Odii made the promise at a rally in the Amachi community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Enonyi on Friday, saying that only genuine industrialisation could lift the state from poverty.
Abakaliki Chief IfeanyiChukwuma Odii, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has promised to industrialise Ebonyi if elected in the March 11 governorship election.
He regretted that the state was ranked seventh in the poverty index and stressed the commitment to deploy the abundant mineral resources the state was endowed with to industrialise it and make the state one of the most robust economies in Nigeria.
“When God delivers this mandate to us, Ebonyi people will experience true transformation and industrialisation, so that when our children graduate from school, they will be able to gain employment in Ebonyi.
” If you are creative as a leader, you will be able to think out of the box to create avenues to create wealth for your people and develop the economy for the overall well-being of the masses.
“Ebonyi today, according to recent statistics is ranked fifth most difficult state to do business within the federation; why will you not expect Ebonyi people to be poor?
“The system has created poverty for people; but, under our watch, we will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
” Ebonyi is also ranked ninth poorest state in the federation, I promise our people that under our watch, Ebonyi will never be found in the list anymore,” Odii said.
The PDP standard bearer enjoined the people to vote for the party candidates for the presidential election slated for Feb. 25 as well as its governorship and house of assembly candidates in the March 11 election to enjoy the full dividends of democracy.
Earlier, Sen. Sam Egwu, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial zone, in a speech called on the people of Abakaliki LGA to come out en masse to vote for PDP to enjoy good governance.
The senator who is seeking reelection into the senate for a third term said that the party believed in the power of persuasion as a strategy for wooing voters urging the electorate not to fall for any act of coercion or intimidation in choosing the candidates to vote for in the elections.
He said: ” I’m aware that there are people who said it must be by force; but as PDP, from 1998 to date we have never believed in the use of force, we believe in persuasion and that is why we have come here to ask for your votes.”
