2027: Nsukka Zone endorses Tinubu, Mbah at massive rally

…Governor flags off 52.2km Nguru – Lejja – Aku – Akpakume Nze – Egede – Affa – Eke Road, others_

…Donates N102m for Mbah’s nomination form_

…Vows to transform Nsukka zone into an economic engine

Leaders, stakeholders, and people of Enugu North Senatorial District (Nsukka Zone) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for a second term in office, citing measurable realities and numerous outcomes of their governments.

The zone, comprising six of the 17 local government areas of Enugu State – Nsukka, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Udenu, Uzo Uwani, and Igbo Etiti – also presented a cheque for the sum of N102 million for Mbah’s reelection nomination form.

They said the Tinubu and Mbah administrations had made unprecedented positive contributions to the growth and development of the zone, listing critical infrastructural transformations and Prof. Simon Ortunaya’s appointment as the first indigenous Vice Chancellor 65 years after the founding of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

This was even as Governor Mbah officially flagged off several road projects totaling about 70km, including the 52.2km Nguru – Lejja – Aku – Akpakume Nze – Egede – Affa – Eke road, and vowed to transform the zone into an economic engine.

Mbah equally promised to support Ogige Market traders with seed money to stabilise their businesses after the remodeling, reiterating that his earlier intervention was with the best intentions to prevent avoidable tragedies.

Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai; former governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu; Chairman of the rally organising committee, Ikeje Asogwa; thought leaders, youths, and women groups declared their total support for Tinubu and Mbah during a mega endorsement rally at Nsukka Township Stadium on Saturday.

In an endorsement proceeding presided over by former federal legislator, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, the people unanimously endorsed the President, observing that with the President’s partnership with Mbah, “we who were once far off have been brought near and integrated into the mainstream of the Nigerian project, with all its benefits.”

This was sequel to a motion proposed by the House Member representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Agbo, and seconded by Hon. Mark Obetta (Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency).

Agbo listed the resumed funding and ongoing construction of the Oturkpo – Obollo Afor – 9th Mile Enugu Expressway, Enugu – Port Harcourt dual carriageway, expedited work on the Enugu – Onitsha Federal Expressway, the successful concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, the creation of the South East Development Commission, and the recent promise to accelerate work on the Port Harcourt – Enugu rail line as part of the grounds for Tinubu’s endorsement.

“Oha Nsukka also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it possible for our state to be connected to the National Gas Grid to unleash our buoyant gas resources and ultimately confirm our status as an oil-producing state for full derivation advantage,” he said.

They added that Tinubu had addressed the decades of marginalisation and exclusion suffered by the South East by appointing several sons of Enugu State and Nsukka into prominent positions Ndigbo were hitherto excluded from.

“Our brother, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, is the current Chief of the Air Staff. Major General Evaristus Ifeanvi Okoro is the current Military Secretary (Army). Major General Valentine Okoro is the current Head of Training (Army). Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla (Rtd.) is the immediate past Chief of the Naval Staff, while Mr Frank Mbah just retired as Deputy Inspector General of Police.

“Others have been appointed and are serving in federal MDAs, including Mr Peter Eze, Engr. Ogboo Asogwa, Ikechukwu Ugwuegede,” he stated.

Also, the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani, in another motion seconded by Hon. Chukwuma Ekwueme (Uzo-Uwani State Constituency), observed that Mbah had “demonstrated uncommon leadership, improved security architecture, and massive infrastructural transformation across urban and rural communities.”

He listed critical infrastructure such as the ongoing dualisation of the Enugu – Opi Nsukka Road, upgrade of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) at Igbo-Eno, 102 of the 260 Smart Green Schools, and 102 of the 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, among other interventions by Mbah.

“These are not promises. These are visible, measurable realities. Leadership is not judged just by intentions, but by outcomes. And when a leader delivers, continuity becomes not just desirable, but necessary. Interrupting it now would be like abandoning a harvest halfway through the season,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mbah, who described the turnout as massive, commended the people for endorsing Tinubu, stressing that gratitude is the mother of all virtues.

“Let me take you three years back. You told us you wanted your own as the Vice Chancellor of UNN. So, your endorsement of the President matters because he was the leader who broke this 65-year-old jinx. That is why January 2027 matters,” he declared.

Mbah said he was on course to transforming Nsukka into an economic engine and a viable education centre capable of retaining her products.

He reassured that the dualisation of the Enugu – Ugwogo Nike – Opi Nsukka Road, the major artery into Enugu North and a gateway into northern Nigeria, would be commissioned by October 2026.

According to him, the projects are part of a larger strategy to move Enugu from a $4 billion economy to a $30 billion economic powerhouse within eight years.

“Let me tell you what to expect in the next four years. We are going to move Nsukka from being just a large district on the map to the engine of the new enormous economy.

“We have concluded the feasibility studies, and we are soon going to start the construction of a 135.5km rail line. It is going to integrate the state’s economy and ease the movement of goods and services.

“It will cover several parts of Enugu, including Ugwuoba, 9th Mile, Enugu City, Nsukka, and Obollo Afor,” he said.

He said that impossibilities did not exist as far as his administration was concerned.

“You know the typical thing is that when we made promises, we were almost always scoffed at by skeptics. We were told this was overambition, this is not possible. But I think we have proven skeptics wrong. We have shown that impossibility does not exist in our dictionary. Where there is a will, there is a way,” Mbah asserted.

He, however, stated that his government had determined from the outset to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn, “but not at the expense of our humanity.”