Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has urged Nigerians to unite and work towards inclusive national economic development for the advancement of the country.
He made this call during a special church service at the Government House Chapel in Enugu to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary.
Mbah emphasised that Nigeria’s 64th anniversary is a significant milestone, showcasing the nation’s resilience.
He stressed that for Nigeria to thrive, everyone must feel included, and efforts should be made to eliminate feelings of alienation.
Mbah believes that unity and inclusive economic development are crucial for Nigeria’s progress, saying, “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”.
To achieve this vision, Mbah encourages Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other state leaders in realizing the country’s economic goals. As the governor of Enugu State, Mbah has already outlined ambitious plans to grow the state’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within the next four to eight years.
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.
In a homily, the Diocesan Secretary/Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, 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.
