… Construction of Edem-Nrobo-Abbi-Nimbo Road begins in earnest too

…Says Enugu opposition clueless, shopping for shortcuts in Abuja

…Insists Enugu electorate would reject certificate forgers

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has declared an emergency on the Nsukka-Adani Road, describing it as a critical economic corridor and promising to commence work on it before the end of the month.

Mbah also said that with the rains receding, his administration would commence the construction of the Edem-Nrobo-Abbi-Nimbo Road in earnest.

This was even as he took a swipe at his opponents in the 2027 governorship race, accusing them of wasting precious time in Abuja shopping for shortcuts and ways to compromise the polls rather than face the people of Enugu to canvass programmes that would benefit the state.

He spoke at Adani and Ugbene Ajima during a campaign tour of Ogboli and Igbo-Ano Development Centres in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

On the Nsukka-Adani Road, Mbah said, “We have committed to doing the Nsukka-Adani Road. But I think that that road is now a matter of utmost urgency. We cannot wait for another season. We are sending contractors immediately to that road. We are going to fix that road. So, before the end of this month, we are going to move contractors there,” he pledged.

The Governor, while thanking the people for voting for him in the 2023 governorship election, expressed happiness that the issue of insecurity in the area had been well addressed.

He said the Smart Schools initiative would introduce the children of Enugu State to contemporary skills and prepare them for the present and future global economy.

“We also recognised that there was a crisis in our education sector. So, we set about to build Smart Green Schools because we felt that the world is moving very fast. And we didn’t want our children to be left behind. And we knew that the skills that the kids need today are different from the skills we were exposed to 30, 40 years ago.

“Today, our children need technology to be able to work and to create wealth. So, in this Development Centre, we have four Smart Green Schools and four Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres already built and standing in each ward,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mbah recalled that his opponents were yet to present any manifesto because they had nothing to offer, adding that they only specialised in multiple certificate forgery.

“In fact, they cannot even come here. You know where they are? They are somewhere in Abuja, busy looking for an alternative instead of coming to know you or even talk to you.

“They think that there is a shortcut. So, rather than come and face the people, talk to them about their records and maybe even tell them about their plans, they go about shopping for alternatives to the Lion Building.

“They are unable to face you because, one, they don’t have any record. Two, they don’t have any plans.

“So, their only option is to see whether there are ways they can manipulate your votes or your mandate. But are you going to accept that? Do you have your broom? You must sweep them away and tell them you do not have room for them.

“As I said, we are dealing with people without records because they cannot point to anything they have done in life. Not one. They cannot.

“If they want to be honest, they can tell you about certificate forgery. And if you need experts in that area, you probably need to consult them. But we do not want to expose our kids to such people. We want people with genuine records; people who have worked and created wealth before offering themselves for service. Not people without records and without plans.

“They cannot come out and tell you this is the plan they have for you in your education sector, in your healthcare sector, in your agriculture sector or in the economic sector. Nothing. So, use your brooms, your votes to sweep them away,” he stated.

The Governor also made a stopover at Our Lady Health of the Sick Maternity Hospital (Arụ Ike Ndi Ọya), Adani, where he cleared all the medical bills of patients, running into millions, and also promised to equip the facility to the standard of the state’s Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centre, in addition to providing ultrasound equipment.

In their speeches, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Senator Ikeje Asogwa; Council Chairman of Uzo Uwani, Barr. Chijioke Ezegwu; Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu, Campaign Council, Chief Charlie Mbah; Nollywood star, Rachael Okonkwo (Nkoli Nwa Nsukka), among others, commended the Governor for the tremendous development recorded in the state under his leadership, promising to support the, APC from top to bottom.

They acknowledged that the development challenges he inherited could be solved in three years and a few months, noting that the important thing was that he was delivering on his campaign promises at great speed.

Other stalwarts present include Senator Chukwuka; Deputy DG of Enugu APC Campaign Council, Dr. Dan Shere; House of Representatives candidate for Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani Federal Constituency, Hon. Cornelius Onwubuya; Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Dr. Patrick Ubru; Member representing Uzo Uwani State Constituency, Hon. Chukwuma Ekwueme.

