By Our Reporter,The Nation

Copyright thenationonlineng

By Paul Anigbogu

‎As the sun sets on Peter Mbah’s first term as Governor of Enugu State, the political horizon for 2027 is already crackling with anticipation. Amid whispers of defections, scandals, and a palpable undercurrent of disillusionment, one figure emerges not as a mere contender, but as a beacon of principled renewal: Dr. Josef Onoh. The former Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), ex-Member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, and tireless spokesman for President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 campaign in the South East, Onoh has thrown his hat into the ring for the state’s top job. His decision to challenge Mbah—potentially under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner—signals a seismic shift in Enugu’s political landscape, one that could finally align the Coal City State’s ambitions with national progress.

‎This is no quixotic bid. a telling picture of Onoh’s momentum, his grassroots appeal in a zone where Mbah’s PDP has long held sway. Analysts now peg Onoh’s odds at a favorable 55-45 split against Mbah in early 2027 polls, bolstered by growing APC defections from the PDP and Labour Party. This edge isn’t pulled from thin air; it’s rooted in a swelling public backlash against Mbah’s governance style, which has morphed from ambitious promises to a litany of controversies that have eroded trust and fueled calls for change.

‎ *The Tide Turning Against Mbah: A Style of Politics That Alienates More Than It Inspires*

‎Peter Mbah swept into office in 2023 with a vision to balloon Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, touting private-sector savvy and infrastructure overhauls. Yet, two years in, the shine has dulled under the weight of heavy-handed tactics and unresolved scandals. Public sentiment, once cautiously optimistic, has soured into outright frustration, as evidenced by a surge in social media outcry and stakeholder petitions. X (formerly Twitter) threads brim with accusations of “brutish governance,” where demolitions of markets and homes—ostensibly for urban renewal—have displaced thousands without adequate compensation or relocation plans. One viral post lamented, “Lives were lost because properties were forcefully confiscated… With the amount of money coming into this state, Enugu has no business living in excruciating pain.”

‎The Sujimoto scandal has been the tipping point. In September 2025, revelations emerged that Mbah’s administration paid N5.7 billion to Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited for “Smart Schools,” only for integrity tests to flag structural flaws on multiple sites, leading to demolitions. The South-East Youths Stakeholders Forum demanded a forensic audit, decrying a “disturbing pattern of abuse of due process” and “systemic corruption.” Minister Uche Nnaji, himself a 2023 APC gubernatorial aspirant and Mbah rival, amplified this by vowing to expose further financial improprieties, calling the Sujimoto payout “small compared to what was going on.” Even Mbah’s defenders concede his low-key publicity style borders on opacity, with critics on X accusing him of dismissing valid concerns as “armchair criticism” rather than engaging empathetically.

‎This isn’t mere opposition noise. Polls from local think tanks show Mbah’s approval dipping to 48% in urban Enugu, down from 62% post-inauguration, driven by perceptions of arrogance and a “recluse” demeanor that shuns constructive dialogue. Rumors of his PDP-to-APC defection swirl, but without Onoh’s bridge-building clout, it risks fracturing alliances further. In this cauldron of discontent, Onoh’s odds brighten: his national political exposure hints at a 2027 upset, especially as APC gains traction on anti-corruption and federal alignment promises.

‎ *Onoh’s Wealth of Experience: A Resume That Outshines the Competition*

‎What sets Onoh apart isn’t just timing—it’s pedigree. Born in the UK to the legendary Chief Christian Onoh, architect of modern Enugu’s creation as a state in 1991, Josef Onoh embodies a legacy of service fused with contemporary grit. A clinical psychologist and hospitality expert, his career spans private enterprise, state-level reforms, and national advocacy, offering Enugu a leader who thinks globally but acts locally.

‎Consider his tenure as ECTDA Chairman (2019–2023), where Onoh enforced the Enugu master plan with unyielding resolve. He bulldozed illegal structures, including the National Youth Council edifice, restoring urban sanity amid howls from violators—actions that, while controversial, laid the groundwork for the very International Conference Centre (ICC) Mbah now touts as a flagship project. Onoh’s advocacy as Special Adviser on Special Projects under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi directly revived the long-abandoned ICC, luring federal intervention from Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika to integrate it with Akanu Ibiam International Airport upgrades. Mbah inherited this polished gem; Onoh forged it.

‎In the Enugu State House of Assembly (2003–2007), Onoh chaired the finance and appropriation Committee, auditing state finances with forensic precision and exposing graft that saved millions. His private sector chops shine through too: as a UK- member of institute of hospitality, he’s consulted on hospitality ventures, blending empathy with efficiency—skills that turned Enugu-Ngwo’s political accords into equitable rotations, preventing intra-community strife. Nationally, as Tinubu’s South East spokesman, Onoh mobilized the Asiwaju Renewed Mandate South East (ARMSE) in 2024, countering regional threats and securing Igbo inclusion in federal appointments, like his sister Bianca Ojukwu’s ministerial role.

