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Enugu at 31: A Statement by Frank Nweke Jr on the 31st anniversary of the creation of Enugu State

Ndi Enugu, ndi banyi, 

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Today, we mark the 31st anniversary of the creation of Enugu State. The current situation we find ourselves in may not feel celebratory and in fact, it is a shame to our history and to who we are as a people.

Enugu is fast losing its pre-eminence as the capital of the Eastern region due to poor leadership and misgovernance. We don’t have potable water. Our streets are almost overrun by waste. Our children are home because our primary school teachers are on strike. Pensions and gratuities are not guaranteed after decades of service.

Our people live in fear because we have a government that cannot protect us and even benefit from the insecurity.

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31% of our population are unemployed and 58% of our brothers and sisters live below the poverty level.

Enugu is crippling under debt with a 72% increase in loans taken in local or foreign currency in the past few years. All because of a government that only cares about their pocket.

Still, we remain grateful to God for life and more importantly, for hope. In the face of these dire circumstances, I dare say that we do have things to celebrate and be proud of. We have the advantage of the scenic landscapes and rolling hills that God has blessed us with. We are blessed with arable lands for both food and cash crops. We have the advantage of a teeming young population brimming with talent and the potential to make Enugu a thriving and productive economy. We have a growing technology community and an abundance of creative energy.

These great potentials have been stunted by suboptimal political leadership, corruption and ineptitude. It is daunting but I choose to fix my gaze on the future and prepare to create the Enugu that will work for every resident.

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Ndi banyi, we must ask ourselves, what do we want Enugu to look like when we celebrate our 32nd or 33rd anniversary?

I believe that we have a great opportunity to build a stable and prosperous state where every citizen is economically empowered, has access to potable water, excellent healthcare and quality education; a place where every life is secure and treated with respect and dignity.

As we prepare for a change in government in 2023, my dream is to lead a government that shuns mediocrity and sycophancy and instead, lead with vision and integrity, providing leadership that is selfless and people-centered. This is why I am running for governor.

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I will encourage and work with bright and enterprising leaders in Enugu who will help to transform our local government areas and communities.

I will lead a government that prioritizes the lives of our people, supports our security agencies and drives economic transformation and human development.

I will lead a government that understands that water is life. There is no reason why there shouldn’t be pipe borne water in Enugu. The sources have not changed from where they used to be in the 1920s. This is a top priority for my team and I.

I will lead a government that ensures that all children receive Compulsory Basic Education; and young people have access to quality Technical Vocational Education and Training.

I will lead a government that creates tech hubs and infrastructure, facilitating high-tech business growth especially among the young people. I will lead a government that restores Enugu as the creative hub of the country.

Mine will be a government without tainted records that has the pedigree to attract investors and funding to the State, especially in the face of a crippling debt profile.

These are investors and experts who will work with us to ensure that potable water is made available to all citizens, to ensure that we clean up our city and turn our waste to opportunities for wealth; investors who will make jobs available through investment in critical sectors such as agriculture, technology, waste management, healthcare and new energy systems to power our industry.

Ndi banyi, Enugu looks nothing like what we have the potential to be. But, you have the power to change that by putting the right government in power come this next election.

I have made a decision to stand with the people and take back Enugu. Will you join me?

Frank Nweke Jr