The chairman of the Oji River local government area, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike, has called on leaders to emulate Governor Peter Mbah’s participatory and inclusive governance style to engender good governance.
Anyaegbudike made the call yesterday in Enugu while reacting to the successful town hall meeting held by Governor Mbah and residents of Enugu State on Saturday on the theme “Governance Issues: The Journey So Far.”
He said that Mbah had demonstrated that “governance is about inclusion and partnership of the people and getting the feeling and buy-in of the governed.”
According to him, Mbah has set the world standard for a people-driven governance system that prioritises the welfare and needs of the people.
“The Town Hall meeting shows that governance is for the people; the people drive governance, and leaders must abide by the electoral charter with the people.
“Enugu State, through Gov. Mbah, is setting a high standard worth of emulation by all spheres of leadership, both political, community and religious, among others.
“The town hall meetings held so far by the governor have helped to close the gap between the government and the people of Enugu State.
“We are all witnesses to the positive and impactful projects being executed in the state,” the chairman said.
Anyaegbudike noted that the governor had demonstrated patience and a listening ear, adding that he had accepted bright ideas and constructive criticisms meant to move the state forward.
He said that the governor was putting in place a transformation that would turn around the state in the next 30 years to be the most developed in terms of infrastructure, commerce and human capital development in the country.
“I am happy it is happening in Enugu State and in our time through a visionary and forward-looking leader.
“Currently, the state is a huge construction site with over 1,000 projects scattered the length and breadth of the 17 council areas, with each of the 260 political wards having a share of the projects.
“Each political ward and our people at the community level are feeling it as our governor has dignified good governance as a tool to uplift the residents,” he said.
The chairman applauded new projects such as the governor’s plan to make Enugu an aero-hub within Nigeria by investing in airport facilities, launching Enugu Air, and providing auxiliary services to travellers.
“This will, in turn, attract quality investors in the aero-space and aero-hub that will make Enugu the most sought-after destination for aero-business, medical tourism, cultural and leisure tourism, among others.
On replicating what Mbah has done in his council area, the chairman said that his administration would definitely hold a town hall meeting to get the pulse and buy-in of the people of Oji River.
Anyaegbudike said, “We had a manifesto during our electioneering period and through which we got the people’s votes.
“We are going to interface with the good people of Oji River on that and also gather constructive criticisms and bright ideas on how to develop the council area faster.”
It would be recalled that the town hall meeting was attended by a cross-section of various professionals, associations, unions, and bodies as well as religious, traditional, and political leaders in the state.
