The governorship flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in the Nov 16 election in Anambra state, Senator Chris Ngige has blamed systems leakages for the stunted development of social, economic and political infrastructures in the country, especially Obi.
The senator who is representing Anambra Central in the Upper legislative chambers of the national Assembly stated this yesterday during a media luncheon at his Anambra Campaign Headquarters, Awka during a question and answer session with journalists drawn from parts of the country.
Describing himself as ‘a systems man’ who is prepared to return the state to the part of rectitude and formal ways of doing government business for the full benefit of the electorate. “I am a systems man. Nigeria is impoverished by systems leakages.
“I did all my modest achievements with less than N100billion, but so far Gov. Obi has spent above N2trillion in the last seven and half years but only succeeded in leaving the state and her citizens so impoverished. It is such that Anambra state is ranked the 19th poorest in the country..
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He bemoaned the prevailing widespread hardship in the state, contrary to his days as the governor when he carried every citizen along. He said that he had ensured all the contractors employed citizens in the execution of jobs, such that monies paid for contracts were spent and re- invested in the state.
Ngige used the occasion to unveil a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Ralph Okeke as his new running mate. He replaced Dr Mike Aghadiuno who withdrew from the race on principle because already three other governorship aspirants are from his Anambra East local government constituency. Okeke hails from Anambra West council area where he was once the elected chairman of the LGA.
On the issue of zoning, the APC flagbearer stated that Anambra north area would be better protected with him at the helm of affairs, based on his antecedents and records during his earlier brief stint as the state governor for thirty four months. He pointed out that all the developmental infrastructure he put in place were spread across the state with the intention of achieving even development of the state that suffered a great deal of maladministration before he came on board as the governor.
He noted that the state under his leadership enjoyed an unprecedented security as people who were sleeping with their eyes open for fear of the unknown in administration of his predecessor occasioned by total collapsed of security in the state suddenly found succor in his tenure with a robust security arrangement he put in place ” when I was piloting the affairs of the state there was no single case of kidnap while violent armed robbery never occurred once ”
Dr Chris Ngige revealed that he laid the foundation of bringing foreign partners to the state as he paid over nine hundred million Nara as counterpart fund which he said made it possible for the donors to return to Anambra state after their earlier exit due to non payment of the counterpart fund by his predecessor pointing out that the administration of the day benefitted from the seed money he sowed when he was in office as governor.
The APC candidate also stressed that he would re vitalize the agricultural sector to make the state self sufficient . He pointed out that apart from providing food security the sector if properly managed would generate job opportunities for the teaming youths of the state who now roam the streets of Lagos, Abuja and other metropolitan centers
He also expressed worry over lack of infrastructural development of Awka , the Anambra state capital which according to him is about the worst among other capitals were created at the same time ” we started a stadium project in Awka and as we talked now the project has been abandoned since Peter Obi took over from me ” This he maintained was a manifestation of the non interest of the incumbent governor in the physical development of Awka
Dr Chris Ngige placed it on record that his administration made sure that all the money that belonged to Anambra was spent in Anambra thereby increasing the cash flow in the state and that all through his tenure there was no case strike or deportation because people both citizens and foreigners found joy staying in the state .
He also debunked the allegation that he was not active in the senate chamber when he pointed out that he has sponsored ten private bills, co-sponsored thirty and moved fifty motions just in two years .
The governorship candidate assured the people of the state that he would bring back the good old days if they give him their mandate to govern the state by voting for him massively in the forth coming election ” our people have been criminalized and turn to destitutes , we all know that Igbos are not beggars our administration will surely restore the integrity of our people by giving them opportunities to be useful to themselves and the entire society”
