By Tony Edike

An Enugu State pensioner, Nze EC Aneke, has expressed profound joy and gratitude to Governor Peter Mbah after finally receiving his retirement gratuity, 19 years after leaving the local government service.

Aneke, who retired as a Head of Personnel Management (HPM) in June 2007, said he had waited nearly two decades for the payment, watching successive administrations come and go without fulfilling the obligation.

In an emotional video message, the retiree from Amokwe in Udi Local Government Area said he initially found it difficult to believe Governor Mbah’s promise to clear outstanding gratuity arrears, having heard similar assurances from previous administrations.

But on Monday, November 2, 2026, his doubts gave way to overwhelming excitement when a bank alert confirmed that his long-awaited gratuity had finally been paid.

“I retired as HPM in local government in June 2007. Since then, I have not been paid my gratuity. Many governors have come and gone. But now we have this efficient and, in fact, humane Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,” he said.

Recounting the emotional moment, Aneke said he initially assumed the bank alert was for his October monthly pension.

“Recently, he promised that we would be paid our gratuity arrears. Personally, I thought it was just like previous governors who had been promising and failing. But suddenly, unexpectedly, yesterday, November 2, I got an alert from my bank.

“I was wondering; I thought it was our monthly pension for October. But behold, it was the arrears of my gratuity. Nineteen years plus! In fact, I couldn’t believe it. But it was real; it was true,” he recounted.

Overwhelmed by the development, Aneke praised Mbah for fulfilling his promise, saying the governor had accomplished what previous administrations failed to do.

“So I want to express my joy and happiness to His Excellency for showing us that ‘Our Tomorrow Is Here’, our tomorrow is now. May God bless him. He has done what his predecessors failed to do,” he said.

The retiree expressed confidence that other retired local government workers who had received their outstanding entitlements were equally celebrating the development in their homes.

He also prayed for God’s blessings, good health and a longer tenure for the governor.

In an emotional declaration of support, Aneke said he wished Mbah would remain in office until May 2031, urging the people of Enugu State, particularly retired pensioners and former local government workers, to appreciate the governor’s intervention.

Describing the payment as a dream that had finally become reality after almost two decades, Aneke said he wished to meet Mbah personally to shake his hand and express his gratitude.

“To God be the glory. I am happy for him. I wish I could see him face-to-face and shake him. In fact, I lack words to express my happiness.

“Thank you very much, and may God bless you, Your Excellency. Praise the living God!” he exclaimed.

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has taken a swipe at the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following revelations by the party about his health condition.

Onanuga said Obi had been confirmed to be human after all and could fall ill like any other person, adding that the former Anambra State governor was not a superman.

The presidential aide, while wishing Obi a speedy recovery, also predicted that he would lose the 2027 presidential election.

“So, Saint Peter Obi is not a Superman after all. He can fall ill like all mortals. I wish him a quick recovery so he can rejoin what looks like another doomed presidential campaign,” Onanuga wrote on X.

His comments followed a disclosure by the NDC Deputy Campaign Spokesperson, Sam Omale, that Obi had been physically exhausted by his demanding schedule and frequent travels between locations.

Omale, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television, dismissed concerns about the presidential candidate’s health, attributing his condition to exhaustion rather than any underlying medical problem.

He explained that Obi was deeply committed to his political activities and often handled multiple engagements simultaneously, leaving him with little time to rest.

According to him, members of the candidate’s team had been urging him to slow down and get enough sleep.

Omale also maintained that Obi’s exhaustion would not affect the party’s ongoing political activities and campaigns.

He said, “Sometimes I wonder where he gets his energy from. He is in London today and the following morning in Enugu. I’m wondering how he does it. Exhaustion comes in; he is a human being.

“He is in perfect health. There’s nothing wrong with him. It’s just exhaustion, and we are trying to calm him down to take a sleep. He is fine.”

Enugu Air has secured regulatory approval to commence direct flights between Lagos and London Gatwick in December 2026, marking a significant milestone in the state-owned airline’s international expansion.

The airline also announced that bookings for the new route are now open, with intending passengers able to make reservations through its online booking portal.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the airline on Wednesday, describing the approval as a major step towards strengthening air connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

The announcement comes barely six weeks after Enugu Air operated its maiden international flight to Douala, Cameroon, on September 23, 2026.

According to the statement, the Lagos–London Gatwick service will be operated in partnership with Omni-Blu Aviation (OBA), which has been designated as the operating partner for the route.

The statement read: “Enugu Air has received approval for its Lagos–London Gatwick route, with Omni-Blu Aviation (OBA) appointed as the designated operator under a strategic partnership.

“Bookings are now open, and flights will commence in December 2026.

“The approval marks a major milestone in Enugu Air’s expansion, strengthening connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and opening new opportunities for passengers and trade.

“This milestone reflects the bold vision and transformative leadership of the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whose strategic aviation agenda is positioning Enugu as an emerging gateway for international connectivity, investment, tourism and economic growth.”

Enugu Air was launched in July 2025 with an initial fleet of three Embraer aircraft comprising the E170 and E190 series, as part of the Mbah administration’s integrated blueprint for developing a modern, multimodal transport ecosystem.

The initiative is also designed to position Enugu as a major regional aviation hub in West and Central Africa.

Since its launch, the airline has expanded its fleet and route network, with the latest regulatory approval signalling a further push into international operations.

The proposed Lagos–London service is expected to expand travel options for passengers, strengthen business and trade connections, and improve air links between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.