HAVING emerged victorious in a race adjudged as one of the hottest governorship contests in Nigeria’s recent history, expectations are that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the victorious candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would not circumvent the key promises that earned him victory.
By Charles Kumolu
Ikpeazu’s determination to get down to the business of governing the state was given by his decision to ban his supporters and well-wishers from courtesy calls and congratulatory visits, on the account that he needed time to plan for the enormity of the task ahead.
‘’Because of the enormity of the task ahead, I require all the time I can get to plan to ensure that I justify the enormous confidence you have all reposed in me. After I have been sworn-in and after I have made appreciable impact. I will feel worthy to accept your congratulation and commendation visits. For now, I call on all of you to uphold me and those who will work with me in your prayers for wisdom from above to take the right steps. It is my solemn pledge that on my watch, Abia State shall be a state you will all be proud of,’’ he stated.
In an obvious departure from some practices peculiar to elected public office holders in the country, he also made known his decision not to be addressed as “His Excellency.”
Infrastructural recovery of Aba
These decisions, it was gathered came from the desire to stay focused on his dreams for Abia which include, security, infrastructural recovery of Aba, education, agriculture, integrated structural economic transformation, employment among others.
With a realisation that the economic survival of the state particularly at this time of national economic crunch, may depend on the functionality of the commercial city of Aba, it was also learnt that plans have been concluded to commence the fixing of the city immediately Ikpeazu assumes power. Apparently, Ikpeazu wants to hit the ground running.
He wants to promote the city’s status as a commercial hub and upgrade the existing 14 major markets in the state up to modern standards.
In fact, the governor-elect has not hidden his determination to make the Aba project the major focus of the new administration.
Ikpeazu also plans to set up an agency for rural roads as well as Abia Marketing Corporation that would help buy excess farm produce as part of the initiatives to encourage agriculture.
Relatively moderate cabinet
Okezie Ikpeazu
These, he hinted, would alongside other measures create employment opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.
Another aspect of the incoming Okezie administration that seems to excite observers, is the reported plans to cut down the overhead cost of governance by keeping a relatively moderate cabinet.
In this regard, the search for technocrats to man 10 key ministries is ongoing.
On a larger scale, the economic agenda seeks to focus on areas that would create optimal impact with the resources available at his disposal. It is expected that this would deliver economic growth, gainful jobs, income among others.
Ikpeazu also intends to place high premium on agriculture by maximising the state’s agricultural potentialities and focusing on major cash and food crops.
The strength of Abia
On education, he intends creating an enabling environment that would ensure the restructuring of the education curricula for primary, secondary and state-owned tertiary institutions.
Commenting on this at a recent forum, the incoming governor said, ‘’we believe that the strength of Abia lies in her people. As such, the transformation of the education sector in Abia will involve both the public and private institutions. We will develop an all-inclusive master plan to drive development and progress within the sector. This master plan will incorporate restructuring the education curricula for primary, secondary and state-owned tertiary institutions to ensure our children and youths are empowered with sound knowledge and technical skills required to survive and add value in the ever-evolving labour market.’’
On security, Ikpeazu want Abians to know that as the Chief Security Officer of Abia, he would not relent on performing the primary function of government as contained in the 1999 constitution.
Identity documents for residents of Abia
Providing an insight into how Abia would be governed in that respect, Ikpeazu said, “we shall enhance the security of Abia State by keying into the Federal Government’s Identity Management Scheme to generate identity documents for residents of Abia State.’’
The scheme, he added, ‘’will provide data for our planning as well as give all Abia people a common identification card to facilitate their business transactions with the state and each other. We will empower the security agencies with funds to improve on equipment and intelligence gathering through the use of information tools and a structured vigilante network.”
On the judiciary, Ikpeazu added thus: ‘’We will develop and strengthen our state judicial system to ensure the timely delivery of justice in matters affecting our people. In this regard, the areas we will address include,
“introduction of a fully automated judicial system leveraging a centralised information management system, an automated work flow court calendar, case file view among others. In addition to this, we shall ensure the improvement of the remuneration and welfare packages of our judicial workers to improve morale and drive efficiency.”
710 govt-owned healthcare centres
The areas of healthcare and housing are also poised to receive the attention of the incoming government.
Expatiating on that recently, Ikpeazu said, ‘’to provide effective and efficient healthcare services to all our people, in every part of the state, we will strengthen the 710 government owned healthcare centers by improving their infrastructure, funding and improving the quality of healthcare professionals deployed in them. We will partner world-class healthcare providers to train our personnel and provide complimentary infrastructure.”
Continuing, he said, “we will promote increased development of affordable housing through the provision of necessary infrastructure and PPP. Our government will optimise the Land and Title Registration process to encourage increased investment in the sector.
“We will attract private and corporate home developers to build in Abia State, and ultimately reverse brain drain which will see a majority of Igbo families moving their primary abode back to Abia State from Lagos and Abuja.”
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