By Eleugu Mgbemgasa
The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 11 2023 election, Tony Ejiogu, has vowed that he would rebuild Imo State, end poverty, insecurity and suffering if he becomes governor.
He made the vow when he addressed APGA members and supporters during the official flag off ceremony of the party's gubernatorial campaign held at All Saints Anglican Church, Egbu, Owerri North LGA, Thursday.
Ejiogu said he is fully committed to rebuild Imo State and make the people live in peace, joy, economic prosperity and comfort, saying he has all it takes to rebuild Imo, restore dignity, confidence and hospitality therein for enhanced social and economic development.
"My first charge in the rebuilding agenda is to make our communities liveable again. From August 2020 to July 2023, our dear Imo State has experienced 209 violent attacks. No fewer than 289 people have lost their lives to those attacks, while about 100 people have been kidnapped and mostly unaccounted for", the APGA guber candidate stated.
According to Ejiogu, "who among you today still sleeps with both eyes closed? Who among you today will invite your friends from across the Niger to Imo State for your children’s traditional marriage ceremony? These simple gestures that define us are now being threatened by the forces of evil. My priority is to restore security to our dear state so that we may once again enjoy the simple pleasures of life and feel safe while at it".
Ejiogu who regretted that in spite of the rich oil deposits and gigantic rubber and palm plantations of Imo State the state remains headquarters of unemployment, insecurity, vulnerability and suffering, restated his commitment in the implementation of strategic economic reforms, initiatives that could create and enhance admissible grounds for businesses to thrive thereby create jobs, boost revenue by 50% within three years and above all reduce poverty.
Promising to pay workers minimum wage 80,000 naira monthly, pay pension and gratuities as and when due to retirees, Ejiogu explained that his economic agenda will feature aggressive reforms of the agricultural sector to tackle food insecurity by harnessing the potential of the sector in the state through his One - Community - One - Product initiative, which he added would enable the state to develop specialty products from communities based on existing comparative advantage.
He said "the time has come for all Imo people to shed their inhibitions, forget their differences and choose to rebuild Imo by voting for the right leadership in the November Governorship election. My stewardship shall remain committed to a purposeful, people -centred, servant leadership that considers our people’s plight and incredible strength in delivering social justice, good governance and engendering economic prosperity and protection for all. Ndi Imo deserves fresh ideas and initiatives that will set and propel our dear state on a trajectory of peace, growth and limitless prosperity".
While appealing for massive votes from Imo electorate, Ejiogu restated his commitment for full devolution of powers, revamping of the local government system by conducting free, fair and credible local government elections in his 100 days in office as governor and allow them full financial control and autonomy to achieve optimally thereby meeting the welfare, wellbeing and needs of rural dwellers.
Speaking earlier, Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, who was represented by his Deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, said Imo is an APGA state, positing that the party is campaigning in Imo because it has been winning guber election in Imo. "So, there is need for us to come together and protect our votes. We must take back our land".
Soludo reiterated, "we have done it before. We will repeat it. We will commence enlightenment of our people that it is time again to do what we have done before. The way we did it in Anambra State. You saw what happened in Abia State. We will do it in Imo State".
With Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South at the Senate, boasting that APGA shall sack APC. "We chased away that of Abia State. We will chase away Governor Hope Uzodimma too. It is not only voting. The APGA and Imo people after voting are going to follow their votes and count them and protect them. Follow them from the Polling Units to the Wards, LGAs and finally the State Headquarters of INEC. I beg Imo people to come together and sack APC, vote for the governorship candidate of APGA to bring good governance in Imo State".
However, National Chairman of APGA, Sylvester Okenwa, corroborated that Imo State is the home of APGA. "Imo State is the home of APGA. In 2007 Martins Agbaso won. In 2011 APGA won with Rochas Okorocha. He went away with our mandate to an unknown destination. Now Tony Ejiogu has come to liberate Imo people from bondage. A disciplined man".
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