Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, has said he had garnered enough experience to fix the state having been around the corridors of power for some time.
He stated this on Friday at Abia Hotels Umuahia where he formally declared interest in the 2023 governorship race.
Oko Chukwu was the former Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, until 2015 when he was elected the Deputy Governor to Okezie Ikpeazu.
The Nkporo-born chartered accountant said he had full understanding of the challenges of the state, and was better prepared to tackle them.
Oko Chukwu promised to improve on the gains already recorded by his boss as well as the previous administations, and to learn from their mistakes.
He said that under his watch, Abia would enjoy rapid infrastructural transformation, and economic growth.
The deputy governor said accountability would be the hallmark of his administration.
He also promised to pay special attention to Aba because of its economic importance to the state and the South-East zone.
Speaking at the glamourous event, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Eme Okoro, said the Deputy Governor was in a better position to fix the state if given the opportunity.
He insisted that it was the turn of Abia-North to produce Ikpeazu’s successor in 2023, and asked other zones to respect the Abia Charter of Equity.
Oko Chukwu was accompanied to the venue of his declaration by a retinue of eminent personalities from Abia-North and thousands of his fans amid pomp and pageantry.