BY PRINCE UGOCHUKWU NWANJOKU

Enugu State Governor elect, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is in the middle of the wag's test of politics. The wag avers that two unpleasant things could happen to a popular figure. One is for people to speak ill of him from misunderstanding. The other is for stakeholders to ignore him. As the governor elect of Enugu state, the name Mbah has rung up many decibels in the minds of opposition and across the east, west and north of the state. Politicians and citizens alike discuss Dr. Peter Mbah. Mbah scores highly on search indexes and mentions on all digital measurements.

The noise is not characteristic of this politician who has played significant roles in the sustenance of democracy in Enugu state. On the contrary, Dr. Mbah has been almost noiseless, even as he had been a powerful player both in economy and in the evolution of Nigerian politics since 1999. He has held positions of increasing capacity and consequence in the period.

Over the years, Dr. Mbah's humanitarian and philanthropic disposition endeared him to his people as he often rendered free medical services and scholarship scheme to the poor in his community, Enugu state in particular and Nigeria in general. Dr. Mbah displays highly developed craftsmanship in his approach to work and challenges, which is evident in his constructive leadership and growing political profile. That profile showcases a man passionate about serving people in the state, sharing his skills and resources and devotion to good causes. He went into politics from the lowly local government level when he first contested the office of the chairman for Nkanu-east LGA because of the same passion for serving and astute reading of the political compass.

The noise about his electoral victory as Governor elect of Enugu state is par for the course. It was worse when he was nominated as a PDP candidate for the governorship position in the state, some highly influential persons never wanted him and fought him with the most likely opponents till the electorate voted on the March 18, poll which produced him as governor elect. 

Dr. Mbah's critics this time are influential. They include persons who lost elections, and members or group of persons who felt aggrieved the way they were treated by the same system that produces all of them and gave them all the things they pride today as affluence. Mbah can resolve this whole issues the moment he assumes office. He has to continue to reach out in neekness as well as strength. One line of reasoning would be to observe that once and find the best way to handle it.

The sum is that Dr. Mbah is a tried and tested political strategist with the capacity to execute and create impact. He also has the EQ to take blows while remaining focused on the goal. Observers, even stakeholders, often underrate the sagacity and skills of Peter Mbah until they are confounded. Then he convinces them. It would happen again in the governance of Enugu as the silently effective Peter Mbah heals the wounds of governance as a valid physician, innovator, disruptor with political grits.