The President of Ebonyi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh has urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to intensify efforts in building local entrepreneurs before looking outside the state.
Ezeh who is an Oxford-trained entrepreneur made the call yesterday while interacting with newsmen at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh.
Ezeh, the Labour Party House Representative Candidate for Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency during the 2023 general election was reacting to Governor Nwifuru's recent overseas trip and where many felt disappointed that he did not take leading members of the private sector with him, especially their leaders.
Ezeh said: "Some of us are available and willing to work together with the government to advance the business operating environment. Recently, one of my companies has been in talks to bring in some serious investors to the state.
"I found it inchoate and limiting to go looking for investors in foreign lands when you have not encouraged your local businessmen and entrepreneurs. Who were the entrepreneurs on the governor’s team? These foreigners are no fools, they know when we are serious and when we want paid photo ops.
"Entrepreneurship development are grand governance issue, the government should work closely with its private sector groups after all, this is the time for governance. The government is our government unless we are not ready for real governance.
"During the campaigns, the governor promised to work with the opposition, a promise he is yet to fulfil. On my part, I had expected that given our collective struggles during the election, the first thing to do was not to kill the opposition but embrace a government of state unity. We cannot all be in one party, it’s unnatural and undemocratic.
"Opposition is a major stake in every democracy. Look at the government of President Bola Tinubu, the best performers are the opposition members appointed into the cabinet because they have no sense of entitlements. They either perform or get sacked."
