A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Henry Ikoh, has assured the people of Abia State that his leadership will ensure reduction in the level of poverty currently facing the people.
Ikoh, who is a former Minister of State for Science and Technology, also assured that his government, if elected, will make the creation of job opportunities top priority.
According to him, Abia State deserves more than average performance as being witnessed under the current administration.
Addressing a delegation of APC supporters and Muslim faithful, who paid him a visit during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, Ikoh, who is the chairman, Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State, lamented that: “Abia state is one of the few states that have been unlucky with visionary leadership in the past years due to lack of provision of the dividends of democracy by those entrusted with leadership.
“The state indigenes had suffered untold hardship and poverty as a result of lack of employment and empowerment opportunities by the successive government of Abia state that neglected prioritizing of industrialization and Agricultural productivity.”
Chief Ikoh told his visitors to understand that decades of infrastructural decay and deprivations have made the people to believe that progress they see as being good is the best they can get from the government .
He, however, promised that in the course of time, the state’s development will experience a quantum leap beyond what is known to becoming a pace setter in the committee of states competing for leadership model.
“If given opportunity to lead, I have a robust plan to reduce poverty and unemployment by creating Job opportunities through the establishment of industries in the various local government in the state based on the principle of comparative advantage.”
Ikoh, who is also a former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry in Abia state, added that provision of basic infrastructures such as roads, water and electricity will not be celebrated as these are basic responsibilities of the government, saying “feats to improve the economy and reduce poverty will be made the focus of governance rather than necessary trivial duties.”
He urged Abians and Nigerians to aspire to be more patriotic citizens in the practice of their faith and to share love with other Nigerians of diverse religions in peaceful coexisting atmosphere.
The APC governorship aspirant re-assured his supporters of upholding his covenant equitable and fair service delivery and will not disappoint them.
