A former House of Representatives member and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sam Onuigbo, says the defection of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to APC is a Good Omen for the South-East Zone and the APC
Reacting to the defection of Governor Mbah from PDP to the ruling Party, Chief Onuigbo noted that with three out of the five South-East states now ruled by APC, the region can now negotiate from a point of strength with the federal government on issues affecting the people.
The former lawmaker, who represents the South-East on the Board of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), described Mbah’s move as very apt, pointing out that it has significantly improved President Tinubu’s chances of winning the South-East geo-political zone in the 2027 presidential election.
“Gov. Peter Mbah’s defection is a good omen to both the South-East and APC because he is a performing governor joining the mainstream,” the NEDC Board member noted.
While stressing that President Bola Tinubu deserves a second term in office based on his administration’s achievements over the past two years, he argued that Mbah would complement President Tinubu’s economic policies, which are already yielding fruits.
Speaking on the local government administration Chief Onuigbo vehemently called for financial autonomy for local governments, lamenting the widespread practice where most Governors allegedly divert local government funds for the third tier.
The NEDC Board member who observed the action has impeded development and fueled insecurity at the grassroots, further blamed some governors for conducting sham local government elections and appointing loyalists as chairmen, and thereby undermining the constitution.
“Local government elections conducted outside the provisions of Section 150 (1-3) of the 2022 Electoral Act are invalidated,” Onuigbo asserted.
Onuigbo however lauded Governor Mbah for protecting the autonomy of the local government, pointing out that local government chairmen in Enugu State have direct access to funds for development and security.
According to him, Local Government Chairmen in some local governments in Enugu State are constructing roads andembarking on rural development, while their counterparts in neighbouring states couldn’t even clear the bushes around their Secretariats.”
The former House of Rep member who sponsored Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021, made it clear that an efficient and viable local government system is the essential roadmap to a developed and secure Nigeria.
