Gov Mbah Presents Manifesto Scorecard, Says Enugu Has Regained Confidence

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has presented his manifesto performance scorecard, declaring that his administration has made substantial progress in restoring the state’s status as a place where people want to live, work, invest and visit.
Mbah recalled that he presented his manifesto at the same venue in October 2022 ahead of the 2023 governorship election, saying the Manifesto Performance Update was in fulfilment of the Citizens Charter, established through Executive Order 001, which he signed upon his inauguration on May 29, 2023.
Speaking at an event themed “Our Commitment to Ndi Enugu: The Journey So Far,” held at the Peter Mbah Law Auditorium, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, on Thursday, the governor recounted the challenges his administration inherited in 2023 and outlined its achievements, development priorities and long-term economic ambitions.
“Think back to May 2023, when we first assumed office. Think about the condition of our state, the difficulties we faced, and the expectations we had.
“There was a time when Monday was no longer an ordinary working day in Enugu. Shops remained closed. Roads were deserted. Parents were afraid to send their children to school. People who depended on their daily earnings had to surrender an entire day’s income because others had decided they should remain indoors. That was the reality we inherited.
“Our roads were in poor condition. Public services had deteriorated. Many schools were struggling to provide the kind of education our children deserved. Our health facilities needed substantial investment. And Enugu, a city that had once been the natural centre of commercial, political and cultural life across the region, was gradually losing that position.
“Businesses were looking elsewhere. Major events were moving to other cities. Our airport had barely two incoming flights a day,” he stated.
The governor, however, said his administration had recorded significant progress across several sectors, including security, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture and transportation.
He linked the progress to his 2023 campaign promise to eradicate poverty and grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
“Today, people are going about their business with a freedom that had been denied to them for far too long.
“A trader can plan a full working week. Children can attend school. Businesses can receive customers, move goods and keep their employees working. That security gave us a foundation upon which other changes could begin,” he said.
He explained that restoring security and enabling residents to conduct their daily activities had provided the foundation for broader economic development.
“That is how economic development begins to reach into households and communities.
“The changes are visible, and the scale of our ambition is becoming clearer. We should take pride in what has been achieved, while recognising how much remains to be done,” he maintained.
Mbah urged residents to support his administration’s development agenda, stressing the need for collective commitment to building a prosperous future for the state.
“This is one moment in the long history of Enugu. This is a moment of extraordinary possibility for our people. And I believe this is the moment we must seize. The work we have begun needs the commitment of all of us.
“I ask you to bring your ideas, your skills, your enterprise and your experience into the life of our state. Take an interest in what is happening in your community. Help us identify problems and develop practical solutions.
“We have the opportunity to leave something of lasting value to those who come after us: a state with stronger institutions, a more productive economy, better opportunities for its children and communities whose people can take pride in what they have achieved together. That is the Enugu I want us to build,” he concluded.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Prof. Christian Anieke, recalled that Mbah had presented his manifesto at the institution in 2022 ahead of the 2023 governorship election, which he subsequently won.
Anieke commended the governor for returning to the university to render an account of his stewardship.
He urged other political leaders entrusted with public office to emulate the practice of returning to the people to explain their performance and account for their promises.
The vice-chancellor described the achievements of the Mbah administration as evident and verifiable, noting that many of its projects and interventions were visible to residents.
The event attracted a cross-section of society, including academics, students, civil society organisations, business owners, professional bodies and media representatives, among others.