Enugu Youths Accuse Governor Mbah Of Marginalisation, Lament Heavy Taxes, Lack Of Basic Amenities
Enugu Youths Accuse Governor Mbah Of Marginalisation, Lament Heavy Taxes, Lack Of Basic Amenities
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, September 26, 2025, the President of the organisation, Comrade Dika David, said the body, representing youths across Nkanu land at home and in the diaspora, could no longer remain silent in the face of what they described as worsening hardship and neglect.
Youths in Enugu State under the aegis of the Nkanu Youth Organisaion (NYO), have accused the state Governor, Peter Mbah, of marginalising the people of Nkanu communities, imposing harsh tax policies on them while failing to provide them with basic amenities.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, September 26, 2025, the President of the organisation, Comrade Dika David, said the body, representing youths across Nkanu land at home and in the diaspora, could no longer remain silent in the face of what they described as worsening hardship and neglect.
“We have quietly observed with eagle’s eye from the sidelines on the journey of the current administration so far with regards to the welfare of the youths of Nkanu Land and by extension the youths of Enugu State,” David said.
The group expressed concerns over what it called a “staggering deficit” in human capital development and youth empowerment programs in the state.
While acknowledging Mbah’s infrastructural projects, the youths argued that “a state is as viable as the quality of people that inhabit it,” stressing that young people must be aggressively supported with sustainable programmes.
“Our role as youths is clear: we are the bridge between today and tomorrow. As such, we cannot afford to be silent when posterity beckons, and when our people and situations demand our collective voice,” the group noted.
They also criticised the governor’s tax regime, alleging that it was stifling small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and worsening poverty.
The group said, “The leadership of Nkanu Youth organisation is saddened by the widespread outcry of the people of Enugu concerning the weight of the current administration’s tax initiatives.
“If nobody has told Mr. Governor, without fear or favour, we want to let His Excellency know that all is not well in Enugu.
“Enugu people are suffering and smiling, dying softly and gradually through the tax arrows of the current administration that has proven to be a capitalist government and has shown zero empathy to the people.”
They urged the governor to consider the state’s economic realities when imposing levies, warning that the vision to grow Enugu’s GDP to $30billion would be undermined if residents were pushed deeper into hardship.
They called the attention of the governor to the yearnings of young people in Nkanu, saying, “We have witnessed with disturbing concern, a staggering deficit in the attention given to the timeless agenda of human resource, capital and capacity development and youth empowerment in Enugu State.”
According to the group, human capital development works hand in hand with infrastructural development.
“Thus, young persons should be aggressively supported through well-thought, sustainable programs because a state is as viable as the quality of people that inhabit it.”
The group warned, “It will be counterproductive to affirm an audacious vision to grow the State’s GDP to 30 billion dollars and then start by stifling SMEs through heavy taxation and reducing the purchasing power of the people.”
The youths further cautioned against what they termed “premature political endorsements” ahead of the 2027 elections.
They insisted that politics should not distract from governance and maintained that endorsements should reflect “genuine interest, not opportunism.”
According to the group, Nkanu is blessed with competent leaders, including Governor Mbah himself, but it emphasised that the 2027 contest must be open, transparent, and based on capacity rather than imposition.
“The people genuinely need access to clean, pipe-borne water, reduction in excessive taxation that stifles business, enhanced security across the state, youth empowerment and human capital development, investment in people-oriented programmes and infrastructure.
“These, to us, are the true dividends of democracy,” the group stressed.
The appealed to Governor Mbah to prioritise service delivery, warning that “anything done for us without us is completely against us.”
The youths also urged their members and other young people across Enugu to participate actively in the ongoing voter registration exercise, insisting that “true power lies in the ability to vote and be counted.”
