The Governor Candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh felicitated with Ebonyians and Nigerians on State’s 26th creation Anniversary and Nigeria’s 62nd Independence commemoration!.
In a goodwill message to Ndi Ebonyi, the former Secretary to the State’s Government, noted that Ebonyi has made appreciable progress beginning from the two past military administrations of Navy Commander Walter Feghabo to the reign of Late Compol Simeon Oduoye and to the civilian administration of Dr. Sam Egwu, Chief Martin Elechi and that of my erstwhile boss, Engr. David Umahi.
Odoh, however, said is worthy to note that Ebonyi State can do much better than it’s current realities particularly in the areas of human capital development, workers welfare, poverty reduction, conducive business climate, quality healthcare, quality education, and industrialisation.
He revealed that his commitment is to exploit comparative advantage in the areas of commercialization of our Agriculture and rich mineral potentials as a State remains firm.
According to him, “it is totally unacceptable that a State like Ebonyi with a vast arable landmass and a teeming youthful population full of energy, zest and strong determination for a better life should be ranked in the cadre of the third poorest state in the Country with the government almost literally ignoring the danger signals arising from such ugly realities.”
The goodwill message reads,
” May I on behalf of the entire Odohzia Ebonyi 2023 project team express my heartfelt commendation to the good and hardworking people of Ebonyi State on the double-barrelled celebration of 26 years of the creation of our dear Ebonyi State and the 62nd anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence anniversary.”
“As a people, the experiences, commitments and impacts of our past and present leaders have been commendably great despite the many gaps in some key sectors of the economy.”
“In Ebonyi’s peculiar instance, it is undeniable that Ebonyi has made appreciable progress beginning from the two past military administrations of Navy Commander Walter Feghabo to the reign of Late Compol Simeon Oduoye and to the civilian administration of Dr. Sam Egwu, Chief Martin Elechi and that of my erstwhile boss, Engr. David Umahi.”
” For a once rated dusty, rustic, guinea-worm-infested with predominantly subsistence agrarian farmers with little or no education advantage, there’s no doubt that Ebonyi under the past five successive administrations have reasonably advanced educationally, socially, infrastructurally and otherwise.”
“However, it is worthy to note that our State can do much better than it’s current realities particularly in the areas of human capital development, workers welfare, poverty reduction, conducive business climate, quality healthcare, quality education, and industrialisation. Our commitment to exploit our comparative advantage in the areas of commercialization of our Agriculture and rich mineral potentials as a State remains firm.”
“It is totally unacceptable that a State like Ebonyi with a vast arable landmass and a teeming youthful population full of energy, zest and strong determination for a better life should be ranked in the cadre of the third poorest state in the Country with the government almost literally ignoring the danger signals arising from such ugly realities.”
“And like I have consistently maintained in my media interactions and consultation engagements, Ebonyi should have no business whatsoever with this high poverty rate and the highest inflation rate in the country as indicated in the latest Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS data released recently.”
“As a people also, we have endured a long legacy of glaring loss of our freedoms to speech, association and even peaceful assemblies which are very fundamental tenets of democracy all over the world. This ugly scenerio have further stifled the democratic space and labelled us negatively among the comity of nations and States and it is also obviously affecting our economic freedom as a people.”
“These nagging issues coupled with the unacceptable negligence of our critical sectors of education and healthcare in the past few years should concern every Ebonyian and practical cum realistic steps taken to fix them. The reason is simply because the twin sectors determine the future growth of any State.”
” We cannot continue to have our youths liter the streets of major cities hawking to erk a living while our leaders look the other way round. We also cannot leave our healthcare delivery comatose and unaffordable for the average and poor Ebonyian. The persisting communal clashes across the state are embarrassing and must be stopped. “
” This is why I have carefully assembled a team of #EbonyiBests to proffer solutions to these very critical issues if given the mandate to serve our people. My antecedents and will to defend and protect the common interests of all Ebonyians, home and in the diaspora, Indigenes and non-indigenes are well known to our people and I promise that if and when given this mandate via the ballot to serve in the 2023 Governorship election, I and my team of cerebral #Ebonyibests will not disappoint our people!”
” I wish us all a very joyful celebration. With your continued support, we shall build a greater and brighter future every onye Ebonyi shall be truly proud of. We are the salt of the nation!”
” God bless the wonderful people of Ebonyi State, and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
