From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu state, who has equally held vintage elective and appointive positions in the state and national level, Dr. Chinedu Onuh, has extolled the policies and achievements of the present administration in Enugu state led by Governor Peter Mbah, and described it as a rennaissance of late M.I. Okpara’s era in defunct Eastern Nigeria.
Chinedu Onuh gave the nod during a media chat with Uchenna Cyril Anioke during a maiden edition of a current affairs programme tagged ,Behind the Headlines! featured on Freedom Square TV on Wednesday.
Expressing his views on the topic, ‘The Power of Vision:- Re inventing M..I.Okpara’s era in Enugu State,the vision of Governor Peter Mbah, Dr.Onuh accepted the fact that the economic policies and speed of execution of jobs in Enugu state at the moment by Governornor Mbah is comparatively rel ated to the pace of development in the defunct South Eastern zone under late Michael Okpara.
Onuh stated,”Between 2023 and 2025, Governor Peter Mbah is reactivating moribund industries in Enugu state, embarked on projects that are facilitating socio infrastructural development of Enugu state, reactivating the agricultural sector, building roads and our people are seeing it.
M.I.Okpara made the Eastern region to become the fastest growing economy during his time. There are bold attempts by Governornor Peter Mbah to re-invent those Initiatives. in terms of Education.the Smart Schools are springing up, the quest for Technical education has also being captured when you go to Enugu state owned institutions like the Institute of Management and Technology,IMT. M.I.Okpara’s agricultural model is also being captured by Governornor Peter Mbah.
“With the establishment of Farm estates in the 260 wards of Enugu state,the state will be sufficient in food production.It will also generate jobs and be a tool in curtailing insecurity since most of our forests will be converted into farmlands. These are homongous ideas.
“Governor Peter Mbah has designed policies to attract investors into the state.This is akin to M.I.Okpara era.What we are seeing today is a reinaissance of Okpara era”, Onuh posited.
He said there are new dimensions in teaching and learning in Enugu state According to him, the introduction of Smart Schools system is also an avenue of improving the quality of Teachers in the state school system.”The state government will provide more tablets(computers) that will be available and affordable”..
He described the establishment of Enugu state owned airline,’EnuAir’ as a very good investment that will have a multiplier effect in growing the state economy.
His words,”With EnuAir, Governornor Mbah is walking the talk. It will make business to thrive. It is an avenue of encouraging tourism and hospitality industry to thrive in Enugu state. It will generate a lot of employment for the people”. However,he cautioned that the operations should be managed under Private Public Partnership (PPP) for it to succeed.
He stressed that the construction of the International Conference Center will also boost the tourism potentials of the state,swelling the number of visitors in the state.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah for his efforts in revitalising Hotel Presidential,Enugu.
He disclosed that it was a legacy project of M.I.Okpara. But while the Port Harcourt edifice is working continuously, it’s Enugu counterpart was down.
Onuh stated,” Presidential Hotel Port Harcourt has never been shut down for one day There was an era of locust invasion in Enugu that shut our own down. But Governornor Mbah believes that government is a continuum.That is why he had completed the International Conference Center started by Senator Chimaroke Nnamani and is revitalising Hotel Presidential, Enugu’.
Commenting on the issue of insecurity,the former Udenu local government chairman, stressed insecurity is a global problem.That there is no place in the globe,even among the civilised countries you get absolute security.
Comparing Nigeria’s situation, Onuh said Governor Peter Mbah has done marvellously well in the fight against insecurity.
He disclosed the technicalities deployed by Governornor Mbah is the first in the country and has been copied by the FCT administration.
He mentioned that the Kidnap dens along Nike lake Enugu and Opi Nsukka road has been totally wiped out by Governornor Mbah with constant security survellance and check points facilitated by Governornor Mbah on that once dangerous route.
He commended Governor Mbah for going extra miles to rejig the management of the state Forest guard with his recent appointment of a retired senior army officer and police officer to head the organization.
He expressed optimism that the re organization to a large extent will help to reduce crime and insecurity rate in rural communities in the state.
On assertions of over taxation in the state,Dr Onuh stressed that the state government needs money to execute projects but urged the government to Investigate allegations of multiple taxation by it’s agencies.
Dr Onuh also pleaded with the state government to exclude the vulnerables from paying tax.
Answering one of the contributors question on problem of inadequate water supply in the state metropolis, Dr Onuh suggested that the state government should take to the option of sourcing and generating more water from major Rivers in the state metropolis, in addition to the Ajali water scheme.
On the Health sector,Dr Onuh said, “Type 2 hospitals are springing up in the 260 wards across the state Governor Mbah is not only making bold attempts,but we are seeing the results gradually.Most of these projects, have gestation period”.
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