Enugu 2023: Peter Mba Is A Modest, Workaholic Leader - Pete Edochie

 

Veteran Nollywood actor and one of the respected voices in the Nigerian entertainment sector, Pete Edochie has spoken glowingly about an Enugu born politician who is contesting for governorship position in the coming general election.

Edochie, not known for partisan politics, made this rare commentary which he started by saying: “Year 2023 is already here with us and it’s the year of the elections. We are already beginning to experience some of its challenges. I prefer to refer to it as the year of Peters.

Expatiating further, he said: “There is one Peter running for the governorship of Enugu State, which is where I reside and then of course there is me, wishing you the best of the season.”

The iconic broadcaster thereafter dwelt extensively on Dr. Peter Mbah, the PDP governorship candidate for Enugu State in the coming election, who is also the Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Oil and Gas, which recently built a billion-dollar Lekki Free Trade Zone petroleum product terminal.

Mba, a lawyer by training―with an LLP from the University of East London, LLM in Maritime Law from Lagos State University and MBA from a business school in Barcelona Spain―is a fellow of the Certified Institute of Public Administration and Management (CIPM).

Recalling his encounter with the lawyer-cum-business man some time ago, Edochie said: “I met Peter and I sat down in his company for three hours. I spoke for 45 minutes. Peter was listening to me with rapt attention; he never interrupted me and I was beginning to wonder how he would respond to all the points I was making. When I finished, he said: ‘Thank you sir’ and he proceeded to critically analyze all the observations I have made from the very first beginning. How did I feel at the end? Delighted, fulfilled, impressed.”

The Things Fall Apart actor, in unravelling his subject, further noted that Mba’s purpose for building the terminal in Lekki is to provide a solution to the perennial oil problem in Nigeria.

Said he: “Why did Peter have to open that terminal? To ease the pain of the people to ensure that the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which we refer to as petroleum is available to the people. That is the kind of person that Peter is, that’s why today, I have elected to talk about Peter.”

Mbah―whom he described as “a very modest person” and “a workaholic” who does not believe in the word “impossible”―is, according to Edochie, a forward-looking man.

“When a situation presents itself as a challenge and then morphs into a conundrum, Peter delves into the inner most recesses of his mental cavity to excogitate a solution. I refer to that as a flash of genius because he is a distributive innovator.”

Explaining Mbah’s slogan of “tomorrow is here,” Edochie avowed: “A lot of people find it difficult to understand what that means. But it simply means that all our expectations are likely to be handled now because we have the wherewithal for handling all of them.”

Still waxing lyrical, Edochie further extolled the virtue of the aspiring governor:
“There are many things that stand Peter out. He thinks for others a great deal.”

Substantiating this assertion, he said: “Most people are in business to rip people off; Peter is in business for service. We are now experiencing what perhaps is the worst fuel scarcity in our country. Go to most filling stations, we purchase fuel today at N300, N320, or N350 depending on which station you go to. Peter has a couple of filling stations and he is selling at the pump price stipulated by the government, N185 naira per litre.”

While stressing that “there is absolutely nothing that prevents him from exploiting the people like most other marketers are doing,” the actor strongly averred: “It is not in his character to exploit people. He is a Christian and he lives it!”

The veteran actor also spoke about the practicality and logic of Mbah’s ambition of succeeding Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as Governor of Enugu State.

“Dr. Ugwuanyi has so many legacies to leave for Enugu State but what I consider his parting present to Enugu State is the elevation of Enugu State to the status of an oil-producing state, it means more revenue accruing into the coffers of the State,” he stated, arguing that with Peter Mbah in the oil business, his succeeding Ugwuanyi will be akin to the state having a Chief Executive that is a round peg in a round hole.

“You would imagine what it is like when somebody who is in the oil business assumes leadership of a state that is beginning to enjoy the status of an oil producing State,” Edochie reflected.

The benefit of that reality was pointed out by Edochie, thus: “Peter on becoming Governor will be able to raise the internally generated revenue [of the state] from 4.4 billion dollars to, say, 30 billion dollars. And you know something, he can do it. Yes, he can!”

“Peter has visited all the development centers in the state and relating to the people, finding out whatever it is that they need. He does that because he is in a position to ensure that all the needs of the people he can attend to them. Why? Because as he always says in his slogan, TOMORROW IS HERE. Thank you!”

Enugu 2023: Why PDP Delegates Must Not Miss Their Shot At Peter Mbah - Chike Anibeze

In the thick and thin of the upcoming party primaries to herald the 2023 elections, the unfolding scenario for the politicians appear to be anchored on the same old order, but the background expectations of the citizenry seem to suggest the opposite.

Representative democracy is important because it gathers the constituent representation of the entire citizenry. However, when representative democracy takes precedence in the functioning of the other power blocks, especially the ‘executive’; it often times creates knowledge gaps in the specific technical areas of function. Technocracy comes in handy to fill the void. There is little doubt that the Nigerian society has gone rudderless in the execution of tasks and clearly devoid of any modicum of technocratic input. Deliberately making wrong choices in fitting candidates for most sensitive positions. Even where the technical depth exists, factors such as sectionalism, religion, clannish instincts and tokenism have not helped matters.

