By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
The erstwhile Minister of State for Health and the former campaign Director-General to the sacked Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo has declared interest to run for the governorship position of Ebonyi State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP come 2023.
The former Minister made his official declaration at his campaign office, Tuesday in Abakaliki, the State capital.
Addressing his party supporters numbering over 5000 the governorship hopeful, announced that his declaration to become the next Governor of the State was to right the wrongs of the previous administrations in the State.
He noted that he would champion the course of relocating the displaced Ebonyi traders in the various market places, including the Old Abakpa market and building material respectively.
The Governorship aspirant who had his slogan as the power I seek is the power to do good, said rural infrastructures, reviving of the educational system, job creation, youth empowerment, due process of governance among others would be his top priorities.
Hear him: “At present, the foundation of primary School Education in the State is in a sorry state, Teacher’s population is no more than 30% of the required. We will fill this gap by recruiting the best and the brightest sons and daughters of Ebonyi State.
“Those who have qualifications in Education like NCE and Bachelors Degree, especially in the area of Science, Mathematics and English Language will be trained and posted to our elementary and junior secondary
schools while those with university degrees will be sent to Senior Secondary Schools.
“Those without qualifications in Education but with good results and willing to make a career in Education will be given intensive training for three months, Government, in turn, will offer financial incentive better than what is obtained in the civil service to them, my mission is to produce a child from rural primary school who can compete with another from Loyola Jesuit College.
“My administration will pursue with aggression, youth employment in both formal and informal sector with an emphasis on filling quotas of Ebonyi State share of positions at the Federal Ministries, Departments and agencies.
“We will also focus on provision of enabling environment, grants, low intuit loans and free training to help youths create their businesses in the areas of micro and small enterprises.
Speaking further, the guber aspirant hinted that the neglect of rural areas in the provision of necessities of life including clean water, good sanitation, roads, electricity, basic health care delivery among others have remained the bane of underdevelopment, adding that his administration would also feature those areas properly if elected into power.
He added that his administration would not only provide a government that is characterized by the sincerity of purpose but also act with civility and anchored on established due process of running government business and also ensure equal treatment of both indigenes and non-indigenes in the State.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion Hon. Onwe Solomon Onwe congratulated Engr. Nwankwo for taking such bold step, describing him as the best candidate who would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Ebonyi People.
Onwe, who harped for continuity of rotational and zoning arrangements in the State democracy, maintained that the spirit of Ebonyi ancestors would not forgive anyone who cause its breakdown in this upcoming governorship election in the State.
The chairman who observed that a lot of Izzi sons and daughters have purchased nomination forms to contest for the governorship position, urged traditional leaders, stakeholders, opinion leaders from the clan to engage the aspirants in round table discussion, thereby choosing the best candidate to represent them so as not to lose the opportunity, citing Engr. Nwankwo as the best among his contenders, urging proposed delegates to vote wisely come May 21st to usher in Engr. Nwankwo as the flag bearer of the party.
Other speakers at the event including Mrs Ngozi Nwanioke, Amobi Anyiata, Christ Lebarah, Sam Ogbu Odefa among others described the guber candidate as a very resourceful, competent and astute politician who through him that
Ebonyians would smile again.
They threw their unalloyed support and loyalty to him while calling on the PDP faithful as well-meaning Ebonyians to rally around him to ensure his emergence.
The event attracted distinguished personalities, support groups from different Local Government Areas, while the people were entertained with cultural displays by different groups.
