Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress,(APC), in Abia state,Dr. Eric Opah,has said that Governor Alex Otti has done well as Governor, but added that the state in dire need of transparency in the execution of government businesses.
Opah, who stated this at the APC secretariat in Umuahia,alleged that the issue of transparency in the business of the Abia state government has become the conversation everywhere across the federation.
He acknowledged Otti’s performance but insisted that the state in in dire need of transparency as the people needs to be involved in governance and its processes.
Opah who disclosed that he has a clear agenda on how to solve the problems of the state, also faulted the classification of the Otti administration as the ‘new Abia’.
The governorship aspirant also accused Otto of alienating the political elites of the state and promised to unify all.
He said; “Our state ,Abia is in dire need of transparency in governance. This is the conversation everywhere across the federation. We acknowledge the efforts made ,but we are in dire need of transparency in our governance processes. Abia people want to be involved in governance and its processes.
“There is nothing like old Abia and new Abia , my job will be to unify Abia as one,to assemble a team that will bring about spectacular development.
“I have built businesses in Aviation, oil and gas infrastructure, international transportation and others. I built these businesses from the cradle with transparency and honesty. All my life, I have created jobs and built people around Africa including the United States of America. I have a clear agenda of how to make Abia better . My coming couldn’t have been better than now.
“The political elites of the state has been alienated, I will unify all.”
Outlining his vision for the State, Opah promised to prioritize industrialization, job creation, food security and unity, stressing that his aspiration is not driven by personal ambition but by the need for transparency and development of the state.
He also pledged to revive moribund industries and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the state and position Aba as a trade hub.
He assured that there will a deliberate policy to integrate indigenous businesses with foreign investors to benefit the local economy.
Stressing that vocational education and skills-based training would be prioritized, Opah also promised that under his watch, Abia will be a state noted for tourism ,just like Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
“With over 20 years of global experience in international transportation, shipping, aviation, and oil and gas logistics, I am bringing proven business competence to public service together with industrialization and job creation. We use to hear made in Aba ,but it is almost dead,SME is almost dead, Abia can be made better.
We will target infrastructural development.”
He commended President Bola Tinubu releasing revenue to develop states, pledging that his administration will partner with the federal government to benefit the state.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Abia APC, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu,who promised that the party will ensure a level playing field for all aspirants,urged them to show capacity to convince the people that they can win the governorship election for the party when granted the APC ticket.
