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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Abia needs holistic devt, says PDP candidate

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Abia State governorship candidate Kelechi Anosike criticizes the current administration for not matching revenue inflow with development across sectors like health and education.
  • Anosike claims Governor Alex Otti has performed well in road infrastructure but lags in other areas, despite increased state revenue.
  • The PDP candidate promises a people-centered administration prioritizing welfare and economic growth, including a proposed minimum wage of ₦90,000 if elected.

Kelechi Anosike, the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Nigeria, asserts that the state is not receiving development commensurate with its current revenue. He argues that residents "deserve more" than the present state of affairs.

He (Otti) has done relatively well in the road sector, and it would not be fair to compare him with past governments, given the windfall and massive revenue states now receive.

— Kelechi AnosikeAcknowledging the incumbent governor's performance in road infrastructure.

Anosike, who is challenging the incumbent Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party, acknowledged Otti's performance in road infrastructure, noting that external organizations have rated him above average in this sector. However, he contends that the governor scores below average in other critical areas, including health and education.

"He (Otti) has done relatively well in the road sector, and it would not be fair to compare him with past governments, given the windfall and massive revenue states now receive," Anosike stated during an interaction with journalists in Abuja. He added that even another individual in charge would likely have performed better due to the increased funds available to the state. "But we are saying people ought to have done more. Abia deserves more. We are in the race because we believe our people are being shortchanged."

But we are saying people ought to have done more. Abia deserves more. We are in the race because we believe our people are being shortchanged.

— Kelechi AnosikeExpressing dissatisfaction with the current pace of development relative to state revenue.

The PDP candidate specifically pointed to the "smart schools" project, reportedly worth around ₦84 billion, questioning its completion status. If elected, Anosike pledged to implement a minimum wage of ₦90,000, subject to regular reviews, and to prioritize people's welfare and economic growth over infrastructure projects. "What we are bringing is different. We will not be a government that prioritises structures over people. We say the next government in Abia will prioritise people, not problems," he declared.

What we are bringing is different. We will not be a government that prioritises structures over people. We say the next government in Abia will prioritise people, not problems.

— Kelechi AnosikeOutlining his administration's focus on people-centered governance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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