The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Enugu state governor, Peter Mbah, has pledged to boost the state’s economy by ensuring the activation of Enugu’s dormant oil fields if elected.
Mbah pledged to bring in foreign investors to speed up the development of other oil and gas fields wholly state-owned.
He spoke at a town hall meeting attended by community, political and religious leaders, as well as youth and women’s groups, labor and professional groups, according to a statement.
The meetings were held in the Idaw River layout and Eke Otu, Amechi-Uwani at Enugu South East and Enugu South Central Development Center headquarters in the state’s Enugu South Local Government Area respectively.
“Besides OPL 916, which is jointly owned, there are three other fields in Enugu State, including OPL 905, OPL 907 and OPL 914. We have reservoir data for these fields and we will start generating revenue from them,” Mbah said.
“We also have many other mineral resources, such as limestone and coal, which we must optimize for the development of our country.”
Mbah reiterated his determination to build Enugu into a $30 billion economy from its current $4.4 billion, and pledged to invest heavily in education, skills acquisition and job training to tackle unemployment.
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He also said massive job creation remains one of his main multi-pronged strategies to address insecurity in the state.
According to the statement, the people of Enugu South LGA have assured Mbah that the local government’s constituency will be a great success in the 2023 general election.
Chimezie Nkwuo, chairperson of the Enugu South Local Government Area Council, said people’s trust in Mbah was based on his inclusive approach to governance.
Nkwuo said that despite his detailed manifesto, his decision to listen to people’s specific needs is a hallmark of people-centered leadership.
Likewise, Andy Egbo, general chairman of the Obeagu Community Town Union, praised Mbah’s town hall meeting, which he called unprecedented in the history of Enugu state elections and said it made it clear he would be an accessible governor.
Egbo called for immediate action to address insecurity in Obeagu and Enugu South Central to ensure the campaign and 2023 elections run smoothly.
Ofor Chukwuegbo, Enugu South/Enugu North Federal Constituency Representative; Gordi Agbo, Former Nigerian Ambassador to Japan; Enugu South City State Constituency Representative Sam Ngene and Former Land and Urban Development Commissioner Okey Ogbodo called for support for The people of the region offer more democratic dividends.
