The Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, on Tuesday officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The governor defected alongside members of his cabinet and
other political bigwigs in the state.
During his speech, the governor lauded President Bola
Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the president as a partner in purpose.
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I want to begin by expressing a deep gratitude to God and
Ndi Enugu…
For we are indeed at a moment of reflection, gratitude and
renewal.
Today, I stand before you, to announce a break from the
past, and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. This concerns our
values, how we organize ourselves politically, and how we secure the future of
our projects and our people.
I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to
this journey over the past 28 months.
At the top of that list is Ndi Enugu. At a time when
confidence in political leaders had almost collapsed, you chose to believe in
us.
When I declared that “Tomorrow Is Here,” it struck a chord
in your hearts. You put aside long-held skepticism and stood by us. Without
that trust, the transformation we see today would never have happened.
Let us pause for a moment and consider what this
transformation looks like.
It looks like Smart Green Schools nearing completion and
primary healthcare centres in all 260 wards.
It looks like crime down by 80%; Maternal, Under-5 and
infant mortality rates reduced by 400 percent.
It looks like a Command and Control Centre with AI-embedded
Security Surveillance System and 150 Distress Response Squad vehicles that
guarantee safe streets and neighbourhoods.
It looks like water flowing again through new mains and
restored supply.
It looks like over 1000 kilometres of paved roads.
It looks like Internally-Generated Revenue up 600%.
It looks like a fully booked International Conference Centre
pouring money into our local economy.
It looks like direct flights taking off – with Enugu Air
linking us to key cities across Nigeria and beyond.
It looks like 3 million visitors to Enugu by 2026 – with
Nigeria’s first zipline, 4 immersive eco-tourist sites.
It looks like commuting in comfortable CNG buses at 5
world-class terminals; and having 260 Farm Estates that bring production to
scale.
It looks like Hotel Presidential and Nigergas revamped; and
several moribund assets roaring back to life.
Of course, it looks like winning the Renewed Hope
Initiative’s Model Green State Award as the Cleanest State in Nigeria.
It looks like Enugu on the national – indeed global – map.
Ndi Enugu, Your trust and support have been the bedrock of
our success, and we pledge to honour that by delivering on our election
promises.
Our elder statesmen have also demonstrated generosity and
foresight.
Many of you had witnessed decades of broken promises. When
we approached you, we did not ask for blind loyalty but some faith in our
vision.
You gave us that faith. Together, with your vote of
confidence, we have achieved remarkable progress.
To my colleagues in the administration, I am grateful for
your resilience. We have walked a path that often felt like a marathon without
rest. Many of the ideas we put forward were dismissed as unrealistic. Yet you
kept pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
Because of your dedication, today we hear applause for Enugu
across Nigeria and beyond.
To the Peoples Democratic Party, which provided the platform
on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude. The PDP supported us
through a demanding campaign and joined in celebrating the victory.
For nearly 3 decades, the PDP and the people of Enugu walked
side by side, united by shared purpose. Together, we built relationships that
will always matter to me personally and to this state.
Yet, leadership sometimes demands difficult – even painful –
decisions in the service of higher principles and goals. And there always comes
a time when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.
Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to
leave the PDP and join the All Progressives Congress.
This is no whimsical decision. It’s a collective move by the
political family in Enugu State, comprising members of the National Assembly,
members of the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council, all the
Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, all political appointees and over
80% of party executives.
Over the past months, I have thought carefully about the
path forward. In the end, after much soul searching and discussion, I have
concluded that we must stand for the principles and institutions that honour
transparency, trust, and above all – the people we serve.
For decades, the South East – especially Enugu – has stood
firmly behind the PDP, showing loyalty that shaped the party’s success.
Yet despite this history, our voices were too often
disregarded when it mattered most.
It has therefore become necessary to seek affiliation where
our interests as a region are represented in the form of fair partnership.
We are not moving from a place of resentment or fear. We are
confident of our future.
We have no axe to grind, no personal point to make. But
fairness, respect and integrity must guide our choices for that future to be
ours.
Today, in joining the APC, we are embracing a visionary
partnership.
I have found in His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
GCFR, not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose, a man with the
courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting
prosperity for tomorrow.
Together, we share a conviction that transformation must be
bold and disruptive – that roads, railways, and airlines must stretch out from
the heart of the South East; that Enugu’s promise, its security, its schools,
its hospitals, its markets, its communities – must be reinforced.
The President has shown not only interest, but a deep and
vested commitment to Enugu, one that recognizes our region as a pillar of
national progress.
We both share a belief that renewal does not stop at the
grand highways or the balance sheets. It must reach the ward, the village, our
grassroots. It is in the daily life of the farmer, the trader, the young
entrepreneur that reforms come alive.
We both welcome initiatives that decentralize opportunity,
that strengthen the capacity of local government, that bring seed capital and
credit to our youth, and that expand healthcare and education at the community
level.
Just as we do in our ward-based development initiatives,
these convictions are boldly expressed in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope
Ward Development Programme, an idea conceived to empower over 8.8 million
Nigerians across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards.
Yes, some choices demand sacrifice. Removing subsidies,
unifying our foreign exchange markets, confronting crippling inefficiency –
these are not easy decisions. But these are the smart choices that free
resources for investment in our people.
His Excellency, the President has shown he is not afraid to
make the tough decisions for a fair and stable nation. And here in Enugu, we
have been just as audacious.
This move is bigger than politics – it is about alignment at
scale. It is about connecting Enugu’s destiny with the central hub of broader
reforms shaping our nation.
Of course, this does raise some questions:
Will the voice of Enugu be heard now in Abuja?
How will the change affect our progress at home?
How will your lives be touched by this decision?
Let me be clear, I will represent our state and our region
with the same strength of purpose as I have always done. Our Igbo DNA does not
change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our vision now finds
stronger reinforcement at the federal level.
The progress you see today will not slow, and the projects
we have begun will be completed. Yes, there have been challenges and delays
along the way, but make no mistake – schools, hospitals, roads, and our
services will be finished as promised.
To the political elite across the South East, I say this:
our people are watching. What they care about most are results. True leadership
is about service to the people, not service to self. Principles, not
personalities, must guide us.
To Ndi Enugu, let me say this: this will not break our
stride. We are a force of endeavour, and we need an ally who can match our
ambition.
Let me reassure you – this is not a detour, but a conscious
step towards a more compelling future.
As we begin this new chapter, I ask for your understanding,
your trust, and your continued support.
Let us gather with renewed hope to build the Enugu – and the
Nigeria – that our children deserve.
Finally, I want to express our most profound gratitude to Mr
President for his support and encouragement of our vision. I’m confident this
marks the beginning of a new era of growth and progress.
Thank you, and may God bless Ndi Enugu; God Bless Enugu
State and God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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