Governor of Enugu state , Dr Peter Mbah on Saturday flagged-off the construction of 70 kilometres road in Nsukka just as the people of Enugu North senatorial zone same day , at a mega rally, endorsed the Governor and President Bola Tinubu for second term in office.
The two events which held at the Edeoballah- – Lejja T- Junction and Nsukka township stadium respectively, witnessed massive turn out of the political leaders, traditional rulers, stakeholders, and residents of the Enugu North zone who gathered to witness both the commissioning of the the road projects and the endorsement.
Gov Mbah flagging off the toad
Speaking during the flag- off of the 70 kilometres road which included 52 Kms Nguru–Edeoballah–Lejja–Aku–Ukehe -Egede- Affa-Akpakwumenze roads.
and other roads being constructed in Nsukka town. Governor Mbah described the event as “symbolic”. He said out of the 70 Kilometre Roads, 52.2 Kms road network links three local government areas, Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti and Udi .
He maintained that his administration does not give to “posturing” , noting that the roads will help boost the economic activities of the state and connect communities.
He added that his administration is committed ” to growing the state’s economy exponentially that will be driven by the private sector and enabled by the government”
According to him, “road infrastructure remains one of the key enablers for economic development and quality lifestyle.”
Governor Mbah (middle) Deputy Gov Ifeanyi Ossai ( 3rd Right)
Speaking, Nsukka Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jude Asogwa, described the scale of development under Government Mbah which included road infrastructure, construction of Smart schools and Primary Healthcare Centers in Enugu zone as unmatched, saying that Governor Mbah had done much in Nsukka local government area.
Hon Asogwa, Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area
He said the 52 2Kms Nguru–Edeoballah–Lejja–Aku–Ukehe road is a strategic ring road, adding that the project had resolved long-standing infrastructure challenges in the communities..
According to him, the Edeoballah -Nguru-, Lejja, Aku, and Ukehe when completed, will boost agriculture , ease transportation, and improve communities ‘ connectivity
The chairman disclosed earlier in an interview with newsmen that in recognition of the governor’s impact, Nsukka stakeholders had conferred on Governor Mbah the title “Nwanne di na Mba 1 of Nsukka land.”
Prince Emeka Mamah
Speaking with newsmen also , the Managing Director of the Enugu North Zonal Terminal, Prince Emeka Mamah, underscored the economic significance of the projects.
“I know the importance of this road. It will benefit our people immensely—ease agriculture, improve transportation, and shorten travel distance,” he said.
Mamah also pointed to ongoing upgrades at the Nsukka bus terminal, revealing that the facility currently handles over 30 bus trips daily between Nsukka and Enugu. He added that the terminal is being expanded from 63 shops to over 300 shops to accommodate displaced traders and boost internally generated revenue.
Per Okonkwo ( Ohamadikez
On their parts the chairman of the Enugu north traditional council ,His Royal Majesty Igwe Tony Ezeh and a chieftain of the All Progres Progressive Congress, APC, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Enugu North Zone, Peter Okonkwo( Ohamadike) commended Governor Mbah for his good governance .
HRM Igwe Ezeh
They expressed gladness that at last, an intervention had come to the Lejja road that caused a nightmares to the users.. They said the road is strategic because it leads to Lejja iron Smelting that had existed for thousand years and had attracted UNESCO presence. They added that the road also leads to the federal Government College,Lejja.
At the Nsukka township stadium , venue of the endorsement, the crowd was unprecedented.
In his speech , Former Governor of Enugu state, Rt. Hon. Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi commended the developmental strides recorded so far by Governor Mbah
Throwing his weight behind the Governor, Ugwuanyi urged the people of the zone to sustain their support and vote for Governor Mbah and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
In an endorsement proceeding presided over by Senator Chuka Utazi , a member of the , Federal House of Representatives, representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Agbo moved a motion for Tinubu’s endorsement. The motion was seconded by Hon. Mark Obetta , House member representing Nsukka/ Igboeze South federal Constituency. Honorable Agbo listed the resumed funding and ongoing construction of the Oturkpo – Obollo Afor – 9th Mile Enugu Expressway, Enugu – Port Harcourt dual carriageway, expedited work on the Enugu – Onitsha Federal Expressway, the successful concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, the creation of the South East Development Commission, and the recent promise to accelerate work on the Port Harcourt – Enugu rail line as part of the grounds for Tinubu’s endorsement.
The crowd at the stadium
“Oha Nsukka also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it possible for our state to be connected to the National Gas Grid to unleash our buoyant gas resources and ultimately confirm our status as an oil-producing state for full derivation advantage,” he said.
They added that Tinubu had addressed the decades of marginalisation and exclusion suffered by the South East by appointing several sons of Enugu State and Nsukka into prominent positions Ndigbo were hitherto excluded from.
“Our brother, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, is the current Chief of the Air Staff. Major General Evaristus Ifeanvi Okoro is the current Military Secretary (Army). Major General Valentine Okoro is the current Head of Training (Army). Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla (Rtd.) is the immediate past Chief of the Naval Staff, while Mr Frank Mbah just retired as Deputy Inspector General of Police.
“Others have been appointed and are serving in federal MDAs, including Mr Peter Eze, Engr. Ogboo Asogwa, Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede,” he stated.
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani, in another motion seconded by Hon. Chukwuma Ekwueme (Uzo-Uwani State Constituency), observed that Mbah had “demonstrated uncommon leadership, improved security architecture, and massive infrastructural transformation across urban and rural communities.”
He listed critical infrastructure such as the ongoing dualisation of the Enugu – Opi Nsukka Road, upgrade of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) at Igbo-Eno, 102 of the 260 Smart Green Schools, and 102 of the 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, among other interventions by Mbah.
“These are not promises. These are visible, measurable realities. Leadership is not judged just by intentions, but by outcomes. And when a leader delivers, continuity becomes not just desirable, but necessary. Interrupting it now would be like abandoning a harvest halfway through the season,” he stated
The political highpoint came when the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani, on behalf of lawmakers of the Enugu North extraction , moved a motion endorsing Mbah for a second term The motion was adopted unanimously.
The people of Enugu North presented a cheque of N102 million to Governor Mbah for purchase of expression of interest and nomination forms.
In his acceptance speech, the state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah thanked the people of the zone for the endorsement ..‘
He expressed appreciation for what he described as ” a show of confidence, and a show of love”.noting that his administration had worked swiftly to justify the trust placed in it.
“We are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us. There were doubts, but I believe the speed and clarity of what we have done have eliminated those fears,” he said.
He highlighted key achievements of his administration which included the dualisation of the Ugwuogo–Abakpa road and reforms in the education sector, notably the appointment of an Nsukka indigene as Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka—an appointment he said, received presidential approval.
Describing the endorsement as a “tremendous honour,” Mbah pledged to sustain development across all sectors.
