The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah has promised the people of the state that his administration will replicate modern facilities, new infrastructures and meaningful lifestyles often associated with the developed societies in Enugu State if elected governor in the 2023 general elections.

The foremost entrepreneur and philanthropist who disclosed this on Thursday at the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, during the official unveiling of his manifesto further said that he had already fashioned out well-researched, robust, dynamic and strategic programmes and policies that will enhance inclusive economic development and sustainable prosperity for all citizens of the state.

While noting that his mission will focus on quality, people-focused governance by making Enugu the preferred destination for investment, business, living, tourism, and leisure, the 2023 governorship frontrunner added that his administration’s vision was to make the state one of the 3 top states in Nigeria in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and to further achieve a zero percent rate in the poverty headcount index before 2031.

Mbah stated that his ambitious programmes for the people were all integrated and mutually re-enforcing, pointing out that they will be achieved through government-enabled private sector driven economic development and agricultural transformation.

According to him, his administration will engender a paradigm shift in the state, stressing that the state must act urgently to reposition and insulate itself from the existential threats the country is presently facing.

“We must do things radically differently. We are selflessly committed to insulate Enugu State from this emerging threats in the country, and we are standing on the threshold of history to effectuate a new state,” he said.

Mbah who said his core agenda would be an integrated private sector-led productivity growth, stressed that his focus will be on agriculture, energy and mineral resources, commerce and industry, rural and urban infrastructure, creative industries, information and communication technology and tourism development, insisting that the economy will be driven by radical innovation and departure from the incremental and nominal style of leadership.

“Our objective here is to attract private sector investments by making the environment attractive to investors. My job is to make sure we enable the ease of doing business, create special economic zones, and encourage our young people who are doing well in ICT by providing all the facilities and infrastructure to explore their full potential.

“We shall sustain the ongoing initiatives and expand the scope of the activity in the sector with the following key actions: expand roads and other infrastructures to deepen access and link farmers and agro research institutions; attract local and international partners to provide technical support to agribusiness actors; legislate the harmonisation of land tenure under control of government for onward lease to commercial farmers; increase investment in the establishment of clusters for palm produce, rice and crop production across the state, taking into account competitive advantage that each Local Government Area has over others; coordinate government support to farmers and non-farm actors in the agribusiness industrial sector; open up areas for private investors in modern animal husbandry,” Mbah added.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate further promised to infuse ICT and vocation into the education sector to groom self-reliant 21st century citizens, adding that his government would provide both urban and rural-water system that would give the citizens access to portable water. 

Speaking on land and housing sector, Mbah noted that it would not be possible to attract investors without reviewing the land tenure system through the geographic information system.

He, however, stressed that the only way to run the state and move the economy seven-fold by making it a $30 billion economy from the present $4.4 billion GDP was to be deliberate in the deployment of ICT through disruptive innovation and private sector partnership. He further promised to take the government to the citizens through the ICT, saying he had the competence, capacity and character to boost the internally generated revenue, derisk investment flow, and move the state from a public sector to private sector-driven economy.

The manifesto presentation in the law auditorium of the university was witnessed by members of the academia, civil society groups, party faithful and the media, with thousands more watching from the large screens mounted outside the hall.