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The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2027 election in Enugu State, Kene Ogbodo, has accused Gov Peter Mbah of recycling old politicians in his administration.
Ogbodo, however, acknowledged that Governor Mbah came into office with the goal of transforming the state’s economy.
He stated this in a statement issued by his media aide, Don Victor, and made available to newsmen. According to him, Mbah’s administration is disconnecting from the economic and social realities confronting Enugu State.
He attributed what he called the “fundamental challenges confronting the administration” to the administration’s “apparent overreliance on recycled political actors and advisers interested in protecting their political positions and pleasing the governor than offering independent thinking and practical solutions”.
He said, “A leader who surrounds himself with people who only tell him what he wants to hear will eventually lose touch with what the people are experiencing. Enugu does not need an echo chamber of political loyalists massaging the ego of the governor. We need courageous thinkers, competent professionals, and innovative leaders who can challenge assumptions, speak uncomfortable truths, and deliver meaningful results.”
Ogbodo averred that despite the Mbah administration’s ambitious programmes in infrastructure, education, economic development and public sector transformation, it is yet to justify if those investments and policies “are sufficiently improving household incomes, creating sustainable employment, reducing economic hardship and expanding opportunities for ordinary citizens”.
He said infrastructure development and long-term economic transformation were critical, arguing however that the state must strike a balance between ambitious capital projects and the immediate welfare of the people.
In his words, “You cannot claim meaningful transformation when the people who are supposed to benefit from it continue to struggle to meet their basic needs. Development must be measured not only by the projects government commissions but by the quality of life of the people it serves.”
He interrogated whether the administration created an environment for independent advice,and constructive criticism, noting that effective leadership required the humility to recognise when policies are not delivering the desired results and the courage to make necessary adjustments.
Ogbodo said, “The danger facing any administration is not necessarily a lack of ideas but the inability to recognise when existing ideas are failing to produce the expected results. When political loyalty becomes more important than competence, and public relations begins to overshadow performance, governance risks losing its purpose.”
He advised the state to review its policy, especially in areas affecting economic hardship, employment, taxation, small businesses, rural development, healthcare, and the well-being of vulnerable citizens.
He urged Governor Mbah to broaden his advisory and decision-making structures to accommodate independent professionals, experienced technocrats, community representatives, young innovators, and individuals with practical knowledge of the challenges facing the state.
The release added, “Enugu does not belong to any political party, governor, or privileged political class. It belongs to the people. Every government policy, programme, and public investment must ultimately answer one fundamental question: How does this improve the lives of Ndi Enugu?”
The governorship hopeful said his critique of Mbah’s administration was not to undermine the administration but to encourage responsible leadership, constructive political engagement, and improved governance.
Quoting him, “As a former governorship candidate in 2023 and a PRP governorship candidate for 2027, I believe Enugu deserves a leadership that combines vision with competence, integrity, accountability, and measurable performance. Our responsibility is to challenge what is not working, acknowledge what is working, and offer practical alternatives that can move our state forward.”
Ogbodo urged Governor Mbah to use the remaining period of his current mandate to reconnect government policies with the everyday realities of citizens, review the effectiveness of his leadership team and prioritise programmes that deliver direct economic and social benefits.
English (US) ·