“I Fell in Love with Tinubu When He Removed Fuel Subsidy” — Gov Peter Mbah

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has disclosed that his admiration for President Bola Tinubu began the moment the president announced the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market. Speaking during a media chat on Tuesday, shortly after formally declaring his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mbah said Tinubu’s bold economic reforms and leadership style deeply resonated with him.

“I fell in love with this president from the day he made the announcement to remove fuel subsidy and unified the foreign exchange market,” Mbah said. “Given my background in the oil and gas sector, I had long argued that subsidy removal was necessary.”

The governor explained that his move to the APC was driven not merely by politics but by a shared vision of leadership and development. “I enjoy a very good relationship with the President,” he said. “This is beyond party politics; it’s about leadership and the confidence you have in the person leading a party.”

Mbah commended Tinubu for his focus on devolution of powers and economic decentralisation, describing these policies as vital to achieving the administration’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030. “We are looking at a leader who is committed to empowering the states,” he said. “For us to reach that target, the states must be enabled to drive development.”

While announcing his defection, the governor said his decision was also guided by a desire to reshape Enugu’s political landscape and align the state’s development agenda with national priorities.