The Labour Party campaign train moved to Nwangele Local Government Area, today, Wednesday, 11 October 2023, with the governorship candidate Distinguished Senator Athan Achonu, reiterating his plan to build two industrial parks in the Orlu Senatorial Zone of the state.
Similarly, in line with his vow to make the 27 local government areas epicentre of service and people-oriented governance, he equally threatened to jail any local government chairman who mismanages the monthly allocation of his council.
The Labour Party candidate popularly known as Aku Ruo Ulo Ndi Igbo for his consistent advocacy for Ndi Igbo to invest at home, made these declarations while addressing the surging crowd that thronged the campaign ground.
Distinguished Senator Achonu informed the people of the area that the proposed industrial parks will be two in each zone of the state, making it a total of six industrial parks, stressing that every zone will host parks reflective of its comparative advantage.
To this end he announced that Orlu Zone will host two industrial parks namely an oil and gas park in Ohaji/ Egbema and Oguta axis and a Pharmactical park around the Orlu, Ideato, and Orsu areas, adding that the zone apart from being naturally blessed with oil and gas deposits, also boasts of the highest number of Pharmactical entrepreneurs in the country.
He said he had already reached out to some renowned stakeholders in the two areas within the zone and state generally, including doyens of the Pharmaceutical sector in the country in a bid to build consensus around the policy.
Distinguished Senator Achonu disclosed that in line with the policy, he had held fruitful discussions with the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afriexim Bank) and African Development Bank (ADB), towards getting them to support his government’s industrialization agenda.
The Aku Ruo Ulo Ndi Igbo reiterated his position that he will conduct the freest and fairest local government election in the country’s electoral history, vowing that under him whoever the people vote will be declared winner irrespective of party affiliation.
Promising to implement total financial and administrative autonomy for the 27 councils, he however, warned that any elected Local Government Chairman found to have embezzled funds under him would be Jailed. According to him “the people’s funds must be used to serve the people to provide infrastructure, security, and other services at the grassroots.”
He bemoaned the massive deterioration of the state’s education system, noting Imo which used to be among the top three in sub-national education ranking, is now at the bottom, with students learning in classrooms without roofs and windows.
To stem the embarrassing scenario he promised to invest massively in creating a conducive learning environment, provision of teaching and learning facilities, motivation of teachers through prompt payment of salary and allowances, and training and retraining.
On health, the frontline candidate who has been tipped by many opinion polls to win the coming election promised that the health centers he attracted and built that were abandoned will be reactivated to cater to the most vulnerable members of society who are found in rural areas.
According to him what he is promising is what he’s already doing in his private capacity, as could be seen in the massive Agricultural Hub with the capacity to employ 2000 youths (in full capacity) he built in Umunumo, Ehime Mbano; construction of 2.3km road with bridges and drainages; and ongoing 6km roads in his community; establishment of microfinance bank to support Small and Medium businesses situated at Aba Branch, Ehime Mbano, and a host of other projects and services being used to practically demonstrate his total commitment to the Aku Ruo Ulo philosophy.
The Labour Party candidate expressed his excitement at the warm welcome from the people of Nwangele. “Today is significant because it’s exactly one month to the election and I am right here in Nwangele where my ancestorial roots are. I am from Umunumo and we took our roots from here. The people of Umunumo were originally from Abah in Nwangele LGA before they migrated to their current abode in Umunumo. So it is a significant and huge sign of what is to come.”
The Nwangele rally was well attended by leaders of the party including two former aspirants Dr. David Mbamara, and Dr. Tobechukwu Justice Ehirim, (Igirigi Imo State); who contested in the last primaries with Senator Athan Achonu. Also in attendance were Oluchi Okpala, National Treasurer, Labour Party; Hon. Chime Nzeribe, Director General of the Campaign Organisation; Barrister Calistus Ihejiagwa, Chairman Imo State Labour Party; Mr. Nick Opara- Ndudu, Hon. Jeff Ojinika, Chief Ogbuehi Anyiam, Hon. Stanley Nzekwe, Chief Dan Onwu, Mr. Bello Ekwegh
Hon. Chika Ononuju (Oji Ulo eme ogo), among others.
