By Our Roving Correspondent

Enugu metropolis, among very few other cities in the country, boasts of a number of scenic recreation parks, green, open spaces for events, sports, and family relaxation – for instance, Edward Nnaji, Onwudiwe, Eze, Ngwo, and Ejindu parks, among others.

These parks are operated by private firms, lawfully concessioned by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, through the Enugu State Tourism Board.

These private firms run the parks because the government can’t do it alone. Or else, why would the same government advertise and grant concessions?

The Enugu State Tourism Board came into being on August 20th, 2013, via an Act of the same name, which was passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly. The Tourism Board office is statutorily administered by a General Manager/CEO, and has a Board, under a part-time Chairman and other members, who are mandated to meet not less than thrice, and not more than six times in a year, except in the case of emergency.

Since then, things had gone on smoothly betwixt the Ministry, the Board, and the concessionaires.

That is, until this year, 2024, when things took an abrupt turn for the worse, for the concession-holders, at least.

Their tales of woe, Top Celebrities Magazine gathered, began following the coming into office of the self-styled ‘ Executive Chairman ‘ of the Enugu State Tourism Board, Dame Rita Mbah.

Our Roving Correspondent learnt that the said lady who, sources said prefers to be called Madam, is presently on the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and is a leading political figure in the state. She was appointed by the Governor, Dr. Barr. Peter Mbah, following his swearing-in in May, 2023.

Now, barely a year and a half later, Dame Rita Mbah has been accused of alleged executive high handedness, bordering on illegality, by fellow public servants, political office-holders, and concessionaires alike.

To illustrate, reports claim that Madam has allegedly, partially or totally, demolished sundry structures within several of these facilities, like Ejindu, Eze – partly taken over while leaving just a little space for the lawful concession- holder, and Edward Nnaji, which has been reportedly completely taken over. In the last-named park, she allegedly forcefully evicted the private security guards posted there by the lawful concession-holder, which led to the vandalization of building materials already acquired and stored there. In the case of Eze park, which already had recorded more than seventy percent of development, including a newly-built, standard five-a-side football pitch, a table tennis arena, a security house, a four-toilet unit, a Games House and a snooker house, the sadness was palpable, as these above-named structures have all been demolished.

When Dame Rita Mbah accompanied the Governor on a visit to the parks, the concession-holders, after waiting in vain for Madam, attempted to introduce themselves to His Excellency,. They were instantly rebuffed by the Iron Lady.

In the case of Ngwo Park, Dame Rita Mbah, on the 24th of September, 2024, after earlier verbal threats, led a fierce group of officials of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, backed by armed-to-the-teeth law enforcement agents, and stormed the park, creating alarm and apprehension among citizens. Structures within were marked by the public officials for removal, on the same date!

These acts have sent jitters down the collective spine of these business people, who have invested literally hundreds of millions of Naira on the development, administration and management of these parks, all of them being employers of labour.

These acts have certainly escalated anxiety and stress within their lives, with the attendant risks to health. In fact, a concession-holder was allegedly nearly hospitalized when the information about the demolition was received.

Following his earlier unscheduled visits to the parks, Governor Peter Mbah had gone public, on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on other platforms, that his administration would assist to upgrade recreational facilities. This was widely seen as a laudable idea which was warmly welcomed by all stakeholders, including the concessionaires, already battling to survive in the present harsh economic climate.

Yet Dame Rita Mbah, exhibiting alleged executive high-handedness, has gone right ahead to demolish and ruin valuable personal citizens’ investments, valued in excess of hundreds of millions of Naira, all without any notice whatsoever! On the contrary, it was alleged that she has operated using notorious political thugs, as well as other high government officials and other state agencies, to wreak havoc on people’s structures, while threatening, in a commando-style, to level others to the ground!

Top Celebrities Magazine scooped that the concession-holders are fully in support of His Excellency’s development initiative, but are highly apprehensive about the methods being used by Dame Rita Mbah. This suggests, or makes it appear, that Madam wants to use her office to secure the parks as her personal business, in due course.

Concession-holders also wonder if His Excellency is aware of these unwelcome developments, considering all their investments so far. Why is the demolition of structures already in use necessary? Why the excessive use of force and hostility by the ‘Executive Chairman ‘, against lawful concession-holders? Why can’t they be carried along since, from inception, they all have been intimately involved in the development, administration, management and maintenance of the said parks? Why has Dame Rita Mbah refused to give written notice(s) to lawful concession-holders?

These questions, and more, no doubt, are all begging for answers.

Backing the earlier allegations of executive high-handedness levelled against Dame Rita Mbah, insider sources, at the Ministry and the Tourism Board, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of possible administrative reprisals, revealed that Madam has allegedly been at loggerheads with her principal; and that she has also reportedly verbally ‘fired’ several staff of the Tourism Board, who are said to be suffering under her heavy yoke, without any recourse to extant Civil Service Rules and Regulations, and without raising any panel, in the case of affected senior staff.

Dame Rita Mbah’s actions, it is being claimed, have cost the affected concession-holders in excess of hundreds of millions of Naira, development, administrative, management and maintenance expenditure, all gone down the drain, and have left them traumatized, dehumanaized, and devastated.

These ill-advised acts have, in addition, dampened the enthusiasm of potential investors who, understandably, would not wish to flush their hard-earned funds down the same drain.

Political insiders also think that her actions could be a slur on the present administration, and are capable of bringing disrepute to the good name of Governor Peter Mbah.

This is a clarion call to the supervisory body of the Tourism Board, namely the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, ably led by the proactive Dame Ugochi Madueke; and the people-oriented Governor of Enugu State, H.E. Dr. Barr. Peter Mbah, to use their good offices to ensure that justice is not only done, but must be seen to be done, in the matter of the embattled Enugu parks concession-holders, all major stakeholders in the new vision for Enugu State.

In summary, the lawful concession-holders demand that the government upholds the terms of their existing MOUs, which guarantees holders the right of first refusal, and a joint meeting with the officials and contractors, so as to be carried along.

One last word. The job designation, ‘Executive Chairman ‘, is not mentioned anywhere in the Tourism Board enabling Act of 2013.

All attempts to reach Dame Rita Mbah, at the time this report was filed, proved abortive.

Top Celebrities Magazine will keep you updated as the saga unfolds.