…Says Peter Mbah will redefine economic landscape of Enugu State

By PETER ANOSIKE

Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, recently went to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is languishing in DSS custody for many years now. Olive Udeh, a lawyer and entrepreneur, sees the move as a step in the right direction.

Udeh, who is the founder/CEO of CEELUX Group, an infrastructure development company; as well as the Founder/CEO of Tech Start2FE Agro Tech Ecosystem, an America-based company, said that Bola Tinubu has gotten his fair share of persecution and injustice in the country and, as such, should look beyond politics and release the detained IPOB leader.

In this interview, he also speaks on how the Governor of Enugu State is going to build between $30 to $40 billion economy, thereby transforming the economic landscape of the state. Udeh equally speaks on the NYSC certificate scandal that the Governor is currently enmeshed in. Excerpts:

What do you think of the March 15 governorship election in Enugu state that produced Dr Peter Mbah?

Thanks for this question. The March 18th governorship election in the South East was an interesting development with particular emphasis on the popularity of Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party. The entire political equation in the South East, Enugu State inclusive, witnessed an unprecedented and unpredictable wave that sent shocks across the board but that of Enugu was quite interesting because the major challenge the PDP in Enugu State was contending with was not actually Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, who was obviously a light weight and non-issue in comparison with Peter Mbah, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party. The real issue Peter Mbah was confronted with during the governorship election was enemies within in the People’s Democratic Party. Certain individuals at the helm of affairs were working against its own gubernatorial candidate. The PDP political structure was deliberately weakened to give an unfair advantage to Labour Party.

With the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Enugu State, the Labour Party and its gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State were emboldened and tensions were palpably high and with the obvious inadequate arrangements and preparations for the gubernatorial and state assembly elections, coupled with resounding victory of Labour Party candidates in the National Assembly elections of February 25 in Enugu State, there was a bandwagon effect as various stakeholders, ranging from politicians, clergies, community leaders, civil servants and market associations that were supporting Peter Mbah and Peoples Democratic Party at all levels switched loyalty to Labour Party and its gubernatorial Candidate Chijoke Edeoga. The situation was made worse with so called “NSUKA AGENDA” and “NSUKA BLOC VOTING STRENGTH”. But unknown to them, that man’s rejection provokes God’s direction and that the God of Peter Mbah who was on a rescue mission to rescue the impoverished, economically and politically enslaved good people of NDI ENUGU was very much alive and was leading the electioneering campaign for Peter Mbah. It was an experience that was characterized with bewilderment. It was indeed agonizing. Many of us thought that the Enugu State Governorship and House of Assembly elections would be more of a coronation as usual but was confronted with a totally different reality as a result of failure of governance in Enugu State from 1999 to 2023. Indeed people of Enugu State, Southeast and Nigerians as a whole are not happy with their leaders who continues to grow “endlessly fat” at their expense.

There is a saying that you cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. Since the dawn of democracy in 1999, PDP has been ruling Enugu state and Peter Mbah is also from PDP, so what difference do you think he will make in office? Why should people believe or trust Peter Mbah?

Thanks for your question which probes into the life and legacy of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and what people should expect.

Let me start by saying that Peter Mbah is a renowned entrepreneur, industrialist and an accomplished businessman. His records in oil and gas sectors speaks for itself and it is there for anyone to see . Governor Mbah is not a man who takes on an easy task rather he is a man whose desires are always to explore the unknown world of opportunities.

There is a general adage that says, when a man offers to give you a cloth from his ward robe, you better take a closer look at what he is wearing because certainly you cannot get anything better than what he is wearing at that moment.

Peter Mbah started Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd with little or nothing and was able to develop the business into a big conglomerate with an assets worth over $1billion with over 8000 employees in a hostile business environment like Nigeria. It would therefore, amount to a disservice and greatest disrespect to invite such a man into public debate or discuss to explain how he will transform the economy of a state that is heavily indebted and with an annual budget of about $100m. Governor Peter Mbah, in his manifesto, said that his mission was to build $30 to $40 billion economy in Enugu State from its current paltry position of about $3billion economy. As we speak, Governor Mbah has set forth at dawn and so feel rest assured that Enugu State and the Southeast economy will witness an unprecedented economic growth and transformation that is second to none from the colonial era till 2023.

Apart from the low hanging fruits of bequeathing a legacy of clean environment to the residents of Enugu State and providing clean pipe borne water, upgrading of public schools, security of life and properties, Governor Peter Mbah’s administration is currently working on promotion of various business ideas such as Oji River Industrial City; a $2billion private investment sector projects that would redefine economic landscape of Enugu State. He is also in consultation with the Federal Government to explore ways and means to develop mineral deposits in Enugu State. Within 2 years of Governor Peter Mbah administration, Enugu International Airport will definitely realize its potential as an international hub for trade and commerce. The truth is that Governor Peter Mbah is actually in a hurry to get things done and help NDI-IGBO to reclaim their identity among the comity of nations as you know wise men always come from the East.

Recently Governor Peter Mbah visited President Bola Tinubu to appeal for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. Do you see that as a good political move?

I am glad to have an opportunity to comment on this issue of Nnamdi Kanu detention. The first question to ask is what are the crime(s) of Nnamdi Kanu as bona fide citizens of Nigeria and the United Kingdom? If the Nigerian Government believes Nnamdi Kanu committed crime(s), the proper thing for the authorities is to charge him to a court of competent jurisdiction; which they have done in this case. What is left undone is the aspect of providing him unhindered opportunities as an accused person to defend himself before an impartial tribunal. This is a “constitutional right” and Mr. President, the Attorney-General, etc., as the Chief Law officer of the Federation swore to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to bear allegiance to it and to do justice to all manner of people without fear or favour. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man that has gotten a fair share of persecution and injustice in this country, starting from his days with MKO Abiola and his ordeal in hands of military juntas as a NADECO leader. I have no doubt in my mind that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would look beyond politics, obey court judgment that granted Nnamdi Kanu bail and honor the request of Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.

Governor Peter Mbah is currently enmeshed in NYSC certificate forgery scandal. As a lawyer do you think that he has any chance of wriggling himself out of it?

Personally l wouldn’t want to answer this question so as not to preempt the court’s decision or be seen to make some prejudicial comments like the DG NYSC that was seeking cheap publicity as a soldier. But the law allows me to ask NYSC some key questions: (1) Did NYSC mobilize Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for service with a call-up letter? (2) Did Peter Ndubuisi Mbah report to the Orientation Camp? (3) Did NYSC post Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to a Place of Primary Assignment? (4) Did Peter Ndubuisi Mbah receive a letter of discharge and clearance from the Place of Primary Assignment? (5) Is there any letter of termination or rustication from NYSC to Peter Ndubisi Mbah that precludes him from receiving a certificate?

The burden of proof regarding the mystery surrounding Peter Ndubisi Mbah’s NYSC certificate is squarely on the NYSC as a public institution to show cause on why Peter Ndubisi Mbah should not receive a discharge certificate. NYSC ought to have looked inward before issuing a public statement which I am certain that the law will eventually compel them to retract and issue an apology to Peter Ndubisi Mbah, members of the public and other victims of their recklessness. As I said, I don’t like commenting on such myopic issues.

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