Behold Ikpeazu’s Bold Ideas
Abia State governor-elect, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu boasts unique ideas that could ultimately chart a new path for development in the state, writes Olawale Olaleye
One of the states of the federation whose battle for its soul was worth the eventual trouble is Abia State. Although not yet uhuru for Governor-elect Okezie Ikpeazu as the battle has shifted to the tribunal, the choice of Ikpaezu may have been divine after all. Armed with a very sound education up to PhD, the requisite job experience and the much needed network of contacts that naturally comes handy on a job as demanding as governorship, Ikpeazu is best described as very prepared for the job for which he was hired on April 11 and 25.
With sleeves already rolled up and shoe strap buckled preparatory to the May 29 handover date, Ikpeazu has shown sufficient commitment to hitting the ground running immediately he is sworn in. The PDP governor-elect has not only set a benchmark within a time-frame, he has also set certain rules that would help ward off some of the familiar distractions often associated with the politics of governance.
In what bears a striking semblance with Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State’s no-nonsense demeanor, Ikpeazu has read Riot Act to everyone that upon assuming office, he would not entertain courtesy calls, no grand reception, no chieftaincy title and its attendant ceremony, no thanksgiving service except for a solemn one with five widows and five motherless children at the Government House Chapel. And finally, he does not want the title: “His Excellency” but his hard earned doctorate.
“I want to leave the stadium immediately after swearing-in straight to commission a project for starters,” Ikpeazu was said to have told a gathering of friends as he could not wait to get the job done.
To kickoff and properly define his regime at least in the first one to two years, Ikpeazu has also set out to embark on nine major projects that would distinctly sculpt his administration. Starting with five key new roads across the state, Ikpeazu says the clearing of waste as well as the cleaning up of the entire cities of Abia would be a major focus of the new administration especially that he is familiar with the environment challenges.
Focus on the drainage system he said would be taken seriously because of the nature of construction that would be going on simultaneously across the state whilst the plan for a one-stop shop through an investor promotion agency would be put on the mark with an effective due process office. Ikpeazu also plans to set up a rural roads agency as well as Abia marketing corporation that would help buy excess farm produce as part of the initiatives to encourage agriculture. This, he says, would alongside Abia job agency set up to help find employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the state.
Importantly is that Ikpeazu realizes the weight of the job at hand and the need for competent personnel. Whilst he intends to cut down on the overhead of the government by keeping a relatively moderate cabinet, he was said to have hinted close associates that at least, 10 key ministries would be manned by core professionals otherwise referred to as technocrats, all of whom are currently being shopped for by a reputable consultancy company with international recognition.
These initiatives, Ikpeazu describes as quick fixes that would make up for the immediate needs of the people whilst the bigger projects take their time to germinate within the time-frame required of them in the life of the administration. Consolidating on existing structures is not as cheap as many see it especially if not constructive, hence Ikpeazu has vowed to make due process a nucleus of the character of his government.
Although these budding nine development ideas are meant to manifest within the first or second year in office, the larger picture of the philosophy of his mandate, he insists, would be followed through each passing year. As such, the totality of his vision and mission as contained in his manifesto has not changed.
For instance, in the area of Economic transformation, he plans to focus on areas that will make for optimal impact given the resources at his disposal, focusing on key and facilitating sectors. While the Key sectors shall be expected to directly deliver economic growth, gainful jobs, income etc. to the state, the facilitating sectors are those whose efficient function are fundamental for the growth of the key sectors of the economy.
As part of the key sectors, therefore, Ikpeazu intends to place premium attention on agriculture by taking productive advantage of the state’s natural advantages and focusing on major cash and food crops, as well as leveraging on the federal government’s existing programmes covering cocoa, palm oil, cassava and grain/ rice.
Industry being a major thrust for his Abia renewal and transformation initiative, he plans to establish and enforce standards to enable local firms and producers compete globally. He will also create industrial parks as centers of excellence to further enhance the historical strengths of the state in garment and leatherworks.
His administration, he adds, will encourage the achievements of scale by indigenous SMEs in the garment and leather works space, by offering added capacity building, access to finance, access to markets and affordable power, amongst others. He will also actively cultivate and facilitate investors with track record of success in diverse industries to establish industrial operations in the state. This will target among others, the textile industry to complement the garment clusters in Aba and create a vibrant garments industry.
Commerce is crucial for the growth of the state and this, Ikpeazu understands even in the most complicated of terms. To that extent, he plans to promote Abia’s heritage as a commercial hub and build-out the existing 14 major markets in the state to bring them up to modern standards. In addition, he will provide capacity building training and resources to the SME’s across the state to facilitate their growth and development.
There is no doubting the fact that Abia is not a major oil producing state but with its budding grace, Ikpeazu says it has the capacity to develop into a major operational and logistics base for oil and gas firms operating within the area, and shall explore and promote the achievements thereof. “Abia State will explore the presence of, and potential for, crude oil or gas exploration and production,” he says.
His focus on education, he said, would be extensive as “we believe that the strength of Abia lies in her people. As such, the transformation of the education sector in Abia will involve both the public and private institutions. We will develop an all-inclusive master plan to drive development and progress within the sector.
“This master plan will incorporate restructuring the education curricula for primary, secondary and state-owned tertiary institutions to ensure our children and youths are empowered with sound knowledge and technical skills required to survive and add value in the ever-evolving labour market,” he said.
Coming onboard at a time when insecurity is a national challenge, Ikpeazu is not going to shy away from his responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Abia. “We shall enhance the security of Abia State by achieving the following key targets: Keying into the federal government’s Identity Management Scheme to generate identity documents for residents of Abia State.
“This will provide us with the data for our planning as well as give all Abia people a common identification card to facilitate their business transactions with the state and each other,” adding that he would also “Empower the security agencies with funds to improve on equipment and intelligence gathering through the use of information tools and a structured vigilante network.”
Not just that, he also plans to create ‘secure oasis’ as hubs for leisure or business across