By Samson Ezea 

Since Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah assumed office some months ago, I have keenly taken my time to understudy,  observe, and monitor his leadership attributes and government's activities, policies, and programmes so far.

Apartfrom being extremely and disruptively innovative and creative, Governor Mbah is indeed very proactive, assertive, and decisive. He often has his eyes on the ball and doesn't give in to undue pressure and armchair strictures. That is the reason not even the suit challenging his election, which was  filed by the opposition Labour Party governorship candidate, Barr. Edeoga has distracted or perturbed him from concentrating on providing democracy dividends in fulfilment of his campaign promises to Enugu people.

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Mbah style has systematically, diplomatically, and quietly disrupted the status quo, a development that is gradually enthroning politics and governance that are anchored on purposeful, people- oriented and developmental agenda in the state. 

Governor Mbah's ban of IPOB Monday sit-at-home in the state became a great success because of his insistence and determination to see it through in collaboration with the security agents and residents of the state. Even those who tried to politicise the ban and were doubtful of it becoming a reality or sustainable have seen that there is nothing like Monday sit-at-home or observation of it in Enugu State.  

Some offices, private schools and establishments in the state, who were initially scared of observing the ban are doing so now with gusto especially in the light of fact that since Governor Mbah banned the order, the enforcers have not attacked anywhere or anybody in the state.  

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Within Mbah's first 100 days in office, I was among those who disagreed with people, who argued that he had not done much. My premise was that 100 days was too early and short to assess a government that has four years in office. But that did not mean that Governor Mbah didn't do much then. He did because a lot of disruptive innovations were introduced, and foundations laid for great takeoff of his administration. Some people were quick to criticise his style and even went ahead to hastily compare him with his counterparts, particularly Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.

When the news filtered in the media that Governor Mbah would flag off 71 roads in the state at once, a development that is unprecedented in the governance of the state, some social media trumpeters and oppositions were doubtful and dismissive of its possibility in the face of daunting economic and financial challenges. Some even called it audio and social media projects that may not see the light of the day.   

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In the face of these sponsored distractions, unwarranted noises and attacks by some disgruntled elements and election losers, Governor Mbah remained steadfast, focused, taciturn and composed, while planning for the flag off and how to secure bank guarantees and loans to ensure that the projects did not suffer abandonment and poor execution.  

With the Exco and State House of Assembly approval of Governor Mbah's request to secure banks credit facilities, mostly bank guarantees, to the tune of N170bn for major road and housing projects, he flagged off the road projects across Enugu with strong warning to contractors to avoid delay, shoddy jobs,  variations and not meeting the December deadline for completion. 

Expectedly, some uninformed and armchair critics rushed to the media to criticise Governor Mbah for supppsedly securing loans to execute  capital projects like road construction and others. Social media platforms were agog as all manner of tantrums, gibberish and tirades were thrown at Governor Mbah, even by his rival in the governorship election, Frank Nweke (Jnr) and others that ought to have known the difference between outright loans and bank guarantees essentially to give confidence to contractors to execute  massive and aggressive capital projects in the state that are urgently needed by the people.   

As of today, most of the contractors have mobilised to the various sites. From the New Enugu Smart City, College Road Abakpa, Iva Valley, Odudukoko, Gariki Awkunanaw, Independence Layout, Damija in Trans Ekulu and others, bulldozers, caterpillars and other construction equipment are busy at different locations, so also engineers and artisans. Governor Mbah has turned Enugu into construction site and different professionals are engaged in the projects to earn a living.   

Unfortunately, being peddled on social media recently was video of some tipper drivers and workers in Gariki axis protesting a tax of N1000 by the state government, but they are not thankful or appreciative of the state government's efforts in constructing the dilapidated and abandoned Odudukoko Street they are using to access their loading site.  

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Is it not surprising that  many of those who were initially doubtful of Governor Mbah's commitment to embark on the execution of the 71 road projects and critical of his securing of banks' guarantees and loans to execute them are the same people who are now calling on his government to remember or factor in their streets, communities and village roads in the ongoing roads construction in across the state?

As it concerns Governor Mbah's campaign promise of giving Ndi Enugu water within 180 days in office, works have reached its peak in that direction as Governor Mbah is determined to fulfill the solemn promise.    

Findings and pictorial evidence had shown that new pipes are being fixed and pumps are getting replaced across the metropolis. In the last five months, Governor Mbah's administration has migrated from less than two million litres to sixty million litres of water daily. The impact of this great improvement in water supply has been felt across the state and testimonies of improved water supply in some areas abound. 

It is not out of place to say categorically and unequivocally that Governor Mbah's government has gradually used massive people-oriented projects to silence and prove the oppositions and armchair critics wrong. I can't remember a state governor that flagged off 71 roads totalling about 150km at once, made funds available with a clear mandate to contractors to complete them by December, 2023. So far, Governor Mbah has proven that the best form of governance and politics is focusing and providing of developmental infrastructure that directly affects the lives of the people, especially the ordinary people on the streets.