Rt.Hon. Martins Azubuike’s declaration speech at APC secretariat in Umuahia

RESTORATION 2019

SPEECH MADE BY RT. HON. MARTINS AZUBUIKE ON THE OCCASION OF THE DECLARATION OF HIS GOVERNORSHIP AMBITION AT THE APC SECRETARIAT UMUAHIA – ABIA STATE ON 30TH JULY, 2018

Protocol

Nativity

Career

Why am I here?

What makes you think your will give this ticket? In other words, what will the party consider in giving out this ticket?

A party like All Progressives Congress (APC) anchored on the pillar of positive changes will consider win-ability of an aspirant as utmost priority in issuance of her ticket.

Win-ability comes with a number of factors which include Honour, character, integrity, capacity, competence, popularity, acceptability, support base and networks. I know I can lead our party to victory given that I posses the above qualities and a lot more.

I have been in the public service of our dear state for the past ten (10) years now as a legislator.

–       As Chairman House Committee on Appropriation.

I was part of the team that introduced and developed IPSAS in our budgeting process.

In my time we employed MTEF as a basis for the annual budget.

I was exposed to the Heads and senior officers of MOA’s.

–       As Chairman House Adhoc Committee on Verification and Legalization of Autonomous Communities, I visited almost every autonomous community interact with almost all traditional rulers and solved the problem of illegal communities.

–        As House Committee Chairman on verification of shops in Ariaria International Market. Visited the market for about 6 Sundays and generated reports that could have solved the perennial problem of the market.

–         As a member of the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th Assemblies of the House. I have worked with colleagues who can attest to my character/capacity.

–         As a speaker of the 6^th Assembly for 18 months. I defended and still defend workers welfare/well-being.

–         As a lawyer and a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). I have the culture and discipline to be accessible and available to proffer solutions to problems/challenges.

–         As a practising Christian, an Anglican with Pentecostal flair. I have the fear of God, conscience, compassion, passion to do right.

–         As an Ukwa Ngwa Son.

–         As a son- in-law of Old Bende.

Another major consideration the party will have is the aspirant’s ability to play in the party and be loyal and supportive of the party and its structures while in office. This, I have demonstrated in diverse ways:-

–                Office accommodation.

–                Party funding.

–                Party struggles.

–                Congress activities.

–                Litigation challenges.

–                Redemption of pledges.

–                Modest assistance to party members.

Further to the above, a party would consider the goals and objectives of an aspirant before advancing her ticket to him or her.

MISSION

Faced with the tragic consequences of poverty and underdevelopment across all sectors and localities in the state, our mission is to qualitatively transform the Abia State economy and society. Consequently, we shall work tirelessly to ensure:-

Ø    The creation of a dynamic state economy designed to serve people’s interest, and in which all citizens, through market forces are combined with the forces of partnership, solidarity and cooperation to create and produce goods and provide services for all:

Ø    The establishment of a free and democratic society in which the powers and actions of Government are lawful, and where those in authority are held accountable to the people.

Ø    The buildings of a fair and just society, which provides basic needs, ensures equal opportunities for self-development through education and gainful employment, defends the dignity of the human person, judges its strength by the condition of the weak, provides security against fear, and delivers the masses from the tyranny of poverty, oppression and abuse of power.

Ø    The sustained implementation  of people inspired and people oriented programmes with particular emphasis on:

• Building enduring and sustained political culture
• Building viable and popular democratic institutions.
• Poverty reduction and / or eradication
• Rapid and integrated rural development
• Rapid commercial and industrial growth.

OBJECTIVES (VISIONS)

Ø    Our primary objectives in government will be to first and foremost RESTORE ABIA to its rightful place as an enviable commercial and industrial destination, particularly amongst her sister States in South East / Nigeria and the Nation at large. We believe that this will serve as the veritable foundation upon which many other development initiatives will thrive, hence, the mantra, the Restoration Agenda.

THE RESTORATION AGENDA therefore shall be committed to:

Ø    The principles of participatory democracy that lays emphasis on the welfare of our people.

Ø    The principles of republic accountability in order to restore confidence in the institution by examples as basis of public life and personal integrity as an important moral value in the conduct of public affairs.

Ø    The principles and social justice and the equality opportunities for all Abia Citizens.

Ø    Ensuring that those put in position of authority and power, including the Governor, will regard them as holding such authority and power on trust for the people.

Ø    Fostering the spirit of oneness among our people by treating all Abians and other Nigerians resident in the State fairly and equitably, regardless of their social political or economic status.

Ø    Laying a sustainable foundation for good governance upon which our administration and future administrations shall dispense governance with sense of humility, honesty, transparency, and residents, and.

Ø    Creating a broad based approach for sustainable internal revenue generation to serve the present and future needs of the state.

DEVELOPMENT FOCUS:

THE RESTORATION AGENDA is conscious of the fact that there are limited resources to drive meaningful is a continuum, our administration shall therefore focus on eight (8) cardinal sectors of the Abia economy, namely, Agriculture, Commercial and Industrial Development, Infrastructure Development, Education, Quality and affordable Health Care, Civil and public Service Reform, Youth and Women Development, Infrastructural Development and Judicial and justice sector reform. With the above foundation in place, coupled with the enablers such as peace and security, social justice and democratic freedom, we believe that Abia will then be placed on sustainable path to socio-Economic Growth Development.

In is important to emphasise that giving attention to eight (8) point agenda does not imply neglect for other important sectors of Abia economy. Our administration shall work tirelessly to ensure that stakeholders in the Abia project are carried along through consultation, public memoranda, effective budgeting, implementation and accountable representation. Since government is a continuum, I believe that laying a conscious and sustainable foundation which will come , (God willing ) through these priority sectors, the ground will be set and resources made available to develop other sectors, which will include but not limited to transportation, water supply, tourism, environment sustainability, cultural development and chieftaincy affairs, etc.

Ø    Our objectives and strategies for realizing same in the above sector shall be unveiled in due course.

Ø    We intend to build a lean vibrant and properly structured team, which will have a requisite percentage of politicians, technocrats and tested administrators. The input and ideas of these men and women will be fully utilized for the realization of the Restoration Agenda and the overall and sustained development of Abia State.

It is in the light of the above that I seek the nomination of our Great Party, All Progressives Congress (APC), to run for the office of the Governor of Abia State in the 2019 General Elections, for a term of four (4) years. Which period will also afford me the opportunity to redeem the image of the Ukwa Ngwa people who have been derided by the abysmal performance of the incumbent government, if that is the best that can come from the Ukwa Ngwa people after all the decades of agitation to govern the state.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

For several years, majority of Abians have increasingly withdrawn from all forms of political activities, particularly in the area of voting. This apathy was clearly demonstrated in the 2015 general elections. Our restoration agenda believe that the time has come for Abians to take their destiny in their own hands by electing time tested and credible leaders who will open up development opportunities and drive people inspired and people oriented programmes in the state.

Inclusiveness in governance and political accountability have remained keys to global best democratic practices. Development must be initiated, driven and protected by citizens for such developments to be viable and sustainable. Our approach to governance shall eliminate the exclusion of citizens from having a say in their community affairs and in governance, our government shall promote and support adequate political education so that all Abians would enjoy the non-negotiable opportunity to participate in decision making process through elections, budgetary process, town-hall meetings, etc.

Long Live All Progressives Congress (APC)

Long Live Abia State

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN)

Thank you for your kind attention

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1. HON. MARTINS AZUBUIKE