Commissioner Replies Enugu APC Chairman, Agballah

The Enugu State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aka Eze Aka, Thursday, fired back at Ugochukwu Agballah, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, that earlier accused administration of Governor Peter Mbah of deliberately demolishing economic investments in the area for construction of motor parks, describing the accusation as deliberate falsehood.

Aka in a statement entitled, “Opposition And The Feast of Lies” said Agballah was criticising the administration of Peter Mbah in Enugu state because he wanted to be heard.

Agballah on Tuesday in Enugu while conducting newsmen round some demolished property in Enugu, described the demolition exercises and taxations being carried out by the state government “as ill-conceived.”

Aka said it was necessary at this point to emphasize that the choice of Holy Ghost area for the bus terminal as against the proposition of the APC chairman was a decision taken after thoughtful and detailed considerations based on the central location of the area, its proximity to the biggest commercial hub and market in Enugu and accessibility to all parts of Enugu metropolis.

The Commissioner’s statement in full below:

OPPOSITION AND THE FEAST OF LIES

Ordinarily, it might not be too important or necessary to react to some of the unfounded and deliberate falsehood raised by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah in a recent Press Conference in Enugu on the removal of some structures in Holy Ghost area to create the needed space for the construction of a modern transport interchange and bus terminal that will benefit Enugu City as the capital of old Eastern Region of Nigeria.

This is because the content and purpose of the media activity shows a clear cursory understanding of the huge commercial and business benefits of the project to the transport system of Enugu State and beyond as well as trade and commerce in Ogbete Market by the APC chairman.

It is necessary at this point to emphasize that the choice of Holy Ghost area for the Bus Terminal as against the proposition of the APC chairman was a decision taken after thoughtful and detailed considerations based on the central location of the area, its proximity to the biggest commercial hub and market in Enugu and accessibility to all parts of Enugu metropolis.

Furthermore, citizens of Enugu City have been complaining over the years of the daily chaotic transport situation around Holy Ghost, Chris Chemist and Old Park which affects manhour in both the private and public sectors of Enugu State economy. Suffice to say that the Transport Interchange Project will help to check this and ensure easy vehicular and human movement in the aforementioned areas.

For the record, it is important to clear the issues of lies by Barr Agballah on the plight of the Children at Red Cross Motherless Babies Home which was affected by the demolition, it is a well known fact that the Government of Dr Peter Mbah had since relocated the children to a more conducive and healthy environment devoid of the noise, health and other challenging experiences they encountered at Holy Ghost area. The operators of the orphanage had since asked politicians such as the APC chairman to desist from dragging the Red Cross Orphanage into politics.

Furthermore, it is either that the APC chairman wants to be comic or economical with the truth when he said over two hundred small businesses that included palm kernel and chemical plants were demolished by Enugu State government at Holy Ghost axis when as at today many entrepreneurs involved in these businesses have their outfits intact and operate freely.

Already, the government has commenced the payment of compensation to business and property owners who were displaced by the demolition and will not stop until they are all compensated. This show of care and concern by Governor Peter Mbah dispels the falsehood by Barr. Agballah that the present administration in Enugu State is heartless and interested in land grabbing.

Aside from this show of magnanimity, the government has offered to give business owners whose enterprises were affected by the demolition the opportunity to return to the location on the principal of right of first refusal immediately the project is completed and commissioned.

Indeed, similar gesture will be extended to operators that will be affected at Ogige Market Nsukka, Gariki Market Awkananwu and Abakpa Market.

It is left for Barr Agballah to explain in details to the good citizens of Enugu State his fact on how much the present Enugu State government has received through various revenue windows including the Federal Allocation since it’s inauguration but what is however clear,obvious and verifiable is that Governor Peter Mbah has justified the revenue that have accrued to the government since May last year by embarking on massive development projects that cut across road infrastructure, provision of water, building of schools and hospitals as well as restructuring of other key sectors of the state economy like Agriculture.
For the avoidance of doubt the government will not relent in extending the frontiers of development in Enugu State, despite unwarranted and unnecessary opposition like the one being engineered by Barr Ugochukwu Agballah of the APC who has to wait for a whole year to talk about governance in the state he claims that he cherishes its progress, development and stability.

What if a big calamity befalls the state now, God forbid, so Barr Agballah will be silent for one year before talking about it, as a real Igbo man he should remember the adage that says “an elder does not sit at home and watch a tethered goat deliver.”

The administration of Governor Peter Mbah is on course to deliver to Ndi Enugu his promises to make the state one destination for investment and business by increasing the revenue of the state from $4 billion to $30 billion dollars.

While the government shares in the pains of those who may have been affected by the ongoing effort by government to transform the state, it is also important to note that development takes a lot of sacrifices and understanding.

The government of Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is ever focused and determined to deliver the best to Ndi Enugu.

Let us continue to support him in this journey of transformation… Tomorrow is indeed here!

Aka Eze Aka
Commissioner for Information and Communication Enugu State.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024