*Dr. Kelechi Anosike, speaking during interaction with online publishers and senior editors in Abuja on Thursday.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Kelechi Anosike, has expressed optimism to unseat Governor Alex Oti, with pledge to implement welfarist developmental programmes and policies if elected.
Come 2027, Anosike pledged that human capital development, poverty alleviation, as well as youth and women empowerment will be top priority for his government.
He spoke to members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and other senior editors in Abuja on Thursday.
The PDP Governorship flag bearer listed seven pillars of his governance model to include, economic, educational, health and agriculture welfare. Other pillars include the creation of safety nets especially for the elderly, sports development and youth empowerment.
According to Anosike, “Our government will not be measured by infrastructure alone. It will not be a brick-and-mortar government. Our government will be measured by the well-being of the people. You measure our development progress, our programmes and policies, by how they impact the people, not by brick and mortar. Brick and mortar is beautiful. Concrete is beautiful. But government will not be measured by concrete alone; it will be measured by the well-being of the people. How have they fared as a result of our governance? How does the policy impact them? How does it improve their quality of living, their healthcare, education, and so on?
“So we say: the people first, Abians first, Abia always. That is our slogan: People first, Abia always. It is a government where every Abian in need will be a priority, not a problem. If you are from Abia State and you are in need, the next government will see you as a priority, not a problem.
“We say never again will any Abian go to bed on an empty stomach, because we are sponsoring Operation Feed Abia. It is a back-to-farm state policy. Everybody will have a farm and go back to agriculture. So we have developed seven pillars, or aspects, of welfarist governance”.
Speaking on the administration of Dr Alex Otti, Anosike said the current administration has performed below average and that the people deserve much better.
He said: “They say the current government has done more roads, far better than past governments. I agree. That is correct. But that is because it has access to more funds. It is not rocket science. Former governments were receiving about three billion naira per month. This government is receiving far more—up to tens of billions per month. Is it not obvious? What past governments received in a year, this one can receive in a month. If they say inflation is a factor, we agree. Multiply it by the current exchange rate—even if you use 1,400 or 1,450—the old figure gives about four million dollars, while the current one gives about twenty-two million dollars. The difference is clear.
“So they are bound to have done more than past governments. But we are saying it is still not enough. It is not commensurate with the amount of money they receive. That is why I say Anosike will do much better. That is another slogan we have. Yes, we agree they have done something in infrastructure. We have no doubt about that. But we are saying it is not enough. Anosike will do much more, because our state is being short-changed.
When asked about the chances of the PDP in the election, Anosike boasted that he would return Abia to the PDP.
He said: “We tell them that Abia State is not poor; Abia State is poorly managed, and we can prove it based on the amount of money coming in. Abia is not poor. Abia is poorly managed. That is the gospel truth. Our people deserve more, and that is why we are in the race. If they had done well, we would not be here.
“This is not about social media propaganda, with social media tigers typing and attacking people. It is about those who are on the ground with actual PVCs who can vote. We know the feelers on the ground. We live among the people. Most of those online do not even have PVCs. So when the chips are down, the real voters will speak. They are the ones suffering it.
“So I say, yes, it is the same PDP, but with new standards and a new direction. The same way the delegates saw us, saw through our programmes, and elected us, in that same way, the electorate in Abia, when campaigns open and they hear us, will relate to what we are telling them. They will expect more”.
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