Enugu State stakeholders at an emergency meeting regarding state’s decline under Governor Peter Mbah’s tenure, emphasize that the mere presence of billboards in every street corner does not establish legitimacy for his regime.
The Enugu State Stakeholders Forum (ESSF) met today at the Nike Lake Hotel Resort, expressing their concern over the new regime’s prioritization of erecting billboards across the state, highlighting themselves and political godfathers, instead of focusing on governance.
Multiple sources indicate that the state government has reportedly instructed every local government administration and various chapters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prominently display pictures of Governor Mbah and his political mentor, former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
In a statement released this morning in Enugu by Professor Joe Aneke, President of the stakeholder group, and Dr. Ifeanyi Agbo, the forum’s publicity secretary, the stakeholders express their frustration, highlighting that even the process of appointing commissioners has become an arduous challenge.
Due to his focus on aspects that seemingly contribute less to the welfare of the people, such as roads development, public transportation plans, and creative security measures, Governor Mbah was only able to submit the proposed commissioners’ names on the final day permitted by the Constitution.
Enugu leaders have claimed that the proliferation of billboards celebrating the governor and his party, the PDP, is part of a strategic plan to create the perception of popularity and a legitimate government, specifically targeting the members of the Enugu State Governorship and House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal.
The stakeholders firmly dismissed the notion that such a simplistic maneuver would have any influence on the tribunal members, stating that the ongoing trial has unequivocally exposed Governor Mbah as a pretender to the state’s leadership. They highlight significant revelations from the trial, including the submission of a forged National Youth Service (NYSC) discharge certificate with number A808297 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Mbah. Additionally, they raise concerns regarding Mbah’s alleged collusion with corrupt INEC officials to announce an inflated vote count of over 15,000 in his Nkanu East Local Government Area.
Despite the Labour Party’s significant victory in various electoral categories in Enugu during the 2023 general elections, including winning 88.7% of the presidential votes cast and securing multiple seats in the House of Representatives, Senate, and House of Assembly, it is seen as peculiar that Governor Mbah was declared the winner in the governorship race.
Governor Mbah’s reliance on former Governor Ugwuanyi for legitimacy is called into question, especially since Ugwuanyi himself faced a decisive defeat in the Enugu North senatorial race on February 25. Barrister Okey Ezeah of the Labour Party emerged victorious with 104,492 votes, surpassing Ugwuanyi’s 46,948 votes. This raises concerns about the credibility of relying on someone who faced such a significant electoral loss.
Adding further to the skepticism, Ugwuanyi holds the distinction of being the only sitting governor in Nigeria’s history to not only lose his local government area and hometown but also secure a mere seven votes at his own polling unit. These facts cast doubt on the suitability of using Ugwuanyi as a reference for legitimacy, prompting deeper scrutiny of the situation surrounding Governor Mbah’s reliance on him.
Governor Mbah has been accused by the ESSF of disregarding the valuable lesson from Ugwuanyi’s regrettable actions. Ugwuanyi was criticized for indulging in self-worship and megalomania by excessively displaying billboards showcasing his own images, while other governors prioritized delivering tangible benefits to their constituents. The stakeholders highlighted the wisdom of the renowned Austrian psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, who coined the phrase, “madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” This serves as a reminder that if Mbah persists in following the same path as his predecessor, he cannot anticipate different outcomes.
The stakeholders firmly assert that Mbah’s failure to learn from Ugwuanyi’s mistakes is a cause for concern. They emphasize the significance of avoiding repetitive actions in order to achieve meaningful change and success. By quoting Sigmund Freud’s insightful statement, the stakeholders highlight the need for Mbah to break away from self-centered practices and prioritize effective governance that benefits the people.
