Martin Agbaso Joins Imo Governorship Race...Blasts Rochas

 lL:R: AGBASO HAVING A HANDSHAKE WITH GOV OKOROCHA

Serial Governorship Aspirant in Imo State, Chief Martin Agbaso has declared his intention to succeed Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2015.

Agbaso, who hinted his governorship intention in Lagos, noted that a date and venue would be