The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has assured the people as well as investors and members of the business community that if voted into power, his administration would transform the state from subsistence agriculture to a hub of agro-allied industrialization, driven by technology.
He spoke at the ongoing town hall meetings held at Aninri East and Aninri South development centres, while interacting with sections of the communities to ascertain their needs and integrate them into his programmes.
The meetings were organised to avail members of the communities, including professional bodies, of the opportunity to interact with the business mogul and make demands from his anticipated government in 2023, as well as attract thousands of community leaders, religious leaders, traders, market women, farmers and trade union bodies, who took out time to express their concern about the future of the state and what they expected from Mbah’s administration.
In their speeches at the two development centres, the member representing Aninri State Constituency, Chinedu Okwu and the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Uchenna Ogbonna, bemoaned the recurring flood in the areas during rainy season, which they blamed for low production of farm produce.
They urged Mbah to complete the water dam began by the Federal Government, stressing that he had the intellectual grit, competence and proven capacity to make a huge difference in the lives of the people.
Bemoaning the frequent clashes between the people of the area and some parts of Ebonyi State over land disputes, the duo accused the Ebonyi State Government of trespass, bellicosity and land grabbing, saying Mbah’s intervention would solve the feud.
The presidents-general of Okpanku and other neighbouring communities led by Obiora Obasi, Chief Jonathan Achara, retired Justice Okeke, among others, called for the establishment of hospitals and upgrading of the existing ones.
They said youth empowerment was a key concern to them.
Others speakers, Hon. Sebastine, Sir Ogbonna Chukwu, Peter Ajah, a lawyer; Mrs. Happiness Ajah, former Education Commissioner Prof Uche Okolo, Pastor Nwankwo Chukwuma, Ejikeme Christopher, Philip Ikechukwu, among others, enjoined Mbah to provide an enabling environment to encourage the dominantly agrarian area in their farming activities.
Mbah said the meetings showed positive results, as the main purpose for the engagements was achieved.