2023: ‘I’ll make Ebonyi rank top 5 states in ease of doing business if…- APGA Guber Candidate

From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki

The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Odoh, has promised to make Ebonyi rank one of the five top states in ease of doing business in Nigeria, if elected governor.

Odoh, who made the pledge on Wednesday at a press conference, marking the unveiling of his running mate, Dr Nkata Chukwu, at Pinnacle Hotel, Abakaliki, allleged that Ebonyi environment was very hostile to business, due to high taxation by government, adding that Ebonyi currently ranks 34 out of 36 states in ease of doing.

“Ebonyi today is ranked 34 out of 36 states in ease of doing business, which means, this environment is very hostile to business. One of the things we are committed in doing is to make Ebonyi rank the top five states in ease of doing business. That way, Investors will definitely come here. The taxes here is scary and many businesses have closed. We need to change the narratives,” he said

Odoh, a former secretary to Ebonyi State government, urged the people of Ebonyi State to embrace his candidature and elect him the Governor of the State, for them to witness the desired progress and development in the State.

He said voting for the candidates of either the APC or the PDP in the upcoming governorship election in the State, meant doing things the old way and expecting to make progress.

According to him, he is contesting the governorship seat, because he has the programmes that have enormous potentials to take the State from where it is, to where it supposed to be.

He said the 2023 general elections had offered Ebonyi people another opportunity to progress or not to progress, depending on the choices they make.

He said: “Every electoral cycle offers the citizens the opportunity to make choices. Right now, we know what we have faced in the last couple of years, in terms of our poverty rating, in terms of ease of doing business, in terms of quality of our education, quality of our health, quality of our Agriculture and quality of our social system. We know the indices. Therefore, the choices are yours to make.

“I’m running because I believe we have the programmes that have enormous potential to take us from where we are now, to where we are supposed to be. As a state in the South East region, we have no business ranking the 3rd poorest State in the country. We have no business or any reason, being where we are today, because we are Ndigbo; we are people who are ready to work hard, and we are educated. 

“I therefore, challenge you, if you want us to remain the 3rd poorest state, it’s up to you; and if you want us to be one of the top five States in ease of doing business, it’s up to you.

“And if you want us to make progress, we can’t continue the old way, and expect to make progress. We know the people flying the governorship flags of other political parties, the APC and the PDP, in the State, and so, rather than making the choice that cannot gaurantee progress for you, I’m that credible alternative for you.”

On whether he would sustain the achievements and policies of the present administration led by Governor David Umahi, if elected governor in 2023, the former University Lecturer, said his administration would rather focus more on investing in the people, than projects that had no direct impacts on the lives of the citizens.

On the menace of cultism in the State, Odoh said his administration would put in place a right frame of governance that would naturally eradicate cultism which according to him, was caused by poverty and high rate of unemployment in the State.

He also expressed confidence that Ebonyi people would reject vote buying, saying, “I have the conviction that Ebonyi people are more determined than ever before to make a credible change in the leadership of the State in 2023.”

Asked whether he would sustain the street light installed by Umahi’s administration across the State, Odoh said, “We will sustained and maintain existing facilities but we will explore more affordable, sustainable and cost effective approach in offering those services to our people.”

On whether he would disband Ebubeagu Security outfit in the State if elected governor, the APGA Guber Candidate, said, “they are our brothers, we will review their activities, encourage them where they are doing well and sanitize areas they are not doing well. So, we are going to review those policies, because we are going to serve our people with dignity and respect.”