A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Friday Nwosu, has said he contesting for the position to free Abia state and its governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, from bondage by political contractors.
Nwosu who stated this while addressing APC members in Umuahia, alleged that the governor has made no meaningful impact in governance and owes huge arrears of salaries and pensions because he has been sharing the state funds with the cabal who sponsored him in the election.
The APC chieftain explained that Abia is endowed with abundant human and natural resources and a huge IGR base, stressing that Ikpeazu had found it difficult to pay salaries and pension despite several bailouts to the state from the federal government, because he is more interested in serving his godfather at the detriment of the welfare of the masses of the state.
“I’m here to offer myself to APC to adopt me as their governorship candidate in 2019 election so that I can contest, win and remove my brother, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who is not performing. I’m saying so because Ikpeazu my brother is under bondage. They have tied my brother. It’s only someone’s brother that can save him in terms of trouble. Send me and I’ll liberate my brother for he is confused already.
“I’m from Abia South and same Obingwa LGA with Ikpeazu. If you give the ticket of this party to me, our people will not feel that someone is trying to cut their tenure as governor short. Rather they will make choice between I and Ikpeazu and see who has something to offer.
“When they look at me, they’ll see an anti corruption crusader par excellence, someone you can’t bribe, someone who can’t be cowed to do the bidding of few at the detriment of many, a reputable lawyer whose words in the night doesn’t change with brightness of the morning.
“Then when they look at Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, they’ll see shadows. They’ll see a man in front of a television set while another man holds the remote control. They’ll see a man who couldn’t construct a road leading to his own village after three years; they’ll see a governor who can’t pay salaries and pensions. Then they’ll realize that even if they give him 30 years, he’ll still fail.”
Nwosu ,assured APC faithfuls that giving him the party’s ticket will mark an end to what he called government of impunity in the state as his people (Ngwa people) have joined hands with other parts of the state to demand for a people oriented government where lives and properties are secured.
He said: “Our people are not blind. Ikpeazu is not completing any reasonable road project in Abia because those who sent him never asked him to work on our roads. They sent him to gather Abia money so that they can hide it in foreign banks of their choices which they cannot even retrieve till they all die.
“In Abia we don’t ask leaders questions. Why can’t you ask where our IGR and monthly allocations go to? For which salaries are not being paid, for which roads are left undone and for which people are demoralised and frustrated. This money circulates in three accounts. You know them, but you’re too afraid to speak out.
“If given the chance to serve, adequate security will be our watchword. I have a blue print that will secure Abia for all of us. We’ll revive Abia economy. We’ll follow history. Dr. Michael Okpara introduced the Israeli Method of agriculture in the Eastern Region and achieved a lot without oil money. We’ll emulate his agricultural policies in a better way. Abia will not be hungry and Abia will not owe workers neither will I watch Abia pensioners die in pain and penury while I take glory in frivolities.
Nwosu promised to institute an effective local government administration system to develop the rural communities and invest in education to empower the people.
“Who said Local Government cannot function as before? We’ll revive it, free it, allow it award and execute contracts of its own. We’ll never empower people with keke and frying pans which we have seen in Abia. We’ll invest in education and create better future for our youths. Go to the Local government areas and ask the chairmen about their allocations. Ask them how much money they receive and how much they sign for?
“These Chairmen receive just 10 million to 12 million in a month and sign N80 million to 120 million, where do the other ones go to? If my people elect me, I will run an efficient local government system where council chairmen will be given free hand to manage allocation to develop their areas.If you give me the ticket of our dear party, these bad men will runaway.”