Okezie Ikpeazu, a leading contender for Abia State governorship seat, tells Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, his preparedness for the office, if given a chance.
Okezie Ikpeazu, governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 election in Abia State, sounds like one that would ensure a paradigm shift to governance, if given the chance.
At age 16, he was already on admission into the university, and at 30 had obtained a Ph.D in Biochemical Pharmacology from the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
Ikpeazu has expressed optimism at various platforms that he has a blueprint that would expand the vision of the present administration of Governor Theodore Orji, just as he has promised Abians brighter prospect, if given the privilege to lead the state.
A renowned biochemist, teacher and a highly acknowledged public servant, Ikpeazu is confident he has the needed requisite experience and exposure to lead the state to the next level. Although, he is from the area where the governorship position has been zoned to – Abia South, he was quick to explain that he was not going to be an Ngwa governor but that of the entire Abia, urging Abians to support his ambition, as he would not fail in any of his promises.
Having been in the academia for years theorising, he felt the time was ripe to translate his ideas into practice. Thus, in 2002, he made himself available, serving as the Transition Committee Chairman for Obingwa Local Government Area. That marked his entry into politics. He later served as Special Adviser to the Governor before being appointed the General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), from 2007 to 2009.
Within the period, he was acclaimed to have turned around the fortunes of ASPIMSS, and made it a revenue-yielding agency of government.
In 2010, he was appointed Chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. During his tenure, it was on record that he facilitated the accreditation of three critical courses in the institution by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). In 2011, he was re-appointed General Manager of ASPIMSS, a position he held till 2013 before he landed another job as the first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), an assignment he was said to have discharged equitably till October 2014 when he resigned.
According to him, his vision to elevate governance and continue where the current administration stops is to create an economically-vibrant state with strong institutions, as well as transparent and inclusive governance, to guarantee high quality of life for the citizens, leading to sustainable development.
Ikpeazu told TheNiche that his mission to become the governor of the state is to transform the state into a functional private sector-driven economy; create opportunities for her citizens, improve the quality of their lives and shape the state into a regional entrepreneurship hub through good governance, appropriate developmental and environmentally-sustainable policies.
He said his desire to run for the office has been propelled by the fundamental needs of his people, and having consulted widely, he has received enough endorsement which has given him the confidence that he is the candidate to beat.
“I have served the Abia State Government for over a decade as an active participant. More importantly, I am committed to the vision and mission of the T.A. Orji administration.
“I am convinced that lack of continuity and shared vision has been central to the slow pace of development in most parts of Nigeria. I believe that a strong thread linking past and present leaderships in a state like Abia is indispensable, if a new government of the state must fast-track development in all spheres.
“This can only be achieved if a succeeding government makes it a duty to leverage on the foundation and vision for good governance already laid by the preceding administration. I shall therefore be driven by the philosophy of consolidating on the legacy of Orji and continuing to mobilise solidarity for further development.
“The Abia Project is a collective responsibility in which everybody has a role to play,” he said.
Ikpeazu pledged that, given the opportunity to serve the state, his efforts shall be anchored on best practices and tested principles that would guarantee genuine change.
He sees the private sector as the platform that drives industrialisation, assuring that he would therefore develop the state’s economy applying the economic indicators based on systematic consultation with the organised private sector to promote a private sector-led Abia economy.
He vowed to identify and address all the binding constraints to private sector growth in the state, as well as ensure massive infrastructural development.
The governorship hopeful promised to initiate a re-development project for Aba, given its strategic position, arguing that when the city is got right, the entire Abia would fall in line.
“Re-developing Aba into a modern commercial hub, urban renewal and city upgrading, functional infrastructure, stable power supply, among others will release her revenue potential that can be leveraged upon to develop the rest of Abia State.
“Also, as part of the Aba re-development project plan, we shall undertake the establishment of Obuaku Industrial Zone. The components shall include, but not limited to, sea port and housing estate,” he noted.
While revealing that he has blueprint for all the sectors, he insisted that no sector would be neglected.
In the health sector, he said the policy thrust shall be to enhance access to quality and affordable healthcare.
He stressed that the present government has done so much in the education sector, with the renovation, construction and equipping of model school blocks. “Our policy will, therefore, be to ensure qualitative and functional education that will equip the Abia child to not only participate in, but also confidently compete on, the global platform,” Ikpeazu added.
He said his agriculture policy shall promote full exploitation of the state’s agricultural potentials for food security, agro-industrial raw materials growth, employment generation and poverty reduction.
Ikpeazu assured that he would pursue the integration of women in the state’s human development agenda, while ensuring their full participation in the socio-economic and political development of the state.
He added that other areas, including sports, transportation, tourism, entrepreneurial education and youth development fund, would all be given priority attention.
