A 2019 governorship hopeful under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon Nick Opara-Ndudu has stated that the responsibility of running the bureaucracy of the day to day activity of the state rest squarely on the civil service and not on the governor of the state.
Opara-Ndudu made this assertion at his local government declaration for the governorship of lmo state held at Owerri North APGA Secretariat Awaka in Owerri North local government area of lmo state on Saturday 5th May 2018.
He stated that APGA needs a special kind of candidate that is competent, tested and has a track record of managing people as well knowledgeable on the issues confronting lmo state pointing out the need to professionalize lmo civil service.
The former economic adviser added that lmo state is inundated with so many challenges that she has never been confronted with since its creation in 1976 pointing out that the state has faced the worst form of governance in the past seven years that nobody dreamt of which were precipitated due to the actions of the government of the day.
The Ezeogba Emekuku Owerri North born governorship hopeful opined that any aspirant who does not know what to do to create a minimum of 200,000 jobs for the teeming unemployed lmo youths within three years in office have no business running for governorship come 2019 adding that he has a blue print for job creation and is willing to write a post dated resignation letter as governor of lmo state if he does not create a minimum of 200,000 jobs within three years as a governor.
He noted that the society has not been fair to the youths of our country and lmo youths in particular as statistics shows that 70% of lmo youths are unemployed.
Opara-Ndudu noted with dismay that even the employed youths are not doing the right job due to misplacement of carrier adding that jobs are not created through sloganeering of “Job, Job, Job” mantra.
He however stressed on the need for an environment that will encourage investors and the importance of creating industrial cities across the three senatorial zones of lmo state in partnership with the private sector under the Public Private Partnership (P.P.P) arrangement.
The former diamond bank regional director stated that lmo needs a man who not only understands the challenges facing lmo state but a man who has the experience to proffer solution to the myriad of challenges confronting lmo state pointing out that his wealth of experience in administration and public private partnership is a credit to his political sagacity towards solving the economic problems that have bedevilled the state.
Opara-Ndudu condemned the undue reliance on government resources for economic growth rather than diversifying the state economy.
In his opinion, the state publicity secretary of the party, Chief Dr George Nkworji affirmed that Nick Opara-Ndudu is over qualified to be governor of lmo state by virtue of his competence, qualifications, and experience.
Nkworji urged Opara-Ndudu to remain resolute in ensuring that lmo state is restored from the shackles of ldi Amin like governance in lmo state.
In his words, the Owerri North APGA chairman Mr Vincent Amadi described Opara-Ndudu as one of the brightest aspirants in the contest as he urged the erudite chartered accountant to express commitment and support to the party.
In her speech, a board of trustee member of APGA and former commissioner for women affairs and social development Hon Lady Ann Dozie commended Nick Opara-Ndudu for making the right move at the right time and in the right direction.
Lady Dozie stated that the personality and relationship of every contestant with people is very important in politics pointing out that all aspirants of the party are qualified and should love one another in the spirit of its motto “Be Your Brother’s Keeper”.
The Egbu, Owerri North born former commissioner opined that APGA ticket will not be gotten on a platter of gold adding that the party will ensure the conduct of not just a credible, free but also fair party primaries at all level.
She said that the party must get it right and the only way out is to follow due process which is the road map towards achieving victory come 2019.
