…Says Enugu 2027, walk-over for PDP
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has applauded Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, for floating a state carrier, Enugu Air, which was formally launched on Monday with three Embraer aircraft.
Wabara who was full of praise for the Governor over the move, described him as “an icon, model of excellence, and a true definition of performance who needs no further campaigns for a second term in office.”
According to the former Senate President, the strategic investment will not only boost aviation industry and air transport in South-East but “comes with a huge economic boom for Enugu State.”
He described Mbah as “one of the best-performing Governors in Nigeria,” as well as “one of the best South-East has ever produced.”
Senator Wabara challenged other public office holders to strive towards immortalising themselves through identifiable projects.
“Gov. Mbah’s achievements and iconic legacies are only akin to the undying legacies of the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr Michael Okpara, which made his name a trans-generational hero,” Wabara said.
Wabara further said that the complimentary remarks on the Governor by the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, during the inauguration, were “unbiased and a confirmation of Mbah’s indisputable scorecard.”
According to him, for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Minister to openly acknowledge the performance of a PDP Governor, “means that Mbah has truly performed.”
He said: “Gov. Mbah has shown capacity and competence in leadership. His monumental achievements in virtually all sectors have continued to distinguish him as a champion of transformation, shining star and a model of excellence.
“He is a testament that the PDP has a good understanding of the people’s needs, and is committed to the development and economic well-being of the masses.
“The remarks by the Honourable Minister during the inauguration yesterday was an open admittance that Enugu is a walk-over for the PDP in 2027. For a Minister to so openly acknowledge that a national ruling party is ‘scared of’ an opposition Governor simply means that Mbah has secured his second term through performance and uncommon achievements.”
Senator Wabara thanked Keyamo, “for going beyond partisanship to acknowledge performance” in an opposition state.
The PDP BoT Chairman likened Keyamo’s frankness to his (Wabara’s) similar commendation on Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State, who he noted, “has like Mbah, posted milestone achievements that can’t be controverted.”
Wabara urged the Federal Government to “support, encourage and complement Mbah’s patriotism and developmental strides” by making the Enugu Airport a viable international airport to serve the South-East geopolitical zone.
Senator Wabara argued that South-East geopolitical zone also deserves a viable international airport a booming international airport like the ones in Lagos, Abuja and Kano, “for equity, and considering the high number of passengers engaging in international trips from the zone.”
According to him, a functional International Airport will help fast-track the zone’s economic recovery and drive for foreign investment. He urged South East Governors to work towards making the zone a major aviation hub in the country.
Wabara also urged them to emulate Mbah and Otti’s “visionary leadership style and giant strides which have continued to stand them out from the crowd.”
“What Nigeria needs to move forward is visionary, focused and purposeful leadership; political grandstanding and blind partisanship aimed at crippling dissenting voices will only stagnate us,” Wabara thundered.
“I make bold to recommend that any state in search of good governance and performance-based leadership should go to Enugu and Abia and understudy Gov. Mbah and Otti’s templates,” Wabara added.
Describing the duo as special gifts to South-East, Wabara said he had a moral obligation as an elder statesman, to “speak the bitter truth which most politicians detest.”
The former Senate President said that with the emergence of visionary leaders with big dreams, the South-East region would reclaim its enviable position as the fastest-growing economy in the world which it attained during the days of the late Dr Okpara.
Wabara also urged Ndigbo to patronise airports in the South-East for their international trips while urging the Federal Government to install the needed facilities common in other international airports.
