The Ije Awele Movement, a coalition of young professionals and stakeholders in Enugu State, has strongly condemned a recent press conference organized by Comrade Dika David, who claims to be the President of the Nkanu Youth Organization (NYO).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a statement issued on Monday, the Movement described the September 26 press briefing as “spurious, financially induced, and politically motivated,” alleging that David acted at the behest of opposition figures bent on derailing Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration.
According to the group, the event “did not represent the collective voice of Nkanu youths,” but was “the voice of a rented mercenary” seeking to trade the people’s interest “for a pot of porridge.”
Movement Presents Line-by-Line Rebuttal
The Ije Awele Movement issued a detailed response, describing the NYO president’s claims as “fabricated to serve political paymasters.” It insisted that the genuine aspirations of Ndi Enugu are already being addressed by the Mbah administration through reforms in infrastructure, education, health, and security.
The group highlighted that Governor Mbah has prioritized youth empowerment by allocating 33 percent of the 2024 budget to education, initiating the construction of 260 Smart Green Schools, one in each ward, equipped with robotics and ICT facilities, and recruiting 2,500 health workers while also building 260 Type-2 Primary Health Centers.
On economic reforms, the statement noted that the governor is pursuing an ambitious plan to grow Enugu’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion. It clarified that tax reforms are targeted at widening the net to capture evaders rather than stifling SMEs. It also pointed out that the administration raised the minimum wage to ₦80,000, demonstrating empathy for workers.
Rejecting allegations of distraction, the Movement stressed that Governor Mbah has remained focused on fulfilling campaign promises. “The distraction is from this libelous press conference, not from the people’s support,” it said.
Governor Mbah’s Scorecard
The Ije Awele Movement listed a series of verifiable achievements recorded by the Mbah administration so far, including:
Delivery of 120 million litres of water daily to Enugu metropolis, up from 2 million litres prior to his administration, through the 9th Mile and Oji River water schemes.
Completion of 181 urban roads, commencement of the 43.7km Penoks-Abakpa-Ugwogo Nike-Opi Nsukka dual carriageway, and construction of several gateway roads.
Establishment of an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre with surveillance fleet deployment to strengthen security.
Construction of five modern transport terminals, procurement of 200 CNG buses and 2,000 taxis.
Launch of the New Enugu Smart City Project, spanning 10,000 hectares.
Ongoing revival of moribund state assets such as Hotel Presidential and Enugu United Palm Products Ltd to boost internally generated revenue.
Construction of a 300-bed ultra-modern specialist hospital alongside the 260 ward-level health centres.
A Call for Unity
Concluding, the Ije Awele Movement urged the people of Enugu State to ignore “cash-driven distractions” and remain united in supporting the governor’s transformational agenda.
“This is no time for libelous politics fueled by desperate individuals. It is a time to support Governor Peter Mbah in reshaping the future of Enugu State. The future is here, and Ndi Enugu stand solidly with him,” the statement read.
The release was jointly signed by:
Hon. Kingsley Ezinwa, Director General of the Movement, and
Comrade Obinna Okpara, Media Director, IjeAwele Movement.