From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Ebonyi Governorship Aspirant under the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, has vowed to transform the Salt of the Nation-State by decorating the destinies of the citizens if given the mandate to be the Chief Servant of the state in 2023.
He made this pledge on Monday while interacting with journalists in Abakaliki town and maintained that his administration would launch all-inclusive wealth creation to combat what he described as the sickly economy of Ebonyi State when compared to other Southeast states and beyond.
Ezeh, the Oxford-trained entrepreneur, holding several Doctoral credentials in different specialisations from entrepreneurship, and innovation to leadership and global trade, promised to industrialize Ebonyi, thereby creating job opportunities for the citizens of the state, without fear or favour.
According to him, "I am ashamed to continue to belong to the extensively back-warding state in the southeast. As an entrepreneur, the call to service is now, to decorate the destinies of the Ebonyi people, because our business environment has collapsed and we need to pursue our vision anchored on three pillars of the Recovery, Rebuilding and Restoration of Ebonyi State to the original dreams of our founding fathers.
"I have a plan for Ebonyi people and it is not mouthing promises. When I said I will build human capacity, I will do it. For instance, when I said, I will create jobs for our people and I mean it, and it will be a way of encouraging our people, to make a meaningful living anywhere in the world."
Ezeh also assured that he would resolve issues enveloping the dearth of productivity of the Nigeria Cement Company, Nkalagu, within his first 100 days in office as the Governor of Ebonyi State.
NIGERCEM, in his words, would not only be resuscitated but constantly serve as the driver of the industrialization policy of his leadership, to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.
The governorship hopeful said his administration would be anchored on the people, adding that he would bring back people elements to governance if given the mandate to occupy the apex seat in the state.
He pledged to redeem the niche of 'Academics in Governance,' to bring the intense and fundamental review to governance issues in Ebonyi State.
Ezeh expressed confidence, that with the diversity of experience he is bringing to the table like his finance background, leadership training from one of the world's elite institutions, multiple doctorate qualifications from reputable institutions of high learning in a business career traversing multiple fields such as Media, ICT, Renewable Energy, and many others, that he has prepared enough to occupy the apex seat in the state.
While commending the efforts of the past administration in Ebonyi, Ezeh stated that the next Governor of the state would have his hands full of loads, and appealed to the stakeholders and people of the state not to allow the charter of equity to be truncated.
“This administration is built for the future, but a critical part is missing – The Human Development part. I will bring that aspect into the basket and quickly develop the state to match the dreams and vision of the present administration.
“Ebonyi indeed has been blessed with visionary leaders simply because our very first Executive Governor, Distinguished Senator Dr Sam Ominyi Egwu built a solid foundation upon which Chief Martin Elechi took off from.
“With the present challenges facing Nigeria and Ebonyi State now, Ebonyi requires a man of ideas. It takes a man who can create wealth to manage wealth.
“We are one people. We must do all to bring down the tension around equity and zoning."
He lamented the difficulty people in the hinterland experience on their roads during the rainy season and promised to embark on what he called a culvert revolution in his first 100 days in office, assuring accessible and quality roads if emerged as the governor of the State.
He equally promised to build a game and medical village respectively, with a robust agricultural production and modernisation, reticulation of drinkable water from the available water schemes in Ebonyi to all corners of the state, alongside building skill acquisition centres cutting across electronics, building technology, food processing among others.
Dr Ezeh, the current President of Ebonyi Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture and Deputy to the SECCIMA President, equally called on professionals and technocrats to grasp politics, pointing out the words of Haile Selassie that “evil thrives when people who should speak keep silent.
"I am made to take risks, I am an entrepreneur, and right from my childhood, I have been taking risks, just to develop myself and get more advanced for the benefit of humanity. Leadership has become empty. I am ready to work 24 hours every day. Ebonyi doesn't require a governor that will work six months and the rest of the days will be frivolity.
"Ebonyi doesn't require a governor that will be sharing leadership with his family members. My first son is just entering university, not a person that will only consider his children, siblings and inlaws first, instead of the entire citizens of the state while in office.
"Let us face four years of hard labour and see where we will reach with me if I'm elected to be the governor of Ebonyi State. 2023 is a make of man, and I want us to know that the Almighty God has remembered Nigeria. Now, you must elect not a governor but men and women of integrity across boards."
