By Samson Ezea
On March 26, 2023, I read with rapt attention and euphoria a trending article on social media platforms titled: “Rethinking How God Has Used Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah To Save Enugu State From Doom” written by Associate Prof. Hyginus Banko Okibe.
The article which was quite factual, timely, interesting and revealing, xrayed and chronicled Governor Mbah’s tortous journey to the governorship seat, divine manifestations and how Governor Mbah has so far demonstrated equity, vision, fairness, transparency and commitment in governance, especially in the area of infrastructural development and others, without minding whose ox is gored.
The writer made it clear that the divisive and tribal tendencies, utterances, actions and inactions that trailed, threatened and characterised the governorship campaigns and election have since been consigned into political dustbin and become things of the past as Governor Mbah has remained focused, unperturbed and steadfast in providing democracy dividends and good governance for the well-being of all in the state, irrespective of tribal or political leanings, status or religion.
As I was savouring and mediating on the article and its significance, Governor Mbah struck, reaffirming the authenticity of the article that he is the governor and father of all in Enugu State. This Governor Mbah demonstrated by signing into Law the Bill that sought to upgrade the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences ( SUMAS) Igbo-Eno from a mere Medical College to a University Teaching Hospital status.
Mbah, while signing the bill into law, pledged his administration’s support to the management of the university in line with his government’s philosophy and policy on education.
By this law, SUMAS can now teach medicine and allied courses unencumbered by lack of clinical facilities. This is a milestone and another masterstroke by Governor Mbah, who has continued to show capacity, sincerity and purposefulness in leadership, regardless of the wiles of some naysayers, sore losers and sceptics, who are yet to recover from the outcome of the governorship election that produced Governor Mbah and live with reality that he will be the governor of the state till 2027.
I could recall that upon the commencement and completion of the university by the immediate past administration at the twilight of its second term and ahead of the 2023 elections, some opposition members tried to politicise and even writte the signature project off as nothing worthy of celebration, mentioning or recognition. These naysayers fabricated and peddled falsehoods on social media that Governor Mbah had concluded plans to shut down and relocate the university if elected and other blatant lies.
The desperations, mudslingings and misinformation by these oppositions about the university were to mislead and pitch the people Enugu North Senatorial Zone where the university is situated against Governor Mbah and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi before and after the elections. They were surely so cynical and skeptical about the survival and funding of the university under Governor Mbah’s administration.
By signing into the law the bill that sought to upgrade the SUMAS to t
Teaching Hospital status, Governor Mbah has done the historic and proven the bookmakers, social media purveyors of falsehoods, enemies of unity, peace and development in the state, who are hellbent on causing confusion in the state by fabricating and peddling falsehoods against him and his government wrong again. He has exhibited in grand style his administration’s total commitment to quality, accessible and affordable education and healthcare.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that SUMAS Igbo-Eno was established by the immediate past administration of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. It is one of the administration’s legacy projects.
The specialized university, which is the first of its kind in South-East region and second in the country was unveiled on February 18, 2023 with 789 undergraduates as its first intakes.
The university is the second university in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, 60 years after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe established the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) with its medical school and other major courses at Enugu Campus of the University.
With six faculties, 22 departments and now a medical school and teaching hospital courtesy of Governor Mbah’s signing into law bill to establish a teaching hospital in the school, the university is now of great and international standard. It has come to stay, grow and endure. Enugu State can now boast of three teaching hospitals.
One good thing that of note is that the management of SUMAS ranging from the vice chancellor, Registrar, Bursar and others are majorly from the Enugu North Senatorial Zone and Nsukka extraction.
Before the establishment of SUMAS, securing admission into the medical school of UNN by prospective undergraduates from Enugu North Senatorial Zone was extremely difficult and tasking.
It is not in doubt that with the establishment of SUMAS, towns and communities around the university are developing rapidly. Many investors, especially from Enugu North Senatorial Zone and beyond are utilizing the presence of the university to invest in building private hostels and recreational centres around the school. This has improved the economy of the Enugu North Senatorial Zone and social activities especially to the university host communities and its environs. The university has provided jobs and will continue to provide more jobs and empowerment opportunities for the people of the state.
With a functional teaching hospital in SUMAS now a reality with Governor Mbah’s recent action, the people of Enugu North Senatorial Zone and the nearby communities need not to go to UNTH or ESUTH to seek medical attention. With a teaching hospital in SUMAS, Governor Mbah has complemented the effort of his predecessor, shamed his detractors from the zone that are still wallowing, lamenting and wailing over the Labour Party governorship candidate’s loss in the election and written his name in the sands of time as a Governor with a difference.
