Imo North, All Progressive Congress (APC) senatorial candidate in the botched Okigwe rerun election and the former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, has explained why he made himself available to represent his people in the Senate. The reasons, according to him, are the love of his people and his conviction that he has the willpower, good fortune, goodwill, requisite experience, technical abilities, contacts and the political party advantage to bring a new and excellent dimension to public service that will accelerate development in the zone.

According to him, as the youngest among the major contenders gunning for the Okigwe senate seat position, he is in a better position to advance the cause of the teeming Okigwe zonal youths whose destiny have been mortgaged by self-centered politicians.

The youthful politician told reporters in his country home, Umuihe, Ihitte-Uboma local government, that he was going to take advantage of his legislative background and political experience to give Okigwe zone a facelift and place it on the trajectory of rapid development, stressing that he has the foresight and the leadership mindset that can transform the zone and make it an academic, tourism and agricultural hub.

He noted that the zone is blessed enough with natural and human resources to be a role model or compete with the best zones in the country and therefore promised to use Imo River that flows round the six local governments of the zone, the three higher institutions he attracted while in office as the state Assembly speaker, the numerous tourist destinations within the zone and the agricultural sector to create massive jobs and industrialisation, for the people.

While asserting that he would make agriculture, education, youth and women empowerment, job creation, infrastructural development, among others the focus of his administration, if elected, stated that the rate of youth unemployment in the zone is worrisome and a threat to her future, bearing in mind the societal problems associated with unemployment and under-employment.

He vowed to free Okigwe zonal people from political imposition, godfatherism, brainwashing of youths and poor federal representation and inspired hope in the youths and respect for the elders.

His words: “If elected a senator, I will work to liberate our people from politics of external imposition and youth brainwashing. The people of Okigwe zone will have a senator who listens and is respectful. We have over 85 percent of Okigwe zonal youths unemployed. How do we we create employment for our teeming youths that have become disillusioned?

“We need to leverage on the clear chance of producing the only APC senator of the southeast extraction who will naturally become a member of several sensitive committees and caucuses of the ruling party to create an agricultural and educational revolution in Okigwe zone. I have already spoken to the Agricultural minister who is a close family associate and his educational counterpart who is also a friend and brother and behold their response are encouraging.

“You don’t give what you don’t have. I have created over 900 jobs when I was the Speaker of the state Assembly and I am doing it now in my business. So, if I am saddled with the responsibility of representing my people in the Senate, I will do more.”

•Photo shows Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu.

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