By IHECHI CHIGEMERI-UWOM

Two frontline Governorship Candidates for 2023 in Abia on Wednesday took turns to reel out their programmes designed to tackle the development challenges in the state, when elected.

They spoke at the 2023 Governorship Candidates Interface Forum organised by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Umuahia.

Both candidates were in agreement that industrialisation and poverty reduction were key to the development of the state economy and fight against insecurity.

Prof. Uche Ikonne of PDP said that industrialisation would be the cornerstone of his administration.

Ikonne, represented by his running mate, Chief Okey Igwe, said that he would ensure steady power supply through the unbundling of the sector.

He opined that with reliable electricity, industries would spring up in the state.

The governorship hopeful said that with the dwindling federal allocation, the only way government could provide infrastructure would be to encourage industrial revolution.

He said: “We have a well-articulated programme for industrialising the state and electricity is key to achieving it.

“This is why Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration has partnered with Geometric Power to provide uninterrupted power to nine local government areas of the state.

“Electricity cannot be nationalised. This cannot work.

“We need to unbundle the distribution company as done in the telecom sector to make it efficient.”

Ikonne hoped that through industrialisation, government would be able to generate enough revenue internally through tax to fund infrastructure development.

He said that the major thrust of his manifesto centred on Trade, Industrialisation, Good Governance, Education and Rural development (TIGER).

He opined that effective implementation of the manifesto would help to create an enabling environment for investment and industrial growth.

“The failure by government to effectively discharge its obligations is due to the lack of industries.

“With industrial revolution, there will be economic growth and reduction in poverty and crime, ” Ikonne said, adding that both are intertwined.

Also, the Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party, Dr Alex Otti, said that he would pursue industrialisation through effective public private partnership model, if elected.

He said that his administration would substantially lead the initiative to develop the business environment.

He said that government could not handover the development of state economy completely to the private sector, which is driven by profit interest.

According to him, to do so would mean that certain public services would be priced beyond the reach of the common man.

“I will lead from the front and ensure that businesses that are set up through PPP are properly and efficiently managed.

“We are not going to share money, which has been the tradition.

“We will rather encourage entrepreneurs to have access to capital to own their businesses, create wealth and jobs.

Otti described as ridiculous the paltry N15 billion annual internally generated revenue (IGR) by the state.

He said that Abia had the potential to generate at least N50 billion annually.

He further said that the huge kaoline and lignite (brown coal) and other mineral deposits in the state would be harnessed to enhance the its revenue generation capacity.

He, however, disagreed that Abia’s IGR and federal allocation were meagre.

Otti said, “If there is optimal utilisation of the IGR with N60 billion annual federal allocation, the condition of the state would not be so deplorable.”

He gave assurance that the cost of governance would be reasonably reduced, while all the sources of financial leakages would be blocked by his administration.

Otti said that the failure by government to pay salaries as and when due stifled the economy by disrupting the demand and supply chain.

“Economy works with money. And there can only be effective demand when people have money to pay for goods and services,” he said.

He promised to clear the arrears of unpaid salaries and pensions within the six months of his assumption of office, “even if it means to borrow”.

He said that the huge debt owed by the state, amounting to between N160 billion and N190 billion, could be negotiated with the creditors for a possible means to liquidate it.

Otti said that insecurity could be tackled through job creation for the over 51 per cent unemployed Abia youths.

He said that he would tackle the problem in the education sector by raising the budgetary allocation to the 25 per cent, being the minimum UN recommendation and work toward 30 per cent and 40 per cent.

He also promised to develop quality curriculum, hiring of qualified teachers, prompt payment of salaries and provision of adequate teaching and learning facilities in primary and post-primary schools.

Otti said that he would set up a N5 billion revolving loan from the Security Vote for budding entrepreneurs and creative young Abia youths to set up their businesses.

“This is to encourage growth in the creative industry, productivity among the youths and also create employment,” he said.

He expressed concern that the 35 per cent affirmative action for women had been breached at all levels of government and promised to address the imbalance, when elected.

He further said that his administration would change the narrative in budgeting by ensuring that capital expenditure received the larger percentage of the budget than recurrent expenditure.

“It is the capital expenditure that benefits a larger portion of the citizenry, whereas the recurrent expenditure is about salaries and overheads,” Otti said.

He admonished the electorate to scrutinise the past records of all the governorship candidates in terms of their credibility, integrity and performance in their last jobs.

Both Otti and Ikonne were also in agreement that agriculture should be developed beyond subsistence level to becoming business venture to create wealth and employment for the people.

Otti specifically promised to invest heavily in agriculture to provide seedlings and also make funds and Federal Government’s grants and loans easily accessible to genuine Abia farmers.

He gave assurance that he would replicate the revolution in agriculture by the late Premier of the defunct Easter Region, Dr Michael Okpara, to grow agriculture and make it a major revenue earner for the state.

The state Chairman of CAN and Chairman of the forum, Dr Emmanuel Agomuo (Apostle General of Cherubim and Seraphim) and Rev. Chuks Alozie, said the platform was organised to enable the candidates to deliver their manifestos to the people and get interrogated on how to achieve their programmes, if given the mandate.

They urged eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards to be able to vote for the candidates of their choice.

They said that the body did not endorse any governorship candidate. (NAN)

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