“We Must Produce, Not Merely Tax People”
Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State, declaring that the hardship confronting residents should not be blamed entirely on the Federal Government, but on the failure of state governance to translate unprecedented revenues into meaningful welfare for the people.
Speaking shortly after clinching victory at the PDP gubernatorial primary election in Enugu, Nnaji said the removal of fuel subsidy had significantly increased monthly allocations to states, creating what he described as “the richest fiscal era in Enugu State history.”
According to him, Enugu State’s total estimated revenue between 1999 and 2022 stood at about ₦1.2 trillion to ₦1.8 trillion, while the current administration is projected to receive between ₦1.4 trillion and ₦2 trillion from May 2023 to 2026 alone.
“That is the ₦2 trillion question: where is the transformation?” Nnaji asked.
He said it was unacceptable that an administration projected to receive in three years almost as much as previous administrations received in 24 years had not produced a corresponding improvement in living conditions.
“At these revenue levels, Enugu people should not merely be hearing about inspection tours. They should be experiencing aggressive industrialisation, functional hospitals, reliable water systems, stable power infrastructure, completed strategic roads, mass employment, manufacturing hubs, and measurable productivity,” he said.
Nnaji lamented that families, traders, artisans, transporters, ICT operators, welders, farmers, teachers, and small business owners were under severe pressure despite the state’s improved revenue position.
He said government must stop “choking the people” through excessive levies, harsh policies, and poor economic planning. “Government should help the people breathe,” he declared.
The former minister said his administration would prioritise industrialisation, job creation, support for SMEs, and improved welfare for teachers, including collaboration with the 17 local government areas to sustainably enhance salaries and working conditions.
He also extended an olive branch to Chief Samson Nnamani, popularly known as Alusi Akpofu, describing him as a respected son of Enugu who shares the same desire for good governance and justice.
“Politics should never make us enemies. We may differ in approach, but we share the same love for Enugu State,” Nnaji said. He urged PDP members and the people of Enugu State to rally behind what he described as a mission to restore dignity, opportunity, productivity, and prosperity to the state.
