By Chief Steve Nnamani PhD.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!When Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah swore in local government chairmen in October last year, many were confused about what to expect from them, owing to the manner in which local government administration had been piloted for a while in the state. The local government system had recently produced leaders whose conscience seemed sold to the devil, as they amassed wealth to the detriment of their people.
Someone like me, who likes to monitor events, was very concerned about the political future of some of the then newly elected chairmen—Pastor Beloved-Dan Anike, Hon. Uche Okolo, Barr. Ugo Ferdinand Okwueze, and Dr. Ibenaku Harford Onoh—owing to their vast knowledge of governance and my personal encounters with them. I was afraid this tsunami of failure at the grassroots would swallow them, so I began to follow their activities. At some point, I lost focus when I traveled to the US in November, only to return on February 10.
On my return, I was even more concerned about them, especially Dr. Ibenaku Harford Onoh, after seeing his sterling 100-day-in-office achievements. I was skeptical, wondering if he had started manufacturing lies like others, which had always been the norm—until yesterday, February 19, 2025, when local government chairmen in Enugu State gathered for an assessment at Old Government House Lodge in an event organized by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
When it was his turn, Hon. Onoh, dressed in a fitted navy blue suit, began to outline what he had accomplished in the last four months, earning a well-deserved round of applause from all. This young man, in just four months, has almost completed the construction and asphalting of the 2.2km European Quarters Road, Hilltop; completed the construction and asphalting of the 400-meter Owa Street (St. Peter’s Road), Coal Camp; and completed the reconstruction and asphalting of Ukwa Street (Ihewuishi Ogui Nike Road), off Presidential Road. He has also completed the reconstruction and asphalting of Chris-Chemist to Ogbete Main Market Road, Okpara Avenue, including the removal of the Chris-Chemist roundabout and road expansion to aid decongestion. He is almost done with the reconstruction and beautification of Chris-Chemist to Holy Ghost Median (Kerbs). Additionally, he has installed solar-powered CCTV along Chris-Chemist, Holy Ghost, and Ogbete axis to enhance security and monitor traffic decongestion efforts.
To further improve urban order, he has purchased and installed wire mesh along the Chris-Chemist to Holy Ghost axis to delineate pedestrian lanes, aid decongestion, and eliminate roadside trading. He has procured 500 pieces of 300-watt solar streetlights, which have already been deployed across various wards in Enugu North LGA. His administration has almost completed and re-equipped the Idume Community Health Centre, Enugu North LGA, which will be commissioned next month. He has also deployed solar streetlights across the council secretariat, commenced the renovation of Enugu North LGA Multi-purpose City Hall, and reorganized the Enugu North LGA Neighborhood Watch Program to enhance community safety and security. Offices at the newly reconstructed Administrative Block in the Enugu North LGA Secretariat have been fully equipped, while an e-collection platform has been deployed to eliminate leakages and optimize the council’s revenue sources. He is currently developing a fully integrated LGA website to aid the council’s transition to e-governance. Additionally, 40 youths are currently undergoing training in automobile engineering at Anamco, Enugu.
What shocked me even more was when he began to outline his administration’s future plans. When he mentioned that he had revived adult education in Enugu North, with six study centers set to kick off, I knew Enugu North LGA had not made a mistake in electing him. He has also held meetings with SUG presidents of some tertiary institutions in the council, such as IMT, ESCET, and UNEC, identifying key projects that will be executed for them. This is aside from the millions of naira he has mapped out to kickstart health insurance, MSME development, and scholarships for intelligent but indigent students.
This young man is also establishing an ICT hub and job center for Enugu North youths, alongside concluded arrangements with Copen Group and Potter’s Wheel to train an additional 500 youths in various crafts, including mechatronics, fashion, and event management, among others.
The highlight of my surprise was when he presented a sample of his well-researched and packaged document, detailing his plans and strategies for the next two years. He called it the Enugu North Local Government Strategic Plan Document 2024–2026. When made public, this document will reveal why he has been making such remarkable progress. I hope to be in the country then to support him.
However, I was glad that my fears turned into joy because while some local government chairmen are still confused about what to do, Dr. Onoh has demonstrated what intentional grassroots leadership truly entails.