Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has received widespread acclaim from political leaders, traditional rulers, academics, and civil society actors for what they described as bold, transparent, and forward-thinking governance.
At Dialogue Series held on Friday at Adada Hall in Nsukka local government area organized by the Enugu State Coalition for Progress, Enugu North Senatorial Zone branch, stakeholders from the district described Mbah as a “game-changer” whose policies are already yielding tangible results across sectors and making him more popular among the people.
“The purpose of this dialogue is that as a people, we have recognised that the best way to lead government is to constructively engage government,” said Hon. Chinedu Onu, the coalition’s coordinator. “We want to deepen our relationship with government—not as critics, but as contributors.”
Smart Schools, Disruptive Innovation, and a New Transport Ecosystem
Speakers at the dialogue applauded Mbah’s Smart Green Schools initiative, describing it as one of the most transformational education reforms in the state’s history.
“Soon, he’s going to disrupt the transport ecosystem—both air and land,” Onu hinted, suggesting major changes are underway in infrastructure planning. “When you talk about disruptive innovation, you have to disrupt. You have to innovate.”
Onu also pushed back against what he called misinformation from a “minority,” urging citizens to engage constructively rather than critique for political gain.
“Tomorrow Is Here” Must Be a Guiding Principle for all government officials at all levels— Prof. Osita Ogbu
Former Minister for National Planning, Prof. Osita Ogbu, provided one of the most analytical takes during the event. He encouraged the government and citizens alike to internalize the philosophy behind Mbah’s “Tomorrow is Here” mantra.
“Well, I hope you listened to everything I said, because I didn’t start with Peter Mbah—I ended with Peter Mbah,” he quipped, drawing laughter from attendees.
Prof. Ogbu emphasized the need for a philosophical foundation in governance while explaining what the phrase means.
Tomorrow is here means doing things differently and it should not be a philosophy applicable to the governor alone
He also commended the governor for significantly boosting the state’s internally generated revenue.
“By the way, I told him that he’s a bit of a magician—because how did he move IGR from ₦25 billion to close to ₦600 billion?” Ogbu remarked. “That’s not ordinary.”
He urged local governments to adopt the same high-performance mindset, warning that “you cannot continue to execute projects poorly and expect different results.”
Lawmakers Praise Post-Election Focus on Governance
Hon. Ezenta Ezeani, Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, expressed his satisfaction with the governor’s emphasis on governance over politics.
“I was very impressed by what the governor is doing in our zone,” he said. “After politics, there is governance—and he understands that.”
Ezeani emphasized the importance of periodic dialogues like the one hosted by the Coalition. “We need to keep checking in with the people, hearing their feedback, and strengthening our approach,” he added.
Traditional Rulers Call Mbah a “Game-Changer”
Traditional institutions also threw their weight behind Mbah’s leadership style and policy execution. Igwe Samuel Asadu, Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, spoke glowingly of the administration’s achievements.
“I’m happy to be here… We’re happy for what the governor is doing for us; he’s doing a demonstrative democracy,” Asadu said.
The monarch praised the government’s proactive approach to education, infrastructure, and community inclusion. “He faced the problems head-on… He wants to involve every aspect of life—the people, the community, the youth,” he noted.
Asadu also called for deeper government engagement with traditional rulers on security and local issues.
“I wish the government can engage us more to interact with the solutions of security or otherwise,” he said. “We know the people and we can help.”
Dialogue as a Tool for Understanding Policy
Dr. Dan Shere, former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, described the ongoing dialogue series as an essential mechanism for policy clarity.
“These are town hall meetings,” he explained. “If our people understand the intentions of the government, it will catalyse a process where the people own the programme—whether it’s in education, security, or agriculture.”
He also noted the significant progress made in the area of security.
“Enugu State is now ranked the third safest state in Nigeria,” Shere revealed. “The government has digitalised security, and we’ve seen efforts through our vigilante groups and hunters.”
“No Child Will Be Left Behind” — Dr. Onyeisi on Education Reform
Dr. Chinyere Onyeisi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education and Director of Experiential Learning at the Enugu Smart Green School, highlighted the state’s commitment to addressing the out-of-school children crisis.
“Education is the key to the success of everything,” she said. “The Smart Green School initiative is tackling this head-on. No child will be left behind.”
She emphasized that education under Governor Mbah is designed not just to teach but to transform.
Citizens Encouraged to Participate
As the dialogue drew to a close, Hon. Chinedu Onu urged all citizens of Enugu to get involved in the process of governance.
“Let me also use this opportunity to call on all citizens of Enugu State to be part of the effort of the state government to make Enugu livable,” he said. “Security is a collective responsibility. So is development.”
