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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, described Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, as a “transformative leader” driving Nigeria’s democratic growth, during a courtesy visit by a high-powered Enugu delegation, marking a deepening alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.
The event, held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, highlighted mutual appreciation for federal-state collaboration on infrastructure, security, and economic reforms.
Mbah, leading the delegation, opened with an Igbo proverb emphasising unity: “Igwe bụ ike” – unity is strength. He illustrated it with a traditional tale of birds lending feathers to the tortoise for a sky banquet, only for unity to dissolve when the tortoise betrayed them, causing his fall.
“We remember that story because it speaks to the discipline of trust and unity. Success that is shared will last,” Mbah said.
Representing over seven million Enugu residents, Mbah expressed “deepest and most heartfelt gratitude” for Tinubu’s investments. He boldly pledged political loyalty: “We have come to state, boldly and without ambiguity, that this relationship has earned our trust and support. On that basis, we will stand proudly with you on election day in January 2027.”
Mbah detailed federal impacts, crediting Tinubu’s January 2025 Enugu visit—despite cross-party lines—for breaking “a long-standing political distance.” He quoted the president from that event: “It is a great honour for me to be in Enugu. It is a homecoming for me. This is a serious demonstration of what we can achieve together. We can go places together. We can build Nigeria and secure the future.”
Key achievements included the Akanu Ibiam International Airport concession, opening the Southeast’s 30 million people to global links; the South East Development Commission and Vision 2050 forum for regional coordination; gas pipeline extension to unlock Enugu’s reserves; and road reconstructions like over 100 km of the deadly Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, the progressing Enugu-Onitsha road with flyovers, and swift fixes for the collapsed New Artisan Bridge.
Mbah also hailed national appointments of Enugu indigenes, such as Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, Dr. Kingsley Udeh as a minister, Professor Simon Ortuanya as Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka—breaking a 65-year jinx—and former governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as Ambassador to Greece. “These gestures reflect confidence, inclusion, and a deliberate effort to bring our people into positions of national responsibility,” he noted.
Enugu’s state-level gains, Mbah said, stem from alignment with Tinubu’s “difficult decisions” like fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, freeing resources.
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He highlighted 96 percent drop in violent crime; 260 Smart Green Schools completed with digital tools and upcoming feeding for 260,000 children; 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres operational, slashing maternal deaths; IGR soaring from ₦26.8 billion in 2022 to over ₦406 billion by 2025; over 1,000 km of roads built or refurbished; and projects like Enugu Air, Hotel Presidential expansion, farm estates, and a massive livestock hub for 30,000 cattle.
Mbah closed poetically: “Thanks to you… there is a new dawn rising in the South East. And like the story we began with, there is a banquet in the sky before us. We will rise to it together… On that note, Mr. President, I restate our resolve to stand with you in 2027.”
Tinubu responded enthusiastically, calling the delegation “very intimidating” and the moment “a very remarkable moment of this administration.”
He lauded Mbah: “The words that you have spoken, Your Excellency, are quite encouraging and transformative. The work you are doing is extremely important for our democracy to grow and for people to flourish… The future of this country rests on people like you, with commitment, great vision, and seriousness.”
Affirming the results in security, infrastructure, education, and health as “not abstract” proof of reforms, Tinubu promised collaboration: “I can assure you, we will continue to work together, think together, build together, a nation that will be a pride of place for all our citizens.”
He noted Enugu’s requests for the Port Harcourt-Enugu rail (work stalled at Aba due to funding), power reforms, and infrastructure, vowing more action. “What has been the problem in the past is Nigeria that is trying to finance long term projects with short term funding. We have not embarked upon a serious long term outlook for our country. And with people like you, Nigeria is on the right trajectory of becoming a very successful, leading African nation.”
Tinubu welcomed Mbah’s cross-party shift to the “progressive family,” urging focus amid critics: “You were in the other party. I don’t want to give them credit by naming them, but you are a member of the progressive family today. I am proud of that… Democracy will survive despite all the intimidation. I will advise you, as I will advise myself, stay focused when you are succeeding and they are angry, leave them in their corner.”
Dismissing past leaders’ failed electricity privatisation—“They gave us darkness and despair”—Tinubu emphasised building “a nation of bright hope and joyful people.”
He concluded: “I want to say, thank you very much, Peter, that we will not let you down. We will continue to work hard… But we are in it, navigating the rough waterways, but we will land this ship very well to steady Nigeria and bring prosperity to our economy.”
