Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, today, rejigged his cabinet, swearing in a new Head of Service, six new Commissioners, and reassigning three others.
Assignment of portfolios to the new appointees followed the administration of Oath of Office on them by a representative of the Ministry of Justice, Chizoba Ogbodo, at the State Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Enugu.
It was a morning of excitement and promise. The event, which began at approximately 10:25 AM local time, was presided over by Governor Mbah himself, who reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance and excellence in public service. But amid the air of optimism, the spotlight was on the people of Udenu Local Government Area,whose son, Hon. Franklin Enyinaya Ogbonna, (Oko Ugbabe) was among the new Commissioners.
A son of the soil from Obollo in Udenu LGA, Hon. Enyinaya was officially sworn in as the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, a new Ministry in a State that is steadily positioning itself as a hub for energy reforms and resource-driven innovation under Governor Mbah’s transformational leadership.
Enyinaya took the oath of office with steady poise, representing a new chapter in his political journey and a growing recognition of young, grassroots-rooted leaders in the current Enugu State administration.
Immediately after the formal swearing-in, a grand civic reception was held in his honour at the DEC Event Centre, Independence Layout, Enugu, drawing a sea of supporters, political dignitaries, women leaders, and traditional stakeholders from across Udenu and beyond.
Leading the charge was the Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area, Hon. Aka Eze Aka, who stormed the venue with an entourage that included his Deputy, Hon. Onyinye Odoh, senior aides, political appointees, and loyal supporters. Aka, beaming with pride, took the stage to express his heartfelt appreciation to Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as “a well-deserved recognition of capacity and commitment.”
“On behalf of the good people of Udenu, I wish to thank His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for finding our own Enyinaya worthy to serve. He is a young, dynamic, and grassroots-grounded leader whose rise reflects the quality of human capital in our LGA,” Hon. Aka said.
He went further to personally congratulate Hon. Enyinaya, assuring him of the support of the entire Udenu political family.
“You have our blessings, our encouragement, and our readiness to partner with you as you take on this important portfolio. Udenu stands solidly behind you,” he added.
Also in attendance was Hon. Innocent Ezeoha, former Vice Chairman of Udenu LGC, who, in his goodwill message, thanked God on a day like today in Udenu’s history.
Hon. Chinedu Onuh, former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Enugu State, also lent his voice in glowing tribute to Udenu LGA and their brand new Commissioner.
The Leader of Udenu Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Patrick Ugwu, was likewise present to grace the occasion and lend the legislative arm’s support to one of their own. Other stakeholders, youth groups, traditional title holders, and cultural troupes from Udenu poured in to share in the glory of the day.
Hon. Franklin Enyinaya Ogbonna has, over the years, built a reputation as a dedicated community advocate and mobilizer. Known by his traditional title “Oko Ugbabe,” he is revered for his philanthropy, humility, and bridge-building abilities across political and generational lines.
As he takes on the task of transforming the energy and mineral resources sector in Enugu, expectations are high. Yet, if today’s overwhelming show of support is anything to go by, Enyinaya is not walking into this office alone, he carries with him the aspirations and prayers of an entire people.
Governor Mbah, in his earlier remarks during the swearing-in ceremony, expressed confidence in the abilities of the six newly sworn-in Commissioners to deliver on the administration’s SMART Agenda, particularly in critical sectors like energy, health, and infrastructure.
