igbo person.

“My dear people, I want you to vote for me because I am qualified to be the President of this country. I want you to vote for me because I am the leading candidate”, he opined

He announced to declare emergency on hunger, insecurity, education, corruption, health, power and other challenges confronting the nation and threatened to jail anyone who embezzles public fund if he emerges the President.

“We will declare emergency on about seven items. Number one is that we must unite Nigeria. We don’t want people to be around Nigeria saying, I am Igbo, I am Yoruba, I am Hausa, I am this, I am that.

“We must unite this country, our pride should not be consideration of employment, this or that. We will operate federal character for all the jobs we have. So, we must unite the country.

“We will declare emergency in the security of lives and property in Nigeria. We will deal with insecurity decisively. Nobody will be in charge, we will be in charge.

“Let me assure today, if I am President of this country, kids come to school and somebody takes them into the bush, we will be in the bush with such person. They will not be there alone, we will be there with those kids. We will defend the country because we are going to equip the security agencies to make sure that our country is safe.

“We will declare emergency in corruption. I will fight corruption like nobody has fought it before. Public money must be used for public good, nobody will steal our money again. If you do it, you will go to jail starting from the President.

“We will declare emergency in education.

“We have over 18 million children out of school, we must reduce it. We will declare emergency on hunger. We have vast lands, our farmers must go back to farm, be able to cultivate, give us what we eat and be able to export. We will do that.

“We will declare emergency in health. We must have a functional healthcare in all the political ward of Nigeria. Every ward must have it, we have the resources to do it,” Obi stated.

Peter Obi and President Tinubu

…Recounts challenges inherited in 2023, outlines progress in security, infrastructure, education, economic development

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has rendered an account of his manifesto performance to the people of Enugu State, saying his administration had made substantial progress in restoring Enugu’s position as a place where people want to live, work, invest and visit.

Mbah recalled that he presented his manifesto at the same venue in October 2022 ahead of the 2023 governorship election, saying the Manifesto Performance Update was in keeping faith with the Citizens Charter (Executive Order 001), which he executed upon his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

Speaking at the event themed “Our Commitment to Ndi Enugu: The Journey So Far,” which took place at the Peter Mbah Law Auditorium at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, on Thursday, Mbah recalled the state of affairs at the time he assumed office and outlined his government’s achievements, development priorities and long-term economic ambitions.

“Think back to May 2023, when we first assumed office. Think about the condition of our state, the difficulties we faced, and the expectations we had.

“There was a time when Monday was no longer an ordinary working day in Enugu. Shops remained closed. Roads were deserted. Parents were afraid to send their children to school. People who depended on their daily earnings had to surrender an entire day’s income because others had decided they should remain indoors. That was the reality we inherited.

“Our roads were in poor condition. Public services had deteriorated. Many schools were struggling to provide the kind of education our children deserved. Our health facilities needed substantial investment. And Enugu, a city that had once been the natural centre of commercial, political and cultural life across the region, was gradually losing that position.

“Businesses were looking elsewhere. Major events were moving to other cities. Our airport had barely two incoming flights a day,” he stated.

He, however, said his administration had guided the state to significant progress, highlighting achievements in health, education, tourism, agriculture, transportation and other sectors, and their connections to his 2023 campaign promise to eradicate poverty and grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

“Today, people are going about their business with a freedom that had been denied to them for far too long.

“A trader can plan a full working week. Children can attend school. Businesses can receive customers, move goods and keep their employees working. That security gave us a foundation upon which other changes could begin,” he said.

“That is how economic development begins to reach into households and communities.

“The changes are visible, and the scale of our ambition is becoming clearer. We should take pride in what has been achieved, while recognising how much remains to be done,” he maintained.

He urged the people to seize the opportunity of the moment by rallying around him to continue with the task of building a prosperous future for the state.

“This is one moment in the long history of Enugu. This is a moment of extraordinary possibility for our people. And I believe this is the moment we must seize. The work we have begun needs the commitment of all of us.

“I ask you to bring your ideas, your skills, your enterprise and your experience into the life of our state. Take an interest in what is happening in your community. Help us identify problems and develop practical solutions.

“We have the opportunity to leave something of lasting value to those who come after us: a state with stronger institutions, a more productive economy, better opportunities for its children and communities whose people can take pride in what they have achieved together. That is the Enugu I want us to build,” he concluded.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Prof. Christian Anieke, recalled that Mbah had presented his manifesto at the same venue in 2022, ahead of the 2023 governorship election, which he subsequently won.

Anieke commended the governor for returning to the university to render an account of his stewardship nearly four years into his administration.

He urged other political leaders entrusted with public office to emulate the practice of returning to the people to explain their performance and account for their promises.

The vice-chancellor said the accomplishments of the Mbah administration were evident and verifiable, arguing that many of the projects and interventions were visible to residents.