A cursory review of the antecedents of some of the aspirants to the governorship position of Enugu state reveals Peter Mbah as a self-effacing personality with the pedigree to input the required technocracy in the governance of the state. Although, this article is not written to chronicle the flourishing exploits of this urbane entrepreneur and technocrat, a peep into his antecedents will reveal a man with the requisite capacity. Unlike most candidates who are exclusively career politicians whose source of income is the public fund, Peter Mbah is a wealth creator who has demonstrated his ability to engineer an economic progress which is not anchored on public treasury. To mention but one example,he has transformed pinnacle oil and gas from a zero base to number one position in the oil and gas downstream sector through his innovative and creative ideas.

An encounter with him has revealed a man with the thorough grasp of an innovative system that will transform the coal city state. A thorough bred ‘Enugu-boy’ in mind and body, he has traversed with grit and temerity through the public and private sectors emerging with outstanding achievements. His academic sojourn has returned loads of excellent rewards, his drive has seen him conquer the private and public sector with gusto and most importantly he is a gentleman of complete integrity.

Indeed, he is an embodiment of Warren Buffet’s personality to be trusted with a position of leadership possessing sound intelligence, astute drive and above all a person of trusted character. He possesses the gravitas to enact the ideals of good leadership that will engender responsible citizenry.

Enugu state must begin to understand the fact that it is the regional capital of the east and must endeavor to show some elements of true leadership that will provide a regional sanctuary for Nd’Igbo. We are aware that many top artists, Flavour, phyno etc have constantly espoused their love for the coal city. Same with top business executives who see the state as a favored place of residence. The state must begin to thinker with excellence and harness the benefits therein.

Fair minded pundits are putting their confidence in Peter Mbah based on his antecedents irrespective of the machinations of political iconoclasts. However, the deep seated cynicism for politicians by the citizenry based on past political campaigns and eventual experiences have made the public somewhat circumspect. It is expected.

In all, we must understand that technocratic governance is not the application of abstract, theoretical concepts in governance but the strict observance of procedures in execution of programs. Of course the American philosopher, Edmund Burke was right when he said that ‘One sure sign of an ill-conducted state is the propensity of its rulers to resort to theories’.

I have given this piece not to promote a political aspirant nor to castigate existing structures but rather to draw insight on the need for anchoring on a personality who will use ideas and actions to create a special impact on the formation and development of a unique Enugu polity. In history most great civilizations have emerged from the coherent doctrines gathered from the ideas of their great leaders.

Enugu 2023: Ekweremadu Has Nothing To Offer To Enugu State, He Is Due For Retirement - Okwudili Writes

 

I couldn't imagine how funny it felt reading a piece on Senator Ike Ekweremadu written by Raymond Okechi  and published today, 10th December, 2021. It is obvious it was sponsored. Raymond lacked the skill of hiding his intentions, and it is my desire to interrogate some of the points he raised.

What makes Ike Ekweremadu the better candidate? According to Raymond, 'Ekweremadu is someone other parties and states are begging to have'. Which parties are begging him to fly their flag? APC? APGA? Ok, I get it. It is supposed to still be secret.

Very true, in 2023, it will be 26 solid years since he shot into political limelight. And it is not yet time to retire?  Ekweremadu started as chairman of Aninri Local Government Council on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). That was in 1997. He has served as secretary to the state government in 2001, Chief of Staff to the governor of Enugu State, from 1999 and 2001.

He has been in the Senate since 2003 representing the good people of Enugu West and was made vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Information returning in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. True according to the author of the post, only a few people in Nigeria and I dare say Africa have that kind of political resumé.

In 2015, he was elected Deputy Senate President. And a man this blessed hasn't had enough. What else do you call this? Ambition? Greed? Or an ugly blend of both?

The brown envelope journalist categorically states that Ekweremadu is the most qualified of them'. Really? For representing recycled leadership? For making himself a demi-god in Enugu East? 

Most qualified for making Enugu West believe that he is the smartest of them all? Otherwise one will wonder why he has not thought it wise to relinquish power and empower the younger generation. Does he believe in success with successors?

Unequivocally, Ekweremadu represents recycled leadership, one thing we should say no to. He is a lawmaker bent on enacting an anti-clockwise political movement.

2023 draws close with every tick tock of the clock, and the Lion House doesn't look like a retirement package for a man who has been in power for almost two decades and half.

Suddenly, there is no more zoning. Suddenly a heavy beneficiary of the zoning structure in Enugu knows nothing of it. The reason is simple. Zoning this time won't benefit his ambition.

Is it arguable that Zoning has brought considerable peace in the electioneering process of Enugu State. Will those opposed to zoning do so if it was their turn by the zoning arrangement?

The clamour to truncate zoning is chiefly fueled by personal and selfish ambition of those interested in the Governorship position come 2023? If it is not broken, don't try fixing it. The ambition of one man and his cohorts cannot, will not prevail over the greater good of more Ndi Enugu.

Frank Okwudili.

Enugu