Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State, Uche Nnaji Nwakibie, has vowed to make Uzo Uwani LGA in Enugu North senatorial zone, one of the wealthiest in the state by tapping into her agricultural endowments and natural deposits.
Nnaji made this known during the party’s guber rally held in the LGA, Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
Speaking at the rally which had his running mate, George Ogara, state party chairman, Ugo Agballah, other party flagbearers and faithful in attendance, Nnaji bewailed the 24 years of the PDP-led administration in the state for being responsible for “unemployment, insecurity, loss of land, hardship, youth migration, and hunger in the land of plenty”.
In his words: “Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area should have been the wealthiest LGA in Enugu State. Apart from arable farmland, it has untapped natural gas, crude oil, limestone, other minerals and potential hydro energy from the Adada river. Unfortunately, the 24 years of PDP have created unemployment, insecurity, loss of land, hardship, youth migration, and hunger in the land of plenty.
“I will restore Uzo Uwani LGA to its rightful place as a prosperous and resourceful place. With a personal investment of more than N6Billion on a rice processing plant, I fully understand that rice farmers are a critical component of global food security because it is a staple food for over half of the world’s population.
“Rural farmers often face challenges such as limited access to markets, finance and credit facility. I am committed to helping provide these farmers with the resources and supports they need to succeed. This will be achieved through setting up the Enugu Development Bank with N250Billion and Entrepreneurship Trust Fund with N34Billion.
“Funds from the Development bank will be utilised to build mega industries, clusters of initiatives that will serve as off-takers of your agricultural produce, revamp the Adada rice mill, build all round irrigation system, build community ring roads, liaise with the federal government to explore the resources in Uzo-Uwani adequately”.
Continuing, he said: “Small rural farms play a crucial role in maintaining rural communities and preserving the cultural and social fabric of these areas. Nwakaibie’s intervention will help ensure the viability of small rural farms and the communities in Uzo Uwani LGA”.
George Ogara, the APC Deputy Governorship candidate, admonished the people to absorb what the governorship candidate had promised. He assured them that their local government would “look like Dubai” under the leadership of APC in the state.
The House of Assembly candidate, Stephen Okenwa, asked the people to kick out PDP after “24 years of neglect”. He reiterated that the seasons of PDP in Enugu State are far gone and promised to bring down constituency projects under the leadership of Uche Nnaji, which he had no doubt will wipe away the tears of Uzo Uwani.
The APC House of Representatives candidate for Igbo-etiti/Uzo-Uwani federal constituency, Sam Ekwueme, was among those who spoke, saying “If we don’t perform well in four years, just vote us out”.
The climax of the occasion was the handing over of party flags and brooms to all the candidates of the party by the APC state chairman, Barr. Ugo Agballah.