GOV. IKPEAZU; THE STORY BEHIND AND PLANS FOR TASK AHEAD.
By Kingsley Maduforo
The governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has received so many accolades and congratulatory massages on his resounding victory in the just concluded governorship election in the state. Without a dissenting voice all well meaning Abians; groups, more especially religious organizations and members of ecclesiastical orders; the elders; the political class, both within and outside the state; professionals; the academic community; the self employed; the working class; the traders; artisans and youths extolled Dr. Ikpeazu and congratulated him on his well deserved victory at the polls.
Dr. Ikpeazu’s victory was not only based on equity and fairness but on his style and disposition which made it possible for him to lead effectively, achieve goals, sustain quality and deliver first-rate services to Abians. The constant push in infrastructural development experienced across the state can only be attributed to the effective and ethical leadership we have in the state. The managerial skills exhibited by Ikpeazu in handling the infrastructural and economic resources of Abia state shows effectiveness, quality and equity in governance.
In the distribution of state resources, Gov. Ikpeazu’s administration has been fair to all across the state. Infrastructural development, which is a key driver for progress and critical enabler for productivity and sustainable economic growth, has fared well under Gov. Ikpeazu. The equity in governance exemplified by the present administration has contributed significantly to human development, poverty reduction and increase in economic activities across the state.
Right now, with the victory recorded, Abia State is going to experience another spree of high developmental stride. The new Enyimba Economic City Project, which is a brainchild of Gov. Ikpeazu’s administration will finally be a reality. With this project, the governor has the aim of creating an economic hub for the nine South-East and South-South States, with easy access to good roads, railway, seaports and airport, to enable the speedy transformation of the two geopolitical regions into a manufacturing and industrial power house that will drive commerce, entertainment, education, health and logistics in Nigeria. This initiative of the governor will indeed provide the best platform for our local industries in the state to grow. Gov. Ikpeazu has encouraged our local industries by developing the sector with advance equipment and the right infrastructure, as a way of promoting the patronage of Made-in-Aba products.
Finally, since his emergence as the governor of the state in 2015, Gov. Ikpeazu has been on the front line, showing his political will and commitment to place the state on the map of investment destinations in the country. During his second coming, Abia is going to witness a new level of infrastructural and developmental progress. The problem of infrastructure in some places across the state will be handled and addressed. Our education system will receive a boost, a new brand of empowerment programmes for traders, youths and women will be streamlined. The less privileged members of the society will be futured in the various empowerment programmes, to curtail poverty via human capital development programmes of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu.
Kingsley Maduforo, a Media/Political Analyst, writes from Aba.