Former Minister of Information and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State, Frank Nweke Jnr., on Thursday, said he would rebuild Enugu State and make it an industrial hub if elected governor in 2023.
Nweke, who made this known at a Business community meeting held in Enugu, said he anchored his manifesto on what he tagged: ‘Seven Key Thrusts for Reigniting the Coal City state.’
He gave a run down of his seven-point agenda – leadership, governance, security, human capital development, environmental sustainability and infrastructure, Economic transformation and technology and innovation.
Dwelling on Economic transformation, the APGA governorship candidate said he would tackle the issue of multiple taxation and simplify taxation through digitisation and curb the unlawful and unnecessary harassment of small scale traders in the state.
He said, “We are going to work with the state board of internal revenue to digitize the taxation system in the state. We are going to expand it, make it more open and more transparent.
“We know about the multiplicity of taxation and levies administered by multiple agencies. There is no way business can strive under such circumstances.”
He promised to restore trust in government and block all leakages in expenditure. Nweke Jnr. who served as minister of information in the country,,added that his administration would focus on creating wealth and harnessing the state comparative advantage towards enabling the people and their businesses to thrive well.
“One thing we will focus on significantly ijs the issue of Economic Transformation, we will make a conscious departure from the politics of managing poverty to 6creating wealth, we will change the ideology,” he said .
On corruption, he said he will have zero tolerance for corruption , assuring that public resources would be used for public good.
The former minister promised to harness the youths in Enugu State and provide the enabling environment for them to achieve their potentials.
He said that it was time people took back the state and voted individuals with the capability to transform it, saying that he was the right person for the job.
“With the right leadership, we can leverage on the rich potentials in Enugu State to bring transformational leadership and make life better for our people,” he said
He said that the 2023 general election was another good opportunity for the citizens to elect who had shown great passion to serve, insisting that if they failed to act fast, development might continue to elude the state.
On inclusive government, Nweke said he would not discriminate against non indigenes. He promised to harness the oil and gas deposit in the state.
On water supply, the APGA governorship candidate said, if elected, he would ensure supply of portable water in the state.
He also said he would improve on the security apparatus in the state and ensure teachers and pensioners were paid.
The APGA governorship candidate was accompanied by his deputy, Dr Edith Ngozi and supporters.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, assured the people that he would ensure the transformation of the rural areas.
Mbah, who gave the assurance at a town hall
meeting with the communities in Nike in Enugu East Council Area on Thursday, said he would also ensure inclusive development for all.
Mbah has been holding town hall meetings across the 68 development centres in the state, to interact with the people on their peculiar needs, as well as to explain to them gubernatorial plans.
He said he had an inclusive economic development plan to ensure that nobody was left behind, stressing that whatever affected the weakest in the state affected every one.
Mbah reiterated his resolve to construct 10,00km of roads, prioritise rural development and ensure robust industrialization of the state, if elected.
“We have plans to set up a N10 billion micro, small and medium scale enterprises revolving fund.
“We cannot develop our economy without a healthy workforce, hence we will rejuvenate and equip our healthcare system, including the primary health centres to deliver 24-hour service”, he said.
Mbah, however, assured the people that most of their needs were already captured in his manifesto.
Earlier, the communities listed roads, employment, health infrastructure, industrialisation, education and employment as development priorities facing them.
They urged the governorship candidate to address the needs when elected governor in 2023.
Pledging their votes to Mbah, they also lamented the activities of land speculators, whom they said had made communities poorer.
Speaking, former senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji and the member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Mr Cornelius Nnaji, said the construction of the Ugwogo Nike-Agbogazi Nike-Ubahu-Owo road would enhance rural access and act as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the area.
On his part, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Uwakwe expressed regrets over the non-existence of a secondary school and hospital in the area and urged Mbah to help reduce the hardships the people are facing.
A woman leader, Mrs Helen Ugwuoko, lamented a situation where women in labour travelled all the way to Enugu town to seek medical attention, pointing out that in emergency cases, fatalities were usually recorded.
She called on Mbah to intervene in empowering women and the youth through skill acquisition and job creation.
“There is no employment anywhere. Some of our graduates have spent over 15 years with us at home and the hardship is too much for us to bear”, she said.
The traditional ruler of Ogbeke Nike, Igwe Dennis Ekette, while pledging the people’s support for PDP candidates, however, called on Mbah to help bring the perennial water scarcity facing the rural communities of Nike to an end.
On his part, the Council Chairman of Enugu East LGA, Livinus Anike, described Emene Nike as the industrial hub of Enugu State and called for the infrastructural renewal of the area.
He also called on Mbah to prioritise the revitalisation of state-owned companies, such as Sunrise Flour Mills, Emene.
