By Charles Ogbonnaya
A governorship aspirant and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu has assured to secure Abia State if given the mandate and enjoined the PDP and Abia electorate to help actualize his lofty dreams.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters at the Abia Hotels, Umuahia, Sir Oko Chukwu revealed his plans to achieve the collective dream of Abians through the SECURE Abia Agenda’s comprehensive plan of action of Security, Economy, Care, Urban renewal, Roads and Education.
According to Oko Chukwu, like other states in Nigeria, Abia is a work in progress, and, “As long as we look inwards to harness the human and material resources we have to achieve our goals”.
He pointed out that he has been actively involved in the affairs of Abia in different capacities in the past 18 years as a good follower and true leader, adding, “Before deciding to offer myself to continue to serve you in a different capacity, I have considered deeply, the enormous challenges and responsibilities that come with governing Abia State”.
Oko Chukwu promised to use to use his professional background as a chartered accountant to foster and entrench good governance in the state by ensuring that, “we apply the best systems of transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business”.
He admitted that the challenges facing the state are enormous and kept assuming new dimensions with alarming urgency for immediate attention, but maintained that he is not deterred and would build on what his boss, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has done in Aba and the entire state to enable it regain its dominance as the business hub of the southeast region.
“My involvement overtime gives me an advantage of experience to hit the ground running from day one. We do not have time to waste on a learning process. We have paid our dues with my involvement.
“The main policy thrust of our administration would be to continue to reshape Abia in the best ways we can in line with the realities of the moment, by continuing to improve upon the gains already recorded in this and previous administrations”, Sir Oko Chukwu said.
Shortly after the addressing the crowd at Abia Hotels, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu moved to the PDP Abia State secretariat, where he made his intention to succeed his boss, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in 2023, known to the party executive led by the Chairman, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere.
He encouraged the party and the delegates to consider the pedigree, experience and disposition of all the aspirants before casting their votes during the primaries.
Lending his voice, Chief Ndidi Okereke warned against unnecessary greed and insisted that power should be moved to the North, reminding that equity and justice breeds and promotes peace.
Responding, the Abia State PDP Chairman, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere said the party including the State Working Committee holistically looked into the guber zoning issue before the Abia North and Central Senatorial districts consideration.
He assured to give all the aspirants a level playing ground during the party primaries.
