- Safiu Kehinde
Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has on Monday, renamed the popular Obinagu Road in Abakpa Nike, Enugu East Council Area, after highlife music legend and gwogwogwo crooner, Chief Mike Ejeagha.
This took place during the inauguration of four newly constructed and reconstructed roads in Abakpa Nike, near Enugu.
Other roads inaugurated included Mike Ejeagha Crescent, where the music maestro lives, Texaco Bus Stop-Ifo Road, and Nkpor Street.
Sequel to the event, Mbah had visited Ejeagha, whom he described as “a living legend”, at his residence, announcing that the State Government would henceforth take full responsibility for his upkeep.
Mbah reiterated that through Ejeagha’s folk songs, he brought memories of years gone by to people’s doorsteps and reminded them of their golden heritage as a people.
“When we talked about Enugu as being the centre of arts and culture, this is a man, who brought Enugu to that epicentre.
“So, we are here to celebrate him, while he is still living with us.
“So, in honour of him, this Obinagu Road, the entire stretch of the road leading to his home, is named after him and will now be known as Mike Ejeagha Road,” he said.
Meanwhile , in his address at the inauguration, Mbah said that he made a social contract with Enugu people which he was fulfilling.
According to him, the administration made a firm pledge that all the roads in the urban areas in Enugu must be paved.
He recalled that the State Government awarded 71 urban roads and 10 rural roads in 2023, shortly after the inception of his administration.
“Those 71 urban roads had since been completed, but some of the roads we are inaugurating today are not part of those 71 roads.
“In the course of constructing or reconstructing those 71 roads, we identified, in January, some roads, which were not initially captured, and decided to treat them as an emergency.
“So, we are inaugurating four roads here today and all those roads are quite significant.
“But one of those roads stands out.
“It is the road that leads to the home of one of our great legends and icons,” Mbah said.
Recall that the music legend rose to fame following the usage of his song,Enyi Ga Achi, in a viral dance video made by popular Nigerian skitmaker, Brainjotter.
Receiving the governor in his residence, Ejeagha, who spoke through his children, Emma and Elizabeth, said the honour done to him by the governor would be remembered beyond his lifetime.