From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
Governorship candidate of the Action People’s Party (APP), in Abia State, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, has spoken of the need for Abians to vote for credible persons that will turn around the misfortunes of the State to create a better future for youths to become gainfully employed.
He said the heightening insecurity in the country, especially in the South-East geopolitical zone, was as a result of soaring unemployment rate and the inability of the government to do the needful to arrest the situation.
Speaking with journalists in Aba, on Friday, Kalu said the next Abia governor would emerge through a coalition of some minority political parties currently in the race for the top job and will come from Abia North Senatorial Zone, in line with the zoning arrangement of the founding fathers of the State. He condemned the zoning of the position by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to the Ngwa area of Abia Central zone, noting that what Gov Okezie Ikpeazu, was fighting against in the G-5 Governors group was what he was instigating in Abia.
“The reason Ikpeazu is in the G-5 group, alongside other governors in the PDP, was because the party denied the South its presidential ticket. But here in Abia, he is doing the opposite of what the G-5, to which he belongs, is fighting. I want to tell you that the next governor of the state will come from Abia North. The election will be by coalition of some minority parties.
“We, in Abia North, do not make noise on issues but believe in action. So, when the time comes, we will come together and I am very strong in my opinion that a candidate of the minority, will win in Abia.”
On what he will do differently if elected as the next governor, the APP flag-bearer, said his administration will redesign and geographically map out cities of Umuahia and Aba, with modern development plans that meet the 21st Century standards, make Abia a fully industrialized state, as well as create enabling environment for 40,000 new private sector driven jobs within four years.