The Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike, has called on leaders to emulate Gov. Peter Mbah’s participatory and inclusive governance style to engender good governance.
Anyaegbudike made the call on Sunday in Enugu while reacting to the successful Town Hall Meeting held by Gov. Mbah and residents of Enugu State with the theme: “Governance Issues: The Journey So Far” on Saturday.
He said that Mbah had demonstrated that “governance is about inclusion and partnership of the people and getting the feeling and buy-in of the governed.”
According to him, Mbah has set world best practice of a people-driven governance system meant to prioritise the welfare and need of the people.
“The Town Hall meeting shows that governance is for the people; the people drive governance and leaders must abide by the electoral charter with the people.
“Enugu State through Gov. Mbah is setting a high standard worth of emulation by all spheres of leadership both political, community and religious among others.
“The Town Hall meetings held so far by the governor have helped to close the gap between the government and Enugu State people.
“We are all witnesses to the positive and impactful projects being executed in the state,” the chairman said.
Anyaegbudike noted that the governor had demonstrated patience and a listening ear, adding that he had accepted bright ideas and constructive criticisms meant to move the state forward.
He said that the governor was putting in place a transformation that would turn around the state in the next 30 years to be the most developed in terms of infrastructure, commerce and human capital development in the country.
“I am happy it is happening in Enugu State and it is happening in our time through a visionary and forward looking leader.
“Currently, the state is a huge construction site with over 1,000 projects scattered the length and breadth of the 17 council areas and with each of the 260 political wards having a share of the projects.
“Each political ward and our people at the community level are feeling it as our governor has dignified good governance as a tool to uplift the residents,” he said.
The chairman applauded new projects such as the governor’s plan to make Enugu aero-hub within Nigeria by investing in airport facilities and launching Enugu Air as well as providing auxiliary services to travelers.
“This will in turn attract quality investors in the aero-space and aero-hub that will make Enugu the most sought-after destination for aero-business, medical tourism, cultural and leisure tourism among others.
On replicating what Mbah has done in his council area, the chairman said that his administration would definitely reach out to get the pulse and buy-in of the people of Oji River through a town hall meeting.
Anyaegbudike said, “We had a manifesto during our electioneering period and through which we got the people’s votes.
“We are going to interface with the good people of Oji River on that and also gather constructive criticisms and bright ideas on how to develop the council area faster.”
It would be recalled that the town hall meeting was attended by a cross section of various professionals, associations, unions and bodies as well as religious, traditional and political leaders in the state.
