Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Nov. 8 governorship election in Anambra, says he will ensure food sustainability in the state by investing hugely in agriculture and agro-infrastructure, if elected.
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Ukachukwu made the promise while speaking with newsmen in Awka on Wednesday at the conclusion of his ‘thank you’ tour of the 21 local government areas of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tour was to appreciate the leadership and members of APC at the ward and local government levels for his nomination as governorship candidate.
Ukachukwu, who described Anambra as an entrepreneurial state known for industry and trade, however, expressed the regret that the old glory had been lost to insecurity and ‘governance without empathy’.
“We will work with farm infrastructure companies as partners and get agric bank to fund and insure the farms,” he said.
Ukachukwu also promised to make education system solution-oriented and redeem the state from what he called poor governance and retrogression.
“I will ensure operationalisation of full autonomy to allow the local government system to function effectively.
“The local government system is not working; chairmen and councillors are now governor’s praise singers; traditional rulers cannot advise and criticise the government, otherwise they will be removed,” he said.
The governorship candidate expressed appreciation for the support of the people of the state.
“The support for us is massive and organic; the acceptance is impressive; people came out on their own to welcome us.
“I saw people yearning for change; they were excited to touch me; I never cajoled anybody to come to me even though government had threatened civil servants and community leaders not to receive us,” he said.
Ukachukwu said the major lesson from the tour was that there was absence of governance at the grassroots, as most projects of the incumbent government did not address the needs of the people.
He promised to restore infrastructure and social amenities, and reverse the shutdown of businesses and their movement to neighboring states by ensuring adequate security.
“We are a trading and manufacturing state. We must put in place things that will drive these things. We have gas in Anambra but no power to drive our factories.
“Growing up in Onitsha, I used to see people from every part of Nigeria and neighbouring countries emptying into Onitsha to buy goods but now, Anambra is a shadow of its old self.
“We have lost our society to insecurity. We need to recover our state holistically because nothing is working. There will be change in Anambra.
“Our education system should be result-oriented and problem-solving. I have 12 industries in Anambra but they are under lock and key because experts are afraid to come run them.
“One youth, two skills is like Dubai-Taiwan promise; they are not real because government has not been a business man and does not have what it takes to make people rich.
“Why should I celebrate Government House as my greatest achievement? We should celebrate top-notch health infrastructure and smart schools.
“How does Fun City affect the man in my village, even though it was built for city people with money meant for village people?” he queried
(NAN)
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