The Enugu State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr. Frank Nweke II, has challenged the governorship candidates of other political parties in the state to a debate.
Mr Nweke threw the challenge at a Leadership Retreat on Capacity Building Programme for Take Back Naija (TBN) leaders held, Wednesday, August 31, at Oakland Hotel, Enugu.
He said the debate would make the electorates feel the pulse of the candidates, which will in turn inform their choice at the poll.
Nweke also credited the collapse of the state infrastructure and development retrogression in the past seven years to the government of the day, accusing the present government architecture in the state of acts of bad governance and corruption.
The former Minister for Information said President Buhari wasn’t responsible for the retrogression and abysmal performance Enugu had become known for, especially when compared to how it was before the inauguration of the government of the day about seven years ago, when there was constant water supply, regular payment of teachers’ salaries, and security of lives and properties.
In his words, “Federal Government does not have any business with the State. It is not because of Buhari that the state is experiencing insecurity, poverty, delay in payment of salaries, strikes, local government strikes, and unemployment, among others.
“Seven years ago, everything was good especially a steady water supply. There was security. But now, we have retrogressed completely because of corruption.
“Shine your eyes. Vote people based on competence. Let the government be powered by the people so that you can hold them responsible if anything goes wrong.
“Every political party and candidate must participate in a debate where they can give an account of their resources and what they have to offer to the people.”
He however assured that if the people of the state would vote wisely in the 2023 governorship election, Enugu State will restore its glory, where tap water and other critical infrastructure will work again in the state.
Take Back Nigeria, TBN, is a people-oriented grassroots movement aimed at galvanizing and building a Coalition of like-minded progressives for the advocation of good governance in Nigeria.