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By Iheanachir Isaac, Abakaliki
A former Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Prof. Benard Odoh Thursday declared for the governorship position of the state ahead of 2023 under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
This would mark two times Prof Odoh is aspiring to become governor in Ebonyi state.
His declaration in Abakaliki came barely 48 hours his clan (Ezza) had in their stakeholder’s meeting held on Tuesday, nominated the present Secretary to the state government, Dr. Kenneth Ogbala to succeed governor David Umahi under ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.
Although, the former Secretary who said he is not deter by such nomination, promised to restore regular water supply, education, revive the civil service, health sector and build industries to address the high rate of unemployment in state.
He however said that he would initiate genuine dialogue with members of the indigenous people of Biafra so as to end cases of insecurity and the seat-at-home order by the group.
“To the leaders and followers of the indigenous people of Biafra(IPOB) is that we will create an avenue of dialogue with them.
“Water will run in Abakaliki within 3 months-for the first time since March 2015.
“Express route to dealing with poverty and unemployment is heart and soul commitment to a small and medium-scale industrialisation, ranging from scaled agricultural value-chain, complex manufacturing, converting raw natural resources to finished products.
“Another is to revive our existing but abandoned industries in the Poultry, cement and others,” he explained.
“Finally, I hereby present myself for consideration by the great and wise people of Ebonyi State as a gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of APGA,”he said.
In 2019 elections, Prof. Odoh lost the APC guber ticket to Sen. Sonny Ogbuoji when Governor Umahi was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
