Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has called on Nigerians, including political leaders across the country, to embrace unity and pursue inclusive national economic development for the common good of the nation. 

Mbah made the call on Sunday during a special church service at the Government House Chapel, Enugu, to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary. 

The governor, who described the country's 64th anniversary as a milestone, added that it was a testament to the resilient spirit of the people of Nigeria. 

While underscoring the significant role of government in sustaining democracy, the governor stressed that the country could only thrive in an atmosphere where everyone is given a sense of inclusion, with deliberate effort to banish feelings of alienation. 

“The message for us as a nation is to be united, to have an inclusive economic development, and I think that is where the economy of this country is headed,” Mbah added.

He further urged Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as other leaderships across the states, in order for the country to actualise its desired economic dreams. 

He expressed optimism that the country was making steady progress though in a “piecemeal” manner, which he said,  needed an urgent review for a paradigm shift that would address the nation’s challenges and leapfrog national development. 

“We are making steady progress. We may be making piecemeal progress. Perhaps what we need to review now is whether the marginal or incremental progress we are making is enough or whether we should obviously think about ways that we can deploy disruptive innovation to leapfrog some of the developmental challenges we are faced with,” he said. 

Earlier in his homily, the Diocesan Secretary/Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Very Rev Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie, charged political leaders and all those holding leadership positions both in the public and private sectors to use their positions to work for the common good of the people. 

According to him, Mbah’s leadership in Enugu State has shown that Nigeria can still work for the greater common good of the people through visionary, selfless, committed and dedicated leaders. 

He lauded the governor’s innovative approach to leadership in the state, saying that the tax reforms in the state were a fair measure of ensuring that the government delivers on its mandate. 

While enjoining the people to support the Mbah administration, he commended the governor for the speedy completion of the International Conference Centre abandoned for years, including the remodelling of the Presidential Hotel, construction of roads across the state, provision of clean water, construction and equipment of the Smart Green Schools for the common good of the masses, and the investment in security and infrastructure.