“I will govern Abia for only four years”, Former deputy governor declares

Comrade Chris Akomas is a former deputy governor of Abia State under the administration of his former boss and now senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji until they fell apart. In 2010, he contested the gubernatorial position under the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) and lost against his former boss. In this interview with selected journalists, he spoke of his 2019 gubernatorial ambition. The excerpts

Moments ago, you declared your intention to run for the governorship of the state. What informed the declaration?

What informed the decision to declare is that there is urgent need to make good things happen in Abia and that cannot happen unless there is the passion, the zeal, the experience, the network and indeed the recognition of what to do and where to do to make that happen.

Abia was one of the most advanced states in the past you may say, but now we are far behind and there is need to turn things around to give Abia and Abians the respectability that they deserve not only within the nation or comity of states, but internationally.

Abia is blessed with human resources and there is need to give impetus to our human capital. Abia is blessed with creativity; innovation and technical knowhow. There is need to harness and make this better. I appreciate what Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has done with the Made in Aba campaign and what he is giving but I want to state unequivocally that I know and I believe that we can do much better. APC will do better. We should also not forget that it is always not good to be on the side. We must key into the center.

Abians and indeed, ndigbo are looking forward to 2023 to produce the President the Nigeria that will come from the southeast and I think that working together and those knowing what to do, will do that.

I have been a member of APC. I am a Board of Trustee member of the party, I have been involved in politicking at the national and I know that Nigeria and indeed Nigerians are waiting for us to show strength and commitment so that we can stand a better position to negotiate and demand for the presidency of the country and I tell you, just as I said to make good things happen in Abia, when a south-easterner becomes the president of this country, you will see a turnaround that is unprecedented and that will start from Abia come 2019 when Chris Akomas will mount the saddle of leadership as the governor of the state.

People are wondering how you are going to perform the magic in 4years. Do you think that 4years is enough for you to do anything in the state?

I am one of the proponent of a single term tenure and I believe that 5years is good enough to do wonders. If 5years will be good enough, 4years will be good enough. All I have to do is to divide the other years and add them to the four years that I will be in power.

For me, 4years is more than enough to complete any project that I want to execute in the state. How many years did Ngige have to set Anambra on path of progress? Ngige cleared pension and salary arrears within the short time that he was in power. Peter Obi continued on that and Obiano the present governor of the state couldn’t have done anything less than what his predecessors did.

In 2011 when I was campaigning, I did say that all I need is two and half years and after two and half years, come and check what we have achieved and then judge for yourself.

I know that my brothers from Abia North will be wondering if this man goes for four years, would he keep to it. I am a gentleman. I know what to do, I know where to go, I know what we will do to get money and attract investors to the state.

In Abia, we have growth centers that have remained moribund. I know what to do to ensure sustainable economic growth for Abia and those things, we can setup within two to three years of being in power and the fourth year will be to commission the built projects.

I had a plan for Abia when I contested in 2010. I am going to dust up and update those plans to meet the present realities. I can assure you that I know how to bring the people together to key into our plans to reposition the state that within four years, we would have done so much that people will wonder if that happened only within four years.

I don’t need more than four years to set the solid foundation for social, economic and infrastructural growth and development to thrive in the state.

All I need is to set this state on the sustainable path of progress that whoever that will come after me would have no any other option but to make sure that Abia continues to grow.

Do you buy into the campaign of the state producing an Ukwa Ngwa governor come 2019?

It is not question of buying into. There is written understanding of Abia Charter of Equity. There is an unwritten understanding of zoning. All is done toward the progress and success of the people of Abia State. It is not necessarily Abia/Ukwa Ngwa issue. We are talking of things that will make us better.

What distinguishes Akomas from other aspirants?

I have a lot that is different from others. I have a tasted, proven and known passion. I have experience, locally, nationally and internationally. I have worked as both public and private person. I am not taking anything away from my colleagues who are contesting. That is the beauty of politics. But one thing that I have that is much more is that given the opportunity, I will make sure that we all work together.

The truth is that Abia North and Central respectively have done 16years of 8years each. It will be improper to say that Abia South should do only four years. You will be calling for disunity and disharmony. People will feel that somebody somewhere is disrespecting them. Abia South is not a place to disrespect. We (Abia South) respect and supported others when it was time to support. Respect is reciprocal. Abia South should complete their 8years and by that time, it has gone round the state and can start from other zones in the state.

For me, coming out to run makes the party thick, it makes politics sweet and gives politicians and electorate the opportunity to choose from among the aspirants and select the best because it is matter of choices. For others, it makes if better and then creates the opportunity for people to make choices. All I say is make the right choice and I say, that Chris Akomas is the right choice.

Has your entitlements been paid?

What should be on the mind of Abians is how to get the state back on track. How to make Abia a respectable state and that will come when APC takes the mantle of leadership in Abia come 2019. That is why I have offered myself for that leadership and I am ready to do that which is needed for Abia to be respected and Abians to be proud of where they are coming from. I am tired of hearing Abian indigenes being ashamed when people talk about the state of affairs in Abia state.

There was a declaration at Okpuala where they said that no other person from Ngwa should vie for Governor expect Gov. Ikpeazu…cuts in

That was PDP declaration. I am not in PDP. Am in APC and there is also an APC declaration that an Ukwa/Ngwa son and daughter who is in APC should vie and they are in support of Chris Akomas and others vying. Here I am, there is no other person that is a bonafide son of Ukwa/Ngwa more than Chris Akomas. My parents and great grandparents are all from Ngwa including my maternal grandparents who are from Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa.

I am Ngwa son of APC and I am contesting. They are entitled to their opinion in PDP and we are entitled to our opinion in APC.