Stakeholders and groups across the six Local Government Areas of Enugu North Senatorial District, also known as Nsukka Zone, have endorsed Dr. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for a second term.
The stakeholders, comprising traditional, political, community leaders, professionals and various groups, said the governor had shown sincerity and determination in addressing the significant challenges facing Nsukka Zone through visible projects.
They also commended him for facilitating the appointment of a son of the zone as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for the first time since its founding in 1960.
The people of the Nsukka zone shared their thoughts during Governor Mbah’s working visit to Nsukka at the weekend. The visit featured the foundation laying for a 5,000-shop capacity Nsukka International Market, a meeting with traditional rulers of the zone at Edem Ani, and a well-attended meeting with stakeholders of the zone.
Speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said the zone had presented three major requests before Mbah ahead of the 2023 election: the dualisation of the 44km Abakpa Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road, the appointment of an Nsukka Zone indigene as Vice Chancellor of UNN, and support for the creation of Adada State.
“Today, the governor is already dualising the Enugu-Opi-Nsukka Road. Just last week, he, through his good relationships with President Bola Tinubu, ensured the emergence of Professor Simon Ortuanya as the Vice Chancellor of UNN. While the creation of Adada State is not for him to decide, he has given us all the support to push for it.
“He has met almost all our demands in just two years. So, tell me why we will follow someone else,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Engr. Jude Asogwa said Mbah was unstoppable, as far as Enugu North was concerned, saying he had surpassed their expectations.
“Our people said that I should inform you that you are unstoppable. We thank you for the 20 Smart Green Schools in Nsukka, 20 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, and the Modern Transport Terminal in Nsukka, to name a few, all in just two years.
“We want to tell you we are committed to your cause. It is as though Enugu just started two years ago. We don’t engage in frivolities and are on the ground for you,” Asogwa stated.
In his opening remark at the town hall meeting, which was held at the UBA Hall, UNN, Member representing Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency, Hon. Chidi Obetta, said Mbah had shown that leadership was no rocket science, noting that the essence of the town hall meeting was for the governor to get undiluted feedback from the people.
“The Enugu North zone is saying thank you because I know many projects across various sectors you told me in our private discussions that you were planning to bring to Nsukka,” he said.
Mbah, while responding to their requests, which mainly were in appreciation for the projects done and requests for more roads, assured the zone that he would get even more aggressive with road construction in 2025. By then, he would have completed the 260 Smart Green Schools and the 260 type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres.
“I know you are all excited about the Abakpa-Opi-Nsukka Road. But you haven’t seen anything yet. We are also going to build a railway line from Enugu to Nsukka. We don’t think travelling from Enugu to Nsukka should take more than 15 minutes. We are still doing the feasibility studies. But this is something we will do,” he said.
Other eminent personalities of Enugu North at the events, which featured a question-and-answer session with the governor, included the Deputy Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani; Member representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Agbo; members of Enugu State House of Assembly representing the zone; and the six Council Chairmen of the zone, among a host of others.
