Ukandu, Umuahia
The Abia State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, has vowed to abolish the State/ Local Government Joint Account if elected Governor.
Bishop Onuoha who made the vow while featuring at an interactive session with Abia League of Professionals Initiative, ALPI, said that greed, avarice and unbridled quest for wealth were the reasons state governors tamper with council funds.
The cleric who said he would do things differently, regretted that monies meant for the development of local governments had been frittered away into private pockets by governors through joint accounts.
“I will send executive bill to repeal the Joint Account because it has not worked for public interest. It has to be abolished!
“I will not touch council funds. Under my watch nobody will divert local government allocations. But I will tell traditional rulers and town unions how much their council chairmen get every month, and to hold the chairman accountable.
“This nonsense going on has to stop. I will run a transparent government where everybody will know what’s happening. You don’t need to hide anything if you were clean.
“I will allow independent legislature so that every sector can run fine without micro-managing them.”
Bishop Onuoha who was Special Assistant to the President on Privatisation during the tenure of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, also said that state fiscal budgets “don’t touch lives of people in the rural areas.”
On his strategy to change the narrative, the cleric said he would run participatory governance where the state’s annual budget would be subjected to various sectors for their inputs before presentation to the House of Assembly.
“I believe that with the kind of experiences I have garnered in life, it’s time for me to come and lead the state, and introduce the needed change.
“I will do things differently because my ordination vow and oath of consecration won’t allow me to misbehave in government.
“I’m coming to put smiles on the faces of Abians who have suffered enough. I don’t need public funds for myself. I think I’m comfortable as a person.”
Bishop Onuoha who is a global peace winner, further said he would use his personal integrity and trust to attract both foreign and local investors to Abia.
“People want to invest where they can trust the Government. So, foreign investors will stream to Abia when they see the Government they can trust.
“Abians in diaspora will be ready to invest in the state when they see somebody they can trust.
“I don’t pursue money, money pursues me, and when I become Governor, money will start flowing into the state because even the international community will be convinced that the Government they can trust is in power.
“Resources don’t go where there is suspicion. Donor agencies need to see transparency and accountability, and that is what I personify. Lack of transparency among our Leaders makes Nigeria lose foreign investors.”
The Vision Africa President who said he had created job opportunities for Abia youths in his private capacity, promised to replicate the feat if given a higher platform.
He said he had plans to revive Nsulu Games Village which according to him, has the capacity to generate 15,000 new jobs.
Bishop Onuoha also promised to revamp moribund factories in the state, and re-launch Abia into a major industrial hub in West Africa.
“I will make Ariaria International Market the core of all international businesses in Nigeria. I will introduce the needed transparency and accountability in governance. That’s all we need to convince investors and donor agencies.”
The governorship hopeful who described Umuahia the capital city as a glorified village, promised to transform the city into a befitting state capital if elected.
Asked whether he would probe past leaders of the state, he said he would employ the style of ex-President Obasanjo’s anti-graft war, and not resort to media trial of suspected corrupt leaders.
“I worked with Obasanjo. I’m coming with experience. We will use some of his styles and truly fight corruption, not media trial.
“I will use American style to get back Abia money if we open the records. My administration will be so honest that even our creditors will be willing to forgive us, and that was how Obasanjo got debt cancellations.”
On the allegation that he was being sponsored by the incumbent State Government, he said nobody was sponsoring him, adding that his decision to consult with past and present leaders of the state should not be misconstrued.
“I have consulted with our past and present leaders. That doesn’t mean they are sponsoring me. I relate well with everybody. That’s why I’m the best candidate. I don’t need to be in enmity with anyone, after all I’m a man of God, and we are all Abians. I must not quarrel with anybody before achieving my purpose.”
Bishop Onuoha also promised to make regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensions the hallmark of his administration.
Earlier in his remarks, Director General of ALPI, Sonny Iroche, regretted that public office holders in the state had diverted public funds to private pickets.
The DG who was represented by Okey Kanu, regretted that few greedy characters had seized the state but vowed that professionals in the state would no longer watch the oppressors hold the state down.
ALPI is a non-partisan professional association with the aims and objectives, among others things, of ensuring good governance by holding political and public office holders accountable to their own sworn oath of office.
