Nwobodo Reconciles Activist Iyere, Governor Mbah In Enugu

The political disagreement between humanitarian activist, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, and the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has been resolved following a reconciliation meeting held at the Enugu State Government House on Thursday.

The reconciliation was brokered by elder statesman and former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, alongside other political stakeholders.

Iyere, who was an influential stakeholder during the 2023 governorship election in Enugu State, said his support for Mbah was informed after disagreements within the Labour Party (LP) over the party’s governorship primary. According to him, the dispute involved the emergence of the Labour Party governorship candidate ahead of the election, which led him to mobilise support for Mbah and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time.

He maintained that his intervention in the election was driven by his desire to see a government focused on social welfare and good governance.

Speaking after the reconciliation meeting, Iyere said his disagreement with Governor Mbah began when he perceived a departure from the welfare-oriented vision that informed his support for the administration.

He expressed concerns over the impact of government policies on ordinary residents, particularly the state’s tax regime, which he said had placed pressure on citizens.

Iyere also dismissed claims that his political support for the governor was financially motivated, insisting that no monetary compensation was involved either during the 2023 election or in the reconciliation process.

According to him, several reconciliation meetings were held in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu, before the final peace meeting at the Government House.

Governor Mbah, while speaking at the meeting, attributed the strained relationship to inadequate communication and expressed satisfaction over the restoration of ties between both parties.

The governor acknowledged Iyere’s role during the 2023 election in the State and described their relationship as longstanding.

Iyere, however, clarified that the reconciliation should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Mbah for the 2027 governorship election in the state.

He disclosed that several political figures seeking to contest the 2027 governorship election had approached him for support, adding that he would announce his preferred candidate at the appropriate time.

Among those present at the meeting were Nollywood actors Alex Osifo, Steve Eboh and Paul Obazele, as well as legal practitioner, Barrister Afam Agbakor, and Hon. Muhammed Abdullahi, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Youth Development.