‎Contrast this with Mbah, whose banking and oil background (CEO of Pinnacle Oil and Gas) excels in spreadsheets but falters in people-centric governance, as seen in his combative responses to criticism. Or Uche Nnaji, the Innovation Minister and 2023 APC flagbearer, whose technocratic vision is admirable but lacks Onoh’s deep Enugu roots—Nnaji’s 2023 loss exposed his limited grassroots pull. Other aspirants, like Frank Nweke Jr. (ex-Minister) or Bartholomew Nnaji (Power czars), bring federal heft but pale in local legislative and urban renewal experience. Onoh? He’s the full package: a hybrid who sanitized Enugu’s core while building bridges to Abuja.

‎ *Selling Onoh: Why He’s the Unrivaled Choice for Enugu’s Renaissance*

‎Enugu deserves more than recycled promises; it needs a governor who delivers equity, innovation, and unity. Onoh’s blueprint—rooted in his ECTDA triumphs and ARMSE strategy—positions him as the antidote to Mbah’s missteps and rivals’ gaps. Here’s why he’s the superior bet:

‎1. **Proven Urban and Infrastructure Mastery**: Onoh didn’t just dream of a gleaming Enugu; he enforced it. His ECTDA bulldozers reclaimed violated master plans, curbing haphazard growth that plagued predecessors. As governor, he’d accelerate Mbah’s inherited ICC into a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) hub, generating 50,000 jobs via tourism linkages—far beyond Nnaji’s tech focus, which risks alienating rural Enugu. Onoh’s psychology training ensures community buy-in, avoiding Mbah’s demolition debacles.

‎2. **Fiscal Discipline and Anti-Corruption Steel**: As Public Accounts chair, Onoh unearthed embezzlement rings, saving Enugu from fiscal black holes. Unlike Mbah’s Sujimoto opacity, Onoh mandates transparent audits, channeling funds to 260 promised Smart Schools without scandals. His private ventures honed lean management; expect a $30 billion GDP push via diversified mining (Enugu’s coal legacy) and agro-processing, outpacing Mbah’s uneven execution.

‎3. **Inclusive, Empathetic Governance**: Onoh’s accord-brokering in Enugu North averted zoning wars, fostering peace Mbah’s “brutish” style ignites. A listener by training, he’d host town halls, not Twitter defenses, rebuilding trust now eroded.

‎4. **Economic Diversification with Heart**: Onoh’s hospitality expertise would transform Enugu into a South East gateway, leveraging the airport-ICC synergy he birthed. The Woodland Park zoo he personally funded being the only privately owned zoo in the southeast in full compliance with world association of zoos and aquariums enclosure recommended standards. Unlike Mbah’s urban bias, Onoh prioritizes Nsukka’s agro-belts, with a family background in Agriculture in the then Rexonoh agro industries which was one of the largest agricultural companies in Nigeria in the 80s it created over 20,000 farm jobs during its existence — a holistic edge over Nnaji’s innovation silos.

‎5. **Youth and Women Empowerment**: Drawing from his assembly days, Onoh champions gender quotas in contracts, ensuring women lead 30% of state projects. His foundation work echoes Mbah’s philanthropy but scales it statewide, with mental health initiatives tackling post-demolition trauma.

‎In sum, Onoh isn’t a disruptor; he’s a completer—of his father’s state-building dream, of Ugwuanyi’s foundations, and of Enugu’s untapped potential. Mbah leveraged Onoh’s ICC revival for photo-ops; Onoh would govern it for prosperity.

‎ *Onoh as Governor: A Win-Win for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope*

‎Beyond Enugu, Onoh’s victory would supercharge President Tinubu’s 2027 bid. As ARMSE founder, he’s already pledged: “I cannot deliver Enugu for the president without Mbah’s cooperation”—a unity call that could flip the state APC-ward, breaking South East’s PDP stranglehold. His federal ties ensure seamless fund flows for rail extensions and power grids, aligning Enugu with Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy goal. Nnaji’s loyalty is noted, but Onoh’s Enugu-East and Enugu west senatorial zones trinity (dual senatorial roots) commands broader coalitions, shielding Tinubu from zonal fractures.

‎In 2027, Enugu won’t settle for more scandals or style over substance. Dr. Josef Onoh offers experience, empathy, and execution—a leader who turns inheritance into legacy. As public ire mounts, his favorable odds aren’t luck; they’re earned. Ndi Enugu, the choice is clear: Onoh for a state reborn.

Mr. Anigbogu is the Chairman, Contact & Mobilization of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State