ENUGU: Labour Party deputy governorship candidate in Enugu State, Barrister Ken Asogwa, has criticised Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, arguing that the state government should prioritise potable water and agricultural development over projects such as an airline.
Asogwa, who is also the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, said an incoming LP administration would prioritise basic infrastructure and economic development if elected in 2027.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Sun, Asogwa promised that the Labour Party government would, within its first 100 days in office, provide the Enugu State counterpart funding needed to complete the long-abandoned Adada Dam project.
He described the dam as critical to addressing the state’s water challenges and unlocking the agricultural potential of Enugu North.
According to Asogwa, the Adada Dam project was initiated through a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Enugu State Government in 2021 during the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
He claimed that under the agreement, the Federal Government was expected to provide 75 per cent of the funding, while the state government would contribute the remaining 25 per cent as counterpart funding.
Asogwa alleged that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had already provided about 60 per cent of its agreed funding, while the Enugu State Government had yet to make any meaningful contribution towards its own obligation.
He said the issue was subsequently raised by Senator Okey Ezea after he became the senator representing Enugu North.
According to Asogwa, Ezea wrote to Governor Peter Mbah after contacting the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to establish why the project had stalled.
He said the ministry informed the senator that it had fulfilled about 60 per cent of its funding commitment and urged him to find out why the state government had not met its counterpart obligation.
Asogwa, however, claimed that the state government had not acted on the matter.
He described the continued abandonment of the Adada Dam as one of the major failures of successive administrations in the state.
The Labour Party chieftain also criticised what he described as the Mbah administration’s emphasis on cosmetic” and high-profile projects, particularly the Smart School initiative.
He alleged that although smart schools had been constructed across the state’s more than 300 wards, fewer than five were fully operational.
According to him, billions of naira had been spent on the programme without corresponding benefits for residents.
Asogwa also referred to businessman Sujimoto, claiming that he was awarded a contract connected to the Smart School project but eventually withdrew after encountering difficulties.
He alleged that the state was accumulating debts while residents continued to struggle with basic needs.
Asogwa said the Labour Party would approach governance by first assessing the state’s strengths and weaknesses, with commercial agriculture identified as one of its biggest economic advantages.
He specifically cited Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, which he described as a major food-producing area in the South-East.
According to him, completing the Adada Dam would be crucial to providing the water required for commercial farming across Enugu North.
He said an LP administration would establish regular water supply across the state while simultaneously strengthening agricultural production.
Asogwa questioned the rationale behind establishing an airline when many Enugu residents still depend on water tankers for their daily water needs.
“Water supply is not rocket science. No, you can’t be floating an airline when the people lack access to drinking water,” he said.
He argued that Enugu could become the food basket of the South-East by investing heavily in agriculture rather than depending excessively on food transported from northern Nigeria.
Drawing examples from Cambodia and the Netherlands, Asogwa said agricultural development could transform Enugu’s economy and create jobs for young people.
On the Labour Party’s preparations for the 2027 election, Asogwa acknowledged that the party did not have the financial resources available to the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.
He claimed that the APC had access to greater financial resources, but said the LP would rely on a more cost-effective campaign strategy.
Asogwa said the party had developed a grassroots mobilisation plan designed to reach more voters without engaging in extravagant spending.
He declined to disclose the party’s full manifesto, saying doing so at this stage would undermine its campaign strategy.
The LP deputy governorship candidate also assured that the party would operate within the provisions of the Electoral Act and would not exceed the legal limits on campaign expenditure.
Assessing the performance of the Mbah administration, Asogwa argued that government performance should be measured against the resources available to it and the tangible projects delivered.
He claimed that Enugu State had received more than N1.2 trillion in federal allocations and other revenues in less than three years.
According to him, the level of development visible across the state does not correspond with the amount of money available to the government.
Asogwa questioned the economic impact of the state-owned airline, international conference centre and five-star hotels, describing them as projects targeted largely at the elite.
He argued that Enugu remained predominantly a civil service state and that many residents were struggling under increased taxation.
He also claimed that the state had become one of the highest internally generated revenue earners in the country.
The Labour Party candidate further criticised the government’s approach to taxation, particularly in rural communities.
He alleged that palm-wine tappers as well as tomato, pepper and vegetable farmers were being subjected to heavy taxation.
Asogwa questioned how taxes collected from rural residents were being reinvested in their communities.
He asked why more resources were not being directed towards rural roads and other infrastructure connecting farmers to markets.
He also questioned the economic relevance of an airline to rural residents who, according to him, have little or no access to airports.
You floated an airline for the bourgeoisie to fly, and these are not the people from whom you collect most of the taxes, he said.
On water supply, Asogwa maintained that the Mbah administration had failed to fully deliver on promises of regular water availability across Enugu State.
He argued that basic amenities should take precedence over projects that have limited direct impact on ordinary residents.
The LP deputy governorship candidate also raised concerns about insecurity in rural communities.
He said growing insecurity had created fear among residents and discouraged many people from farming.
According to him, some residents had abandoned their farms and communities because of the activities of armed groups operating in parts of the state.
Asogwa said the Labour Party would prioritise security, water supply, agriculture and other basic infrastructure if given the opportunity to govern Enugu State from 2027.
