Anambra 2021: Oligbo to address education, health challenges if elected governor

Mon, Jun 29, 2020
By publisher
4 MIN READ

Politics

By Anayo Ezugwu

AHEAD of the 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, an aspirant says that his plans are to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, in the state. Ambassador Ike Oligbo, a British trained lawyer and an aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, explained that his manifesto contains nine developmental point agenda amongst which are the most important Human Development Index, HDI, factors – education and health.

In an exclusive interview with Realnews, Oligbo said he would make Anambra the hub of Medical Tourism not only in Nigeria, but in Africa at-large. He said other areas he would concentrate included infrastructures – roads, electricity, job creation, civil service reform, environmental/ecological management, security, rescue/emergency services etc.

He stated that agricultural development will be critical to his administration because COVID-19 has proven the need to work for food sufficiency. According to him, these are some of the critical areas to be given immediate attention in both short and long term measures.

“My plan for developing Anambra State is contained in my declaration manifesto titled “My Social Contract with Ndi Anambra”. It was built on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development adopted by the United Nations member States in 2015. Consequently, my administration plans to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, to develop Anambra State,” he said.

According to Oligbo, his administration if elected will also concentrate on security of lives and properties. He regretted the ongoing communal crisis in some parts of the state. “The communal crisis in Anambra is regretted because it has brought about unnecessary loss of lives and properties resulting in derailment of development.  It’s really anti-development. To tackle the problem, I intend to first establish an organ of experts in conflict resolution. They will be given broad terms of reference that will unearth the historical causes of the conflict and to come up with a lasting solution that will abate communal crisis in Anambra State at-large.

I am a strong advocate of State police. The bundled security system in the country is a very big challenge to the management of security in the country. State police will enable each constituent State in Nigeria to tackle their security challenges as it suits their culture and environment. In the absence of State security, local vigilante will be constantly moblilised, trained and retrained to meet up with the contemporary security challenges like herdsmen menace. Raping of women and girls will be a serious punishable offence that culprits and intending ones will not like to face such laws.

“For example, the business of every such culprit whether high or low will be legally emasculated. Like I said earlier, the bundled security system in Nigeria is the cause.  Unbundle the 1999 Constitution; restructure the country and security challenges will be decimated in the country.  Unfortunately, Nigeria is shying away from these two important measures for sustainable security and unless they are done sustainable security will remain a mirage in the country.”

Oligbo also promised to tackle youth unemployment in the state if elected. He noted the function of the government is to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and once that is done the issue of youth unemployment will be brought to minimal level.

“So to solve youth unemployment in Anambra State, I will engage in massive infrastructural development that will attract foreign direct investment, FDI, and at the same time encourage local businesses.  There will be strong public and private partnership, PPP, where necessary. Simply creating enabling business environment will take care of youth unemployment in Anambra State and that will be the focus of my administration,” he said.

Likewise, the aspirant pledged to address the issues of erosion in the state. He noted that there are about 1000 documented erosion sites in Anambra State and the state cannot do it alone.

“My administration will continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP. It is a World Bank assisted project aimed at addressing the Nigerian gully erosion crisis in Southeastern Nigeria and land degradation in Northern Nigeria on a multi-dimensional scale. Furthermore, the ecological fund, when accessed will be judiciously  managed.”

– Jun. 29, 2020 @ 12:35 GMT |

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