Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu today took over the reins of power as the new Governor of Abia State with a promise to provide quality leadership which the people would be proud of.

Addressing a mammoth crowd that attended an hour-long inter-denominational church service held at the Umuahia Township Stadium as part of activities to mark his swearing-in, Ikpeazu also assured that he would govern Abia with the fear of God. He called on all to be ready to make the required commitment, sacrifices and contributions to realise a new Abia where life would be better for all.

The new Governor unfolded a four-point agenda of his government hinged on re-orientation and restructuring of the public service to instill in it private sector model and mindset for greater productivity which would dovetail into setting up an Investment Promotion Agency to stimulate increased private sector participation in the Abia economy; putting in place, infrastructure that drives economic development and also make the society environmentally clean and sustainable; recreating Aba to create modern neighborhood and parks, including crucial development of businesses and leisure along Aba River; security of life and property by providing support to the security agencies to sustain and uphold the current peaceful atmosphere and improving access to effective and efficient health care services for all.

“Our dear state is known as God’s Own State and the time has come for us to explore and optimise fully, all the resources and advantages that God has bestowed on Abia. The resourcefulness, the diligence and industry of our people; our unique geographical location and the natural resources abound in Abia must be developed now and utilised for the benefit of our people and those around us,” Ikpeazu said.

He maintained that Abia must leverage on the commerce-oriented nature of her citizens to build the state.

His words: “Our story as a people is one of entrepreneurship, resourcefulness and diligence. This is our pride. The time is ripe to use the over 110,000 shoemakers and 50,000 garment makers as a launching pad to enable Abia to truly become the undisputed small and medium enterprise headquarters of this country Nigeria.”

Governor Ikpeazu said that his administration is fully committed to providing the enabling environment and infrastructure to facilitate the growth and development of Abia and its people, positioning it as a premier residential, business and tourism destination with the ultimate objective of uplifting the lives of Abia people.

He commended Abians for the support and trust they have bestowed on him and promised not to disappoint them.

In his sermon at the inter-denominational service, Bishop Goddy Okafor, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, urged Ikpeazu to be courageous in bringing positive changes to Abia.

Before the inter-denominational service, Ikpeazu had already been sworn into office by the State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe, at the ultra-modern International Conference Centre, where the former governor, Chief Theodore Orji, presented him with the handover notes.

•Photo by Ibeabuchi Abarikwu shows Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (left) taking his oath of office as the Executive Governor of Abia State as being administered by the Chief Judge of Abia State Justice Theresa Uzokwe during his swearing-in . . . today at the Int’l Conference Centre, Umuahia.