TCNews

The governorship candidates who attended a special town hall meeting organized by the Justice, Development and Peace/Caritas Foundation (JDPC Umuahia) and Catholic Action of Nigeria CA-N), Umuahia Diocesan Chapter with the theme, “Time for Action For Good Governance And Better Society In Abia State And Nigeria” have spotted out leadership selection process and corruption as the major problems slowing down the pace of growth and development of the State.

The candidates who include: Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party; Bishop Sunday Onuoha, African Democratic Congress, ADC; Mr. Onyekwere Akym Uche of the Action Alliance, AA; and the Action Peoples Party, APP Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu therefore encouraged the eligible voters to critically examine the policy documents, visions, missions and promises of the candidates  before casting their votes in the March 11, 2023 guber poll.

Speaking during the meeting held at the Mater Dei cathedral Secretariat hall, Umuahia, the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress, Bishop Sunday Onuoha who disclosed that he will modernize the commerce and industry sector of the State to make “Our economy grow”, pointed out that with the introduction of accountability and transparency in the accounting system, coupled with the employment of the services of the third party independent verification team, that the State’s economy will bounce back to life.

He promised also to cut down cost through monetization, a system of running the government according to what is in the State coffers, while creating and exploring other avenues to boost the Internally Generated Revenue.

The Labour Party candidate, Dr. Alex Otti pointed out that it is crystal clear that the present admnistration in the state is lacking in capacity and vision to govern Abia and transform it to the state of “our desired dreams”, reminded the electorate that it would be a profound mistake to vote for ineptitude by supporting the preferred and anointed candidate of the present failed admnistration.

Otti maintained that once the leadership selection is gotten right, it will be easier to to tackle the economic situation of the State, adding, “If you have not created prosperity, you lose the moral right to collect tax”.

Otti who decried the present debt profile of the State, insisted that Abia requires a governor with character, capacity, credibility, consistency, compassion, vision and passion to restore its glory.

“I will rescue Abia and show the world that something good can come out from Abia. People have sympathized and pitied us a lot. I have come to fix Abia. I will create wealth and reduce to its barest minimum the poverty rate in Abia. We just need a government that works”.

Mr. Onyekwere Akym Uche, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, pointed out that to revive the moribund industries scattered across the State, and bring in investors, that his administration will first improve on the security situation of the State.

The AA governoship candidate who promised to turn things around for good in the state, pointed out that funds to achieve the infrastructural development of the state will not be problem as he promised to use his international connections to attract funds from world financial institutions.

Akym Uche maintained that the state needed to be rescued from her present political servitude and economic emasculation.

The governorship candidate of the Action Peoples Party, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu assured that Abia under his watch will pay premium to education by giving equal opportunities to the children of both the rich and the poor.

According to him, “We will provide free and compulsory education to primary and secondary school levels. We also intend to create 10,000 jobs each year and by so doing, address the restiveness amongst the youths. We will dedicate funding to build roads in both urban and rural areas, revamp moribund industries”.

Kalu told Abia electorate that his administration as governor will end delayed payment of salaries and pensions, restore free healthcare and do the needful to reposition the state on the path of progress and equitable distribution of the dividends of democracy.

Earlier in his remarks, the Diocesan Coordinator, JDPC Umuahia, Rev. Fr. David Aguneri said the essence of meeting was to provide the people the avenue to interact with the candidates and also to hold them accountable for their stewardship when they are in office.

The representative the Catholic Bishop of Aba diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Echema; and the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Ukpong in their respective speeches encouraged the candidates to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and love while the election period lasted, even as they encouraged the eligible voters to make the wise decision while casting their votes for the good of the society.