Edeoga moves motion for endorsement of Gov Mbah's second term

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu state, Hon Chijioke Edeoga has moved motion for the people of Enugu East Senatorial district to adopt Governor Peter Mbah as their sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Edeoga who keenly contested the governorship election with Governor Mbah but recently defected to the People's Democratic Party, PDP, compared himself to the Biblical Saul who when he was arrested by the holy Spirit was converted to Paul.

Edeoga moves the motion in a town hall meeting of Leaders of Thought and people of the Enugu East Senatorial zone held on Sunday at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

Edeoga said, “We know the story in the Bible about Saul and Paul. Saul was using all his might to fight the disciples of Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus he met with the Holy Spirit and his eyes opened. He converted and became the most impactful follower of Jesus Christ.

"So I, as Chijioke Edeoga, am that Saul in the Bible. I am promising that I will be that Paul in the Bible. I will devote everything within me to ensure he returns for the second tenure. Everyone has agreed that Peter Mbah will support Peter Mbah. I am moving a motion that the leadership of Enugu East Senatorial Zone have decided that Peter Mbah will be our sole candidate for the 2027.”

The motion was seconded by former APC chairman in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye.

He said: “I am on behalf of the leaders of APC begging Peter Mbah to come over to APC. I am begging you to help me tell Peter Mbah to come over to the APC. Don’t mind what anybody is saying. Peter Mbah is welcome to APC. I hereby second the motion that Peter Mbah should be adopted as the sole governorship candidate of Enugu East Senatorial Zone.”

Deputy State Chairman of the PDP, Steve Oruruo, said that, “It is salient to know that in the history of Enugu State, any time someone from this senatorial zone comes to power, there is always a sharp contrast with others. It happened when Chimaroke was in power. The same is being repeated under Peter Mbah who came at a time when there is trust deficit between the leaders and the led.

"We are challenged to follow a man who knows what he is doing. We have no reason not to follow him. The party has also resolved to follow him wherever he goes. The people of Enugu State have resolved to follow him.”

Leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Johnson Ani, added: “Governor Peter Mbah is a game changer. Other people in the state are saying it and we can see it… we all in the House of Assembly are behind the governor and we will support him come 2027.”

Chairman of Nkanu East LGA and ALGON in Enugu, Sydney Edeh, said that the six council chairmen were fully aligned with the resolution

“We are here as the six council chairmen representing the LGAs in Enugu East. We are saying that we receive our allocation 100 per cent. No one touches our money.

"We have agreed that it is our duty to ensure that come 2027, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah will be re-elected. We have no reason to do otherwise. If you look at what he has done already, you can imagine what he will do after two tenures.

"Come 2027, we will all come out to ensure that no one takes what belongs to us. As the ALGON Chairman I tell you that anything that it will take to get Peter Mbah re-elected in 2027.”

Former federal lawmaker, Cornelius Nnaji, reminded the audience of history: “Why we came here is to examine the administration of Peter Mbah. The message is simple… our brother is doing well in Enugu State. There will always be opposition but that will not stop Peter Mbah.

"There was opposition during Chimaroke but he still completed his second tenure. There was opposition under Sullivan but he still completed his second tenure. The same happened under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Why should Governor Mbah’s tenure be different?”

Former Deputy Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi, praised the governor’s achievements

Onyebuchi said, “Mbah’s actions and achievements have said it all. A good market sells itself, according to an Igbo adage. Mbah is a good son in whom we are well pleased. Are we supporting him only because he is our son? No, because if we have a bad son, we will not support him. Mbah is a good son and we are proud of him. He is a perfect example of the saying that Nkanu nwere mmadu. We want to ensure that Enugu East returns the highest votes in 2027.”

Former Secretary to the State Government, Chief GOC Aja, said, “It is better for you to love Peter Mbah than to love any other person. There is no other way to be happy in Enugu State than to rest in Peter Mbah. Anyone following Peter Mbah is interested in the good of Enugu State.”

The meeting ended with thunderous approval, sealing the adoption of Governor Peter Mbah as the sole governorship candidate of Enugu East Senatorial District in 2027.