The Labour Party Gubernatorial Candidate for Imo State, Barrister Ngozi Olehi says that, if given the mandate, he will revive co-operative societies by giving them adequate policy and regulatory environment that can position them to become the business models which can deliver sustainable economic growth and employment.
Addressing newsmen in Owerri, Barrister Olehi said that institutional ignorance and misgovernance have robbed the State of uncountable benefits that accrue from co-operative societies adding that the State’s economy made moribund by visionless and clueless leadership needs diversity and openness in terms of business forms in order to recover and be more stable, fair and resilient.
The Governorship candidate said Labour Party’s social justice and equity agenda places the co-operative model of business in a privileged position to achieve the aims of sustainable growth and employment because it is people-centered and value-based since the wealth they generate is more equitably distributed to members, workers and the community at large.
Barrister Olehi said that as a food security measure, co-operatives empower farmers to purchase and market as a group, build skills, voice concern and interests and increase negotiating power to influence policy making pointing out that co-operative societies have critical roles to play in the United Nations’ Post-2015 Development Agenda which Imo State must not exclude itself from in fighting poverty and creating wealth.
While regretting that Imo State has been isolated from global economic trends by institutional ignorance, the Guber candidate noted that co-operative enterprises employ 250 million people worldwide, with the world’s first 300 co-operatives generating $2.2 trillion in global annual turnover while providing the services and infrastructure society needs to thrive.
Barr. Olehi regretted the poverty profile in the State is excessively high pointing out that abuse of office and mismanagement of power may be appear personal and transient, and on the short run insignificant and irrelevant, but it is never personal or private because its effect on everyone lasts long and hinders progress. This, he stressed makes it imperative to make godliness a significant aspect of his public life.
