Anambra 2021: Academics will play prominent part if I’m elected governor – Okonkwo

AWKA, Anambra, Nigeria – Candidate of Zenth Labour Party (ZLP) for the Anambra State governorship election Dr. Obiora Okonkwo has stated that he will not do anything without consulting the  Academics if he is elected  governor of the state.

Okonkwo gave the assurance on Wednesday during   a Town Hall Meeting with the Nnamdi Azikwe University Community on the state of polity at the institution’s auditorium, Awka. Okonkwo said that research was critical to quality leadership ,noting the state is  nose-diving due to  negligence of those in the universities and research institutes .

He said that if he becomes governor , he  will   be giving research grants to the academics and researchers  to grow the system for the benefit of all .

According to him, Anambra  is not growing because the leadership sees nothing good in  prioritising on research through the academics.

” If I become the governor of Anambra state ,I will not do anything without consulting you. Academics  are needed in driving the state economy of any country” he said. He also promised to  focus on rural development ,peace and security  as well as youth empowerment in the state, noting that if there is no peace there cannot be any development.

According to Okonkwo ,what is happening in Anambra and Nigeria   today did not come as an emergency but an  accumulation of  failure over the years. He said that if the people have what is due to them there would not have been any cause for agitations and insecurity in the state and the country .

He also said that the state have not had economic growth  despite having produced many billionaires whose business are scattered all the world , tracing the cause to unfriendly business  environment occasioned by insecurity .

He  said that if he is elected  as a governor in the  less than six months crime rate will drop by 50 percent in Anambra state .

According to him, the easiest way to tackle  insecurity and crimes  is  to create  jobs  for the people, saying that when people  are engaged  there will be peace.

“If I am elected ,I will meet the president and tell him about my plans for security in state” he stated. He also promised to conduct local government election in the state  six months in office , stating the present state government sees the  local fund as free money for the ruling  class.

“Local Government   recruitment was  done last in 2001, that is 20 years ago  and the salary of  workers are increasing every day , who eats the money” he asked . However , Okonkwo  said that leadership  cannot only be blamed always , noting that sometime the leaders  are to be blamed because they  chose wrong people who offer them money at the election day.

Okonkwo said he will be governor for everybody not only for his  friends and families as obtainable now in the state. “I discovered that the leadership in the state is for friends and upper class and leaving the poor in pains,” he said .