The event drew the attendance of a cross-section of the society, including members of the academia, students, civil society organisations, business owners, professional bodies, and media, among others.

By Tony Edike

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has urged the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu, arguing that strategic political alliances and the Federal Government’s investments in the region are essential to driving industrialisation, creating jobs and securing a better future for its people.

Mbah said the South-East should prioritise its economic interests and developmental needs over political sentiments, pointing to the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), the proposed regional gas pipeline and investments in road and airport infrastructure as reasons the region should strengthen its relationship with the Tinubu administration.

The governor made the call during the inauguration of the Enugu State APC Campaign Council, where he highlighted the potential benefits of the Federal Government’s interventions and urged the people to consider the long-term implications of their political choices.

Governor Mbah at the Inauguration of Enugu APC campaign council

He argued that although the South-East gave Tinubu limited electoral support during the 2023 presidential election, the region should recognise the importance of his administration’s willingness to support projects capable of transforming its economy.

According to Mbah, the region must pursue strategic political engagement that can attract investments, expand economic opportunities and strengthen its position in national affairs.

“We are not doing this out of blind loyalty. We are doing it because of the interests of our people and because we are committed to their welfare,” the governor said.

SEDC, Gas Pipeline Key to South-East Development

Mbah described the establishment of the South-East Development Commission as a significant step towards addressing the region’s developmental challenges and advancing its economic aspirations.

He said the proposed gas pipeline, expected to connect major cities across the South-East, could provide the reliable energy supply needed to attract industries, support existing businesses and generate employment for the region’s growing population.

The governor maintained that the project should be viewed beyond the physical infrastructure involved, stressing that its greatest value would lie in the economic opportunities it could create for young people.

“When you talk about a pipeline, you probably only see some steel that may be buried in the ground. But it is beyond those steel pipes. It is about our children. It is about keeping our children here. It is about industrialising the South-East, creating employment and empowering our young people to believe in the future again,” he said.

Mbah explained that reliable energy infrastructure would encourage industrial development, create jobs and reduce the pressure on young people to leave the region or travel abroad in search of better opportunities.

He said the proposed investments could help create an environment where young people could access quality education, establish businesses and build sustainable careers within the South-East.

The governor also noted that the idea of establishing a development commission for the region had existed for decades, describing the SEDC as an important institutional platform for addressing the South-East’s economic and infrastructure needs.

Airport, Road Investments to Strengthen Regional Economy

Mbah also cited road infrastructure and the development of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu as important areas in which Federal Government support could improve the region’s economic prospects.

He said improved road networks would facilitate the movement of people and goods, connect communities to markets and strengthen commercial activities across Enugu State and the wider South-East.

On the airport, the governor highlighted the importance of developing cargo facilities and improving international connectivity to support trade, attract more airlines and expand access to domestic and foreign markets.

According to him, effective cargo infrastructure could reduce the logistical difficulties faced by businesses in the region, particularly the additional costs associated with transporting goods through Lagos before moving them to the South-East.

He maintained that improved transportation and logistics infrastructure would reduce business costs, enhance competitiveness and make the region more attractive to investors.

For Mbah, these projects demonstrate why the South-East should consider the economic benefits of constructive engagement with the Federal Government when making political decisions.

‘Prioritise Development Over Political Sentiments’

The governor urged the people of the South-East to assess political leaders based on their commitment to development and the tangible benefits their policies and investments could deliver.

He argued that political decisions should not be driven solely by emotions, personal considerations or past electoral differences, but should reflect the long-term interests of the people.

Mbah maintained that supporting Tinubu should be considered within the context of the opportunities the region could gain from ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects.

He said stronger political cooperation could improve the South-East’s ability to attract further investments, create employment and participate more effectively in national development.

The governor’s argument is that the region’s political strategy should be guided by practical considerations, including infrastructure development, industrial growth, job creation and the welfare of future generations.

He stressed that the ultimate objective should be to create an economy capable of providing opportunities for young people and enabling businesses to thrive without forcing residents to seek better prospects elsewhere.

Mbah: APC Will Campaign on Achievements

The governor also commended the chairman and members of the Enugu State APC Campaign Council, alongside party executives, for their efforts in organising the campaign council.

He described the inauguration as the beginning of the party’s campaign activities and expressed confidence that the APC would present its achievements to the electorate.

According to him, the party intends to focus on its record of performance rather than make promises unsupported by evidence.

Mbah urged residents to assess the administration by examining projects and developments around them.

He maintained that the APC’s campaign would highlight infrastructure investments, economic opportunities and policies that the party believes could improve the lives of the people.

The governor’s message to the South-East was that political support should be linked to the pursuit of regional development, with the proposed gas pipeline, the SEDC and improvements to transportation infrastructure serving as key considerations in determining the region’s political direction.