Also, Mbah, who was warmly received by the students of Santa Maria Nursery and Primary School, Adani, pledged to construct a classroom block and set up an innovation hub for the school.

The United States Department of State has warned its citizens against travelling to 23 countries classified under its highest travel advisory, Level 4: Do Not Travel.

The department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the warning on Monday in a post on its official Facebook page, explaining that the classification is based on prevailing security conditions and the US government’s limited ability to provide assistance to its citizens in the affected countries.

“Level 4 means DO NOT TRAVEL. We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there. These places are dangerous. Do not go for ANY reason,” the bureau stated.

The 23 countries listed are Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Myanmar (Burma), the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine and Yemen.

The US Department of State operates a four-level travel advisory system to guide American citizens planning international trips.

Level 1 advises travellers to exercise normal precautions, while Level 2 recommends increased caution. Level 3 urges citizens to reconsider their travel plans, while Level 4, the highest classification, advises against all travel to the affected destinations.

The department urged Americans to consult its official travel advisory website, travel.state.gov/destination, for country-specific security information and updates before making travel arrangements.

…Says Nobody Can Pretend Life Is Easy At The Moment

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has admitted that Nigerians are experiencing significant economic hardship, acknowledging that the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms has made life difficult for many households.

Gbajabiamila, however, defended the policies of the Tinubu administration, arguing that the President chose to govern as a statesman rather than a politician by confronting longstanding economic challenges despite the immediate political consequences.

He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the unveiling of the administration’s 2027–2031 electoral roadmap, titled “From Reforms to Prosperity Agenda”.

According to him, Tinubu’s decisions to remove the petrol subsidy and unify the foreign exchange market were driven by the need to address structural weaknesses in the economy and secure Nigeria’s long-term economic future.

The Chief of Staff acknowledged that the reforms had placed considerable financial pressure on households but maintained that avoiding difficult economic decisions would have further weakened the country’s economic prospects.

“Now, those decisions have placed real pressure on households. We must speak honestly about that experience because the people living through it deserve to be heard. And nobody should have to pretend that life is easy at the moment,” he said.

Gbajabiamila drew a distinction between politicians primarily concerned with winning elections and statesmen who make difficult decisions in the long-term interest of the country.

He said Tinubu could have maintained the existing economic policies to avoid immediate public backlash but instead chose to confront what he described as longstanding economic distortions.

“If he came in as a politician and decided to govern as a politician, he would have continued on the cruise, on the path that we were taking.

“But instead, knowing full well the immediate consequences, he decided he would govern as a leader,” he said.

He added that the ultimate justification for the reforms would depend on their ability to translate structural economic improvements into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives described the administration’s new electoral roadmap as an ambitious document reflecting Tinubu’s political philosophy and commitment to long-term national development.

He said the overarching objective was to build an economy where hard work guarantees a decent livelihood and every Nigerian has a fair opportunity to succeed.

“At the heart of this manifesto is my abiding conviction that every Nigerian should be able to share. Your country should give your best efforts a fair chance.

“A manifesto, in its strictest sense, is simply a contract between the people and the leader,” Gbajabiamila said.

He highlighted the administration’s interventions in human capital development, social protection, taxation and electricity as evidence of its efforts to expand economic opportunities.

According to him, initiatives such as N-Power and the student loan scheme are designed to improve access to opportunities and ease the financial burden on young Nigerians.

He also defended the government’s tax reforms, saying they were designed to promote fiscal fairness by reducing the tax burden on low-income earners and qualifying small businesses.

Gbajabiamila further identified the Electricity Act, which empowers states to establish and regulate their electricity markets, as a major intervention aimed at attracting investment and improving access to electricity.

He said the administration was committed to creating an environment where young Nigerians could pursue their ambitions without depending on political connections or patronage.

The Chief of Staff also urged members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defend the administration’s record and engage Nigerians directly on its policies.

He said the ruling party must be prepared to account for its performance and convince voters through tangible achievements rather than political rhetoric.

“The party asking to continue in government must be prepared to answer the people whose mandate it seeks.

“We must earn support through the quality of work, through the quality of our case and the seriousness of our conduct,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the 2027 general election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to decide whether to sustain the administration’s reform agenda or return to what he described as short-term political approaches.