Amid rumoured planned defection of Governor Peter Mbah to the All Progressives Congress, APC, some political leaders in the state have declared that they would align with any decision taken by the governor.
The leaders, across political divides, professional backgrounds, and community, spoke under the aegis of Enugu State Patriots on Sunday.
This comes a day after some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state said they would remain in the party even if Mbah defects.
However, the Patriots, in a communique issued after their meeting in Enugu on Sunday, said Mbah was their own political party.
The communique entitled “Peter Mbah is Our Party,” was presented by Prof. Mathine Anikwe.
They said despite being in different political parties, both President Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima had both attested to Mbah’s prowess.
The group, while acknowledging Enugu State and South East’s longstanding relationship with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1998, however, said that “the people of Enugu State were more interested in Mbah’s vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion in eight, which is on course, than in political affiliations.
“During this period, the region and Ndi Enugu have given the PDP their total support and have equally derived some benefits from the party in terms of development projects and political opportunities.
“Nevertheless, we make bold to say that with Governor Peter Mbah’s exceptional performance, he has become a viable political party of his own.
“He is the political party we know and wherever he leads, Ndi Enugu will follow.
“Therefore, there is no doubt that his second term as Governor of Enugu State is sacrosanct, by God’s grace, in order to continue with the great job, he is doing,” they stated.
They also said that the state’s zoning arrangement was also an advantage to him.
“Besides his superlative performance so far, his second tenure is further assured by the well-entrenched zoning arrangement in Enugu State that ensures that power rotates from one zone to the other every eight years.
“This arrangement produced Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East Senatorial Zone (1999 to 2007), Sullivan Chime from Enugu West (2007 to 2015), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu North (2015 to 2023), thus setting the stage for Enugu East’s return to the Lion Building through Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in 2023,” the communique stressed.
Other speakers at the event include a former National Youth Leader and National Secretary of the PDP, Rt. Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye; the traditional ruler of Ogboli Ohaja Autonomous community in Awgu LGA, Igwe Kingsley Okeke; former Commissioner for Transport, Enugu State, Engr. Luke Mmamel; member representing Ezeagu State Constituency, Hon. Chima Obieze; Council Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Engr. Jude Asogwa; former member of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu and former Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Hon. Henrich Okenwa.
