2027: ADC Gov Candidate Tackles Enugu Governor Mbah Over Alleged Anti-People Policies | Sahara Reporters
According to him, thousands of people who lost their means of livelihood to the demolitions at Old Park and Gariki Enugu and Ogige Market Nsukka, suffered depression and some died because there was no relief or compensation for them.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Ocho Obodoeze has launched a blistering attack on Governor Peter Mbah, claiming he runs an “anti-people” and “draconian” regime.
In a release on Wednesday by Paul Anigbogu for the ADC party ahead of the 2027 general elections, Obodoeze accused the current administration in Enugu of “inflicting physical and mental pains on the people through its draconian policies, rather than bettering their lives.”
He recalled that Governor Mbah, while campaigning in 2023 promised to end perennial water scarcity and deliver clean, running pipe-borne water to every household and neighbourhood in the Enugu metropolis within 180 days of taking office and replicate the same in other parts of the state, like Nsukka, Udi and Awgu, but failed woefully.
He lamented that Mbah announced his arrival in Enugu State, not with the life-touching projects he promised, but with the “reckless demolition of private properties in Enugu and Nsukka, for the erection of mere bus terminals.”
According to him, thousands of people who lost their means of livelihood to the demolitions at Old Park and Gariki Enugu and Ogige Market Nsukka, suffered depression and some died because there was no relief or compensation for them.
He regretted that survivors of the demolitions were confronted with excessive multiple taxation by the government, in a manner never witnessed since the creation of Enugu State in 1991.
He said the Mbah government did not spare daily income earners, such as tricycle (keke) and bus operators, who according to him, were subjected to outrageous levies, at the detriment of the growth of their businesses and personal survival with their families.
Obodoeze said, “While Enugu people were the ones bearing the brunt of the ruthless and inhuman taxation of our Governor, he favoured people of another ethnic extraction in appointments and contracts.
“To the detriment of our people, he appointed people from his preferred ethnic group as the Chief Executive Officers of Enugu Air and Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS). People of that same ethnic are heading the Enugu State Distress Respond Squad, the Command and Control Centre, and Enugu State Forest Guard. Does it mean that competent people cannot be found among the over 4.6 million population in Enugu State.
“A large chunk of the smart school projects was awarded to Sijibomi Ogundele of Sujimoto Investment. The contractor reportedly eloped with an advance payment of N5.7 billion without executing the contract. The Enugu State Government dragged him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was detained and later released on bail. The EFCC recovered N1.2 billion from him and handed the money over to the Enugu State Government. Where is the outstanding N3.5billion?” Obodoeze queried.
He vowed to launch a probe to recover the outstanding money if he becomes the governor of Enugu State next year.
He further raised questions about transparency and compliance with procurement rules, especially the Public Procurement Act 2007 in the award of contracts under Governor Mba.
He blamed irregularities in contract awards and opaque funding for failure of the smart school projects and other projects of the government.
Regarding the welfare of teachers in Enugu State, Obodoeze lamented that Enugu teachers were among the most poorly remunerated in Nigeria.
He regretted that the state government, rather than address the welfare of the teachers, chose to persecute them recently for not attending a rally organised to endorse Governor Mbah’s second term.
Obodoeze warned the state government to stop muzzling the opposition parties, demanding for a level playing ground for all political parties, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He condemned the wave of political violence in Enugu State since the commencement of this political season, mostly targeted against the opposition parties, challenging the state government to live up to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property in the state.