The governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and Accord Party, Emeka Ihedioha and Ikedi Ohakim respectively, have said Imo State is struggling and in dire need of positive transformation.
The governorship candidates spoke at a summit in Owerri, the state capital, organised by Imo State Elders Advisory Council.
Presenting his manifesto, Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, promised that if elected, he would present an executive bill to the state legislature requesting for autonomy for the local governments.
The PDP governorship candidate said, “Everything is wrong with Imo State. It is not about semantics but the truth. The education system and health sector have failed. We need an experienced person with the right leadership skills to take over.
“Today, there is no working agricultural policy in Imo State. There is limited power supply. Value system has collapsed in Imo State.
“I come from the best party with the best presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who is the next president of Nigeria; therefore, Emeka Ihedioha has the capacity to fix Imo State.”
Saying that the state needed to be rescued, Ohakim described himself as a mechanic who had come to fix the state.
The former governor, who urged the elders to take the right decision in the best interest of the country, said that he would hit the ground running once he is sworn in as the governor of the state.
Chairman, Imo State Elders Advisory Council, Ralph Obioha, said the body was interested in having the best candidate to emerge as the next governor.
In a related development, Ohakim has urged the people of the state to ask all governorship candidates to swear an affidavit as regards their campaign promises.
Ohakim, in a statement by his media aide, Collins Ughalaa, said he had on May 10, 2018, gone to the state High Court to sign an affidavit of 35 paragraphs on the things he would do if elected.
The former governor said the era of fake promises from politicians had gone, saying, “When they come to you with their many promises, ask them to make it legal. I remain the only Nigerian who has sworn to a legally binding document of all I promise to achieve and opening myself up for real lawyers like Temple Okonji to drag me to court and even deprive me of my freedom if I fail to abide by what I have promised.
“Talk is cheap. Anybody can open their mouth and promise to mount air-conditioning systems on every street in Owerri or give everybody visa to Bangkok. The debt they owe you is to make it legal, so that if they fail, you hold them responsible. This is the only way to make them responsible and accountable to all they promise you.”
He said he had taken the first step to show his commitment to serve his people.
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