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By Christopher Oji
Last Sunday, there was a different sermon for the people of Nsukka, Enugu State, as former Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jnr), lectured them on what to do to alleviate the sufferings of the community and the entire state.
Gathered for the lecture and consultative meeting in Lagos were members of Nsukka Professionals’ Association (NPA), who listened with rapt attention as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial candidate for 2023 election reeled out his programme to save the state from dying.
Nweke, after being welcomed by the president of the Nsukka Professionals’ Association (NPA), Mr. Charles Nwodo (Jnr), said: “I asked for this meeting and you gave me your audience. Today is Sunday, when some you should be resting with your families, but you have come to hear what I want to say on how to save our state from dying. Yes, you are non-partisan politicians, but we are all stakeholders, because we have lecturers, medical practitioners, journalists, bankers, businessmen and people from all walks of life. If we don’t do what we are doing today, our children will ask us, what did we do to save our state from dying?
“Yes, I want to contest for the governorship position of our dear state because I am tired of complaining. I am really tired of what I am seeing. There must be equity among the populace, with no primitive accumulation or lopsided wealth, and all citizens must be involved in the fight against crime, if I am elected Enugu State governor in 2023”.
According to Nweke, the meeting, which was scheduled at his instance, was an opportunity for him to discuss his development agenda for Enugu State as a potential governor of the state, with a view to getting their support towards winning the election.
In his speech, which lasted for over one hour, the APGA governorship candidate began by decrying the current state of trust deficit inherent in government. He expressed disappointment with what he called the way and manner the leadership of Enugu State had failed to inspire the citizenry in different aspects of governance, particularly non-industrialization, which has kept Enugu as a ‘civil service state.’
He noted that, rather than develop, the state has steadily slipped into retrogression on many fronts, notably in infrastructure, education, service delivery, security and others, while the level of corruption has escalated, rather than abated.
Making references to the developmental feats of a former Eastern Region leader, the late Dr. Michael Okpara, the former minister expressed dismay that none of the recent leaders of the state has been able to selflessly replicate the same level of developmental efforts like Okpara.
Nweke explained that his venture into the governorship race was prompted by the urge to bring back the lost glory of the state in many ways, ranging from qualitative education for youths, road infrastructure, attraction of investors, provision of safe and secure environment, agriculture, industrialization and many others.
He hoped to leverage on his national and international exposure as a former minister and other global standard competencies on his side to create the much needed investment opportunities and employment for citizens of the state as a way of reducing crime.
Nweke also raised the alarm about the level of moral decay and criminality in the state and attributed it largely to lack of education and unemployment, even as the state’s indebtedness was rising, with little or nothing to show for it.
With respect to the escalating spate of insecurity in Enugu and other parts of Nigeria, Nweke said the geometric increase in population, with a declining state of infrastructural development and poor education, was largely responsible, and promised that, if elected governor, apart from creating opportunities for investment and employment, he would ensure that security agents are given recognition and assistance more than what obtains today.
He also promised to create a conducive environment where the citizens see it as their responsibility to always assist law enforcement agencies in intelligence gathering, as fighting crime should not be a job for security agents alone.
He stated that he had plans to fully deploy modern technology in the fight against crimes, so as to be steps ahead of criminals.
“As you can see, today, Enugu State is filled with dirt and it is seen at the entrance, from the gate where refuse is packed and the stench can cause serious damage to our health. This is symbolic as it shows what is going on in our once revered state. Business owners are closing shops and leaving our state because of hash policies of our government. I will make sure that I bring back businessmen who left because of hash policies of the government. Our neigbouring states, especially Anambra, were investors in Enugu State, but today they are leaving and this is increasing the employment challenges in our state. Enugu State is the 20th state that owes too much debt. It has reached a stage that they can’t access loans anymore and this is not good for our development.
“I have toured the state and I can tell you authoritatively that our people are suffering. I will make sure that I bring investors who will help with job creation. I am speaking with many foreign and local investors who assured me that, once I am there, they would invest. Give me the opportunity to rescue Enugu State from dying”.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Nwodo, president of the Nsukka Professionals Association, said the association was not a mass movement but a limited group of people legitimately engaging in professions and businesses in Lagos, Abuja and in the diaspora.
He explained that the aim of the association largely centres on engendering development of Nsukka cultural zone and support to non-state actors involved in developmental endeavors.
According to Nwodo, ” we are non-partisan but have political preferences with a uniting factor, which is the development of Nsukka and the entire Enugu State.”
The NPA chieftain told the former minister that the decision of the association to meet with him as requested on a day they ought to be involved in some personal engagement was a demonstration of the importance the association placed on the choice of who governs the state.
More than 30 members of the NPA were at the event, including academics, business executives, legal practitioners, gospel preachers and so on.
