…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.

The management of Amadeo Event Centre, Enugu, has denied claims that it prevented the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) from using its facility for a political event, insisting that the dispute arose from an alleged breach of a booking agreement.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the management said the facility was initially booked by Dr Sabastine Chuks Ezeh, Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners, for a national meeting and conference scheduled for October 15, 2026.

According to the statement, the booking was made on October 7, while Dr Ezeh subsequently submitted a letter of cancellation and refund request on October 13.

The management explained that the client later withdrew the cancellation request, stating that the association intended to postpone the event rather than cancel it.

It said the new date of October 29 was confirmed on October 23, with arrangements made for decorations to commence on October 28.

However, Amadeo Event Centre said it discovered on the morning of October 28 that the decoration materials brought to the premises were intended for a political party rather than the association that had booked the facility.

The management described the development as a violation of the terms and conditions of the booking agreement.

It cited Clause 17 of its terms and conditions, which it said reserves the right of management to stop activities, meetings or events that are not conducted in accordance with the facility’s rules and applicable regulatory requirements.

The management said it subsequently notified the client of the cancellation of the facility’s approval for the event.

It further claimed that officials and candidates of the NDC later arrived at the premises with security personnel, expressing surprise at what it described as a change in the identity of the client and the nature of the event.

Despite the disagreement, the management said it eventually allowed the gathering to proceed to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.

According to the statement, the organisers informed management that the event would be a youth town hall meeting featuring Mr Peter Obi.

Venue Denies Booking by Political Party

Amadeo Event Centre maintained that no political party booked its facility for the October 29 event, insisting that the only booking for the date was made by the healthcare practitioners’ association for a national meeting and conference.

The management also described the centre as a non-partisan venue, stating that its policy since inception had been to decline requests to use its facilities for political purposes.

It denied seeking police intervention to stop the gathering, explaining that the officers seen in viral videos were security escorts accompanying political aspirants who arrived at the premises after the cancellation notice had been issued.

Management Denies Enugu Government’s Involvement

The event centre also dismissed suggestions that the Enugu State Government was involved in the controversy.

According to the management, the state government played no role in the matter, adding that it received no instruction, directly or indirectly, from any government official regarding the event.

It attributed the public controversy surrounding the incident to what it described as a partisan interpretation of the matter amid the current political season.

The management reaffirmed its commitment to providing a venue for peaceful and lawful gatherings, including academic, social, religious and corporate events.

The controversy has attracted attention on social media, with discussions focusing on the circumstances surrounding the planned gathering, the cancellation notice and the presence of security personnel at the facility.

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has welcomed a court judgment in his dispute with Governor Hope Uzodimma over the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West, describing the ruling as a victory for justice.

Speaking to journalists after the judgment, Okorocha said the court had upheld his position in the dispute, adding that any party dissatisfied with the decision was free to appeal.

“All the court agreed with me. But if they want to appeal, let them appeal. I’ll tackle them on it,” he said.

The former governor alleged that the conduct of the senatorial primary was marred by irregularities, claiming that results from the 12 local government areas were entered by a single individual.

He also questioned alleged discrepancies between ward-level results and figures recorded during local government collation, claiming that some ward result sheets contained no scores, despite figures appearing in the collation results.

Okorocha said he had chosen to remain silent while allegations of forgery circulated, insisting that he preferred to await the court’s decision.

He called on the police to investigate those allegedly responsible for forging documents rather than target individuals he described as innocent.

“The police should go after those who forged and not go to an innocent man who presented a document,” he said.

Okorocha also commended the presiding judge for what he described as a clear and objective assessment of the case. He expressed appreciation to his legal team and a forensic expert who, according to him, had encountered difficulties over his involvement in the matter.

Describing the judgment as evidence that justice could not be bought, the former governor said the decision would help restore public confidence in the judiciary.

The dispute arose from the APC senatorial primary for Imo West, in which Okorocha challenged the process that produced Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.

The allegations concerning the primary and the disputed documents remain claims attributed to Okorocha.