Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah, on Friday, formally declared his intention to govern Abia, come 2023.
Ogah who is an All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain in Abia he was driven by his love for Abia and “a firm commitment to a vision of a rapid transformation” of the state, and vowed to make Abians rejoice by offering them “visionary, competent and purposeful leadership.
The Uturu in Isuikwuato LGA of Abia North-born business guru/ banker informed party faithful at the state party secretariat that he would be a servant leader who would “take Abia State from as it is to what it ought to be”, adding “This job of transforming community and people is at the root of my calling in life.”
The minister disclosed that his venture into private business and public service have exposed him to effective wide range of experiences in team-building and people-oriented development, noting “My experience, together with the successes, both in the private and public sector, have equipped me to come and serve my State as governor, come 2023”.
“The Abia of my dream is a reinvention of a state that meets and surpasses the dream of our founding fathers in all ramifications. I have a dream that Abia shall be a state sprouting on the rule of law, justice and honesty of purpose. I want a state that has zero-tolerance for corruption, nepotism and sectionalism, a state where hard work and merit are celebrated in the open place.
“The Abia State of my dream is one in which its citizens enjoy critical infrastructure such as good road, water and uninterrupted power supply, to mention but a few. Technology would power a new Abia economy, just as viable transport routes would be established to open up all hinterlands and, as well, effectively link all the local governments and open them to economic activities.
He said that when elected Abia Governor in 2023, “I am coming with two cardinal capitals. First is the faith-based capital project and the second is the social transformation capital. As a governor, Abians shall see, for the first time, visible changes built on these two great pillars.
While with the faith-based pillar, he said his government will be rooted in accountability to God with a new value orientation of governance, anchored on excellence, professionalism and ethics, “under the social transformation pillar, our government shall provide a ‘High Five’ which will be anchored on economic and infrastructural development, agricultural and rural development, qualitative healthcare delivery, education transformation, security reform and crime control”.
He highlighted PPI: People, Policy and Innovation approach as his way forward, stating “Every Abian shall notice these indicators within the first 100 days in office and we shall reinvent a government of human beings, even as our policies and programmes shall be pro-people, all through”.
He said the welfare of the people shall be accorded priority including prompt payment of workers’ salary, gratuity and pensions shall be a right and not a privilege, while workers shall be constantly motivated for optimum delivery of services, while “Abians in diaspora shall be glad to return home and contribute in building our state and we shall aim for quality in physical structures, quality education qualitative and accessible healthcare system, qualified and motivated health personnel, teachers, and public officials who will man various positions that touch on the lives of Abians daily.
Also, immediate past Chairman of the party, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, commended Ogah for taking the bold step of declaring to join the Abia governorship race and promised all party faithful that Abia APC was working hard to take over the State Government House, come 2023.
In his speech, Chairman of Abia APC, Hon. Obioma Iheanacho said the entrance of Ogah into the governorship race has added value to the party, assuring that the party would conduct free and fair primary to choose a credible governorship candidate.
