I will make Abia world class destination centre, says Abia’s youngest Governorship aspirant, Igbokwe

…Promises to shield Abia from hopelessness

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

The youngest governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Mayor Lucky Obinwa Igbokwe (a.k.a Don Lulu), on Tuesday, formally declared his intention to join the 2023 Abia governorship race, saying that his mission was to make the state a world class destination for everything beautiful for the people.

The business mogul and entertainment guru, while addressing members of the State Working Committee of Abia PDP at the Finbarr’s Road State Secretariat in Umuahia, explained that his declaration for the governorship race was in answer to calls from all strata of Abians, adding that he has taken up the gauntlet, to stand in the gap to shield the people from any form of hopelessness.

He noted that though past leaders of the state have done their part, he was coming to reinvigorate the spirits, minds and souls of Abians to “the much vaunted dreams of our people for a better life.”

According to the aspirant, he was determined to replicate in Abia, the feat late Dr. Michael Okpara performed as Premier of South Eastern Nigeria, stressing that he would explore all the areas of possible economic prosperity and development without exploiting the people.

Unveiling programmes he intends to execute if he is elected governor, Igbokwe said: “God’s Own State, Abia, is blessed with abundant natural and human resources. … If given the PDP ticket and elected governor, I will reposition Abia for economic prosperity by creating the enabling environment for industries to thrive, with a better approach to internally generated revenue that would reduce dependence on federation allocations. 

“Education will be one of the major objectives of my aspiration; the sector will be reformed to include not only building of schools, but also the provision of incentives to teachers.

“We will revisit the farm settlements, improve and empower the youth in particular and our people in general, through agriculture, the creative industries will receive massive boost under our watch. Tourism will be made more attractive and visitors will come to experience our beautiful cultural heritage and sites.

“We will escalate the commercial viability of our markets to unprecedented new levels with improved infrastructure and security. Abia will become the ICT hub in West Africa during our tenure. We shall enhance the road networks and improve transportation.”

Furthermore, Igbokwe promised to constitute a Council of Eminent Personalities drawn from all strata of the society to help oversee the policies of his government and all sectors of the economy.

He said that if PDP must retain Abia in 2023, the party must field a candidate who would provide the right leadership which he said Abia was in need of; a candidate with good character, great antecedents and popular.

“I, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, is the right person and the best hand for the job. I have consistently proved that with my track record in philanthropy, business and human capacity building… I want us to know that the confidence in me is a confidence of hope, the future, the success, the restoration  and the freedom from fear.

Responding, the State Chairman of PDP, Dr. Alwell Asiforo Okere, commended the Igbokwe for being the first youth to declare for governorship on the platform of the party.

Asiforo said that apart from being very proud of Igbokwe, the party rated his presentation high as he did so without castigating other aspirants.

He assured the aspirant that the party would provide a level playing field for all her aspirants during the primaries.

Igbokwe who hails from Ohuhu clan in Umuahia North local government area, was accompanied by prominent politicians from the area, including Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike, the lawmaker representing Umuahia North (Ohuhu) State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly; Hon. Kingsley Megwara, a 2019 House of Representatives aspirant; Comrade Lucky Akabuike, a former Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, as well as Transition Committee Chairman of Umuahia North LGA; Hon. Bob Agbugba, Deputy Chairman of Umuahia North, as well as thousands of drumming and dancing youths.