By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Abia State governorship aspirant, Kelechi Anosike, has said his decision to contest the governorship election is driven by a desire to improve welfare, create jobs, reform the civil service and unlock the economic potential of the state.
Speaking with journalists after meeting with the PDP screening committee on Thursday in Abuja, Anosike said his educational and professional background had equipped him for leadership. He noted that he studied Law at Abia State University before proceeding to Scotland for a Master of Laws degree in Petroleum Law and Policy and later obtaining a PhD in Property Law and Mortgages from University of Abuja.
The legal practitioner and businessman said he had handled major international transactions and also runs businesses in real estate and other sectors.
Explaining his reason for joining the race, Anosike questioned claims that the current administration in the state had performed strongly.
“Abia has not done very well. The people of Abia State are being short-changed. If the government was doing well, I wouldn’t be in the race,” he said.
He said his administration would introduce an agricultural initiative known as Operation Feed Abia (OFA) to tackle food insecurity.
“Never again will any Abia citizen go to bed with an empty stomach. There will be a back-to-farm policy,” he stated.
Anosike also promised reforms in the civil service, including salaries above the minimum wage, improved healthcare support for workers and pensioners, and stronger welfare packages.
On youth development, he said his administration would create employment opportunities, establish ICT hubs and introduce compulsory skill acquisition programmes in schools.
“We will build infrastructure and build lives because this is going to be a welfare-oriented government,” he said.
He added that his government would pursue industrialisation, support small businesses through microcredit schemes and harness untapped resources in the state to drive economic growth.
