governing philosophy, he is known as an unapologetic – unrepentant, rightly added, nonconformist who defied conventions in his uncanny path to dismantling traditions of inefficiency through his disruptive innovation mantra. In May 2023, Mbah mounted the rostrum as a new governor offering inaugural speech, and one take away on the lips of every listener and watcher was the “business unusual” phrase.
When he commenced the radical architectural departure which began to disrupt the webs of underdevelopment, the conservative society was befuddled, questioning and grappling to unravel the riddles the administration was demonstrating. Months later, the recondite administrative reforms began to set the pace for an unprecedented optimism. With the security restructuring, enabled by the deployment of technology to preempt, thwart and eliminate crime the administration escorted criminal renegades out of the state. Sit-at-home became a memory consigned to the past. Life burgeons again! Economy, education, investment, infrastructure, and most importantly, emancipation from psychological slavery all became a dream fulfilled. That was the road less traveled, taken by Mbah. A sacrifice only few would muster the courage to make in the country.
On Sunday, 16 March, I was at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Independence Layout, Enugu, for the Holy Mass. During the homily, the priest announced the communique issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at its 1st Plenary held between 8 and 14 March in Abuja. The communique made some consequential observations on the state of the nation and called on the governments at all levels to prioritise security and safety of the citizens. Of interest was the tacit commendation of Enugu State Government over its security re-engineering which led to the deployment of high technology to fight crimes and guarantee life of the people. When the governor embarked on this journey, which today had attracted several states to Enugu to understudy the security infrastructure, it was, for many, a tall dream. Importing the American modern security system which is tech-driven and AI-enabled in gathering intelligence was probably the height of what no leader would ever imagine in the country. Mbah did. That was daring audacity of courage.
In my recent visit to some local government areas – Nsukka, Udi, Isi Uzo, Aninri, Igboeze South, Udenu, Awgu, Igboeze North, Uzo Uwani, Ezeagu and Igboetiti to inspect some of the projects the governor is executing, I had to make an intermittent stopover to look through surveillance security system mounted in the forests with the capability to orbit and monitor the entire state in real time and feed the Command and Control Centre. It is amazing the huge security spending the government is committing to maintain this infrastructure for the safety of the people regardless of remoteness of the part of the state they live.
This observation was corroborated by a retired army general from the Nsukka enclave – Major General Victor Ezeugwu. Speaking as discussant at a dialogue series organized by the Enugu State Coalition for Progress – Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch, Maj. Gen. Ezeugwu recalled his experience at the Command and Control Centre, Enugu, which serves as the powerhouse where everything happening in the state is monitored through surveillance system.
According to him, “We had a meeting with the governor two days ago – the veterans from Nsukka across the services, from the Command and Control Centre in Enugu we watched Uzo Uwani and all the forests around Uzo Uwani and other areas. At least, all of us were very amazed that he has brought technology to bear on security. We have proposed to the governor, let all these senatorial zones in Enugu have a replica of that very particular, spectacular innovation and let all the local governments also have a field of technology in addressing insecurity.” This uncommon step taken by Governor Mbah is novel in the country with Enugu serving as a model state where other subnational states are visiting.
investment hub with opportunities for local and international investors.
While those from the private and public sectors have something warm and positive to say about the governor from the prisms of his commitment and dedication to service, public servants – teachers, civil servants, retirees, local governments’ workers are not left out. They have found their voices through the governance structure set up by the Mbah administration to help them fulfill their dreams and live meaningful life. That’s the society where inclusion, equity, equality and justice reign.
Promotions of workers as at when due, salaries and emoluments, pensions and gratuities, including other incentives are now taken for granted under Mbah’s leadership. While not stopping there, the governor marshalled what is now known as, “Rural Dwellers’ Allowance” for teachers as a way of encouraging quality education among people in rural communities.
With the revolution happening in the agro-allied sector, 260 Smart Green Schools, 260 primary healthcare hospitals and other social services going on across all the electoral wards in the state – the first in the history of Nigeria – the coast to birthing an industrial state positioned as one of the future largest economies in Africa is a matter of time.
By Prince Ejeh Josh.