By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
Ahead of the 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi state, the group popularly known as Ebonyi Professionals have thrown their weight behind the aspiration of Architect Edward Nkwegu as the most qualified person to succeed Governor Umahi come 2023 general elections.
They group had also purchased expression of interest and nomination forms of the gubernatorial position for Arc. (Dr) Edward Nkwegu to contest the 2023 governorship election in the state.
While presenting the forms to Nkwegu at his campaign office, Grand Arena in Abakaliki, the group led by Stanley Ogah, described him as a competent industrialist, who has the leadership value and a transformative proficiency to consolidate on the legacies of both the present and past leaders of the state since its creation.
Ogah said the young professionals in Ebonyi after their wide inquiry and consultations with the elders and leaders of thought in the state and beyond, chose to purchase the forms for Nkwegu, knowing fully well his administration as the governor in 2023 would guarantee the future of Ebonyi children.
According to Oga,”The people standing before you, are the Ebonyi Professionals. We know Sir Arc Dr Edward Nkwegu as the man of the people, his passion for human development and wealth creation in society as an accomplished entrepreneur and industrialist remains an outstanding one.
“We have observed with deep concern, the principle of equity, social justice and fairness on the governorship position of Ebonyi State. And based on that following our investigation and consultation with the critical stakeholders of this state and beyond, we have to rally around and purchased this expression of interest and nomination forms because we want to ensure the future of our children is guaranteed.
“I know fully well that our society today needs somebody of his calibre, that’s why we rallied round and bought these forms for him to run the gubernatorial position,” Ogah said.
In his response, Arc Nkwegu thanked the group and described them as the industrious friendly honest and most accommodating people of Ebonyi State.
He pledged to ‘offer’ himself for ‘selfless service,’ if employed as Chief Servant in the 2023 Ebonyi gubernatorial election, by the citizens of the state.
Sir Nkwegu, an Officer in the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a member of the Knight of Saint John International in the whole Catholic Church who hails from Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Nigeria further promised as an accomplished entrepreneur and human capital capacity builder, to embark on economic transformation and other life touching projects if he emerged a governor in 2023.
Hear him “I seek to be the governor of the Ebonyi State come 2023. I declare that as a governor, I shall serve Ebonyi State with dedication, integrity, honesty, accountability, clarity of purpose, and courage.
“I shall build on the legacies of the present and past leaders of the state. I shall implement the vision of our great party, the All Progressives Congress in the areas of economic transformation, civic responsibility, good governance and a healthy environment.
“There will be jobs, jobs and jobs, through a micro small and medium enterprise which is the engine room of every economy and the greatest employer of labour. The economic transformation will be enabled by rapid industrialisation, agricultural mechanization, infrastructural enhancement, mineral development, and sustainable and inclusive wealth creation.
“Our civic responsibilities will focus on the areas of education, access, quality and relevance. By access, I mean more enrolment in our educational institutions. By quality and relevance, I mean curricular reformation to reflect the need of the society, improved healthcare delivery, sports, youths, women and vulnerable people empowerment. There will be good governance concerning the rule of law, accountability and reformation of the civil and public service. We shall maintain a healthy environment through cleaning, planning, development and sustainable markets, villages, communities and cities in Ebonyi State.
“Ebonyi State under me as the Chief Servant shall be a state where the conduct of the government and public offices shall be run according to the rule of law and Nigeria Constitution, a dynamic, vibrant and strong state of happy people who live in peace and harmony with one another – a prosperous state anchored on a strong agricultural revolution, increased industrialisation, and a strong economy without any space for any discrimination in terms of age, sex, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, social attachment or clan, etc.
“It will be a state where all will join in the service for sustainable development and opportunity for the rewards of hard work. It will be a state where there is a progressive and sound education based on high moral standards and core values.
“Our administration will be involvement based on full recognition for fundamental human rights and quality of every citizen before the laws – a state where social amenities, public utilities, infrastructure, health care, education, shall be available for all.”
Others who spoke during the event which was massively attended by the Ebonyi people from all three senatorial zones in the state including Chief Moses Nwodom, Mr Uchenna Nwibo, Hon Joe Ugbo, Dr Dandy Eruogu, Fidelia Mbam, Nneka Nwedu, among others rejoiced over the acceptance of the forms by Nkwegu and described him as the best aspirant among other contenders for the 2023 governorship seat in Ebonyi State, expressed hope that he would emerge so as to transform the lives of Ebonyi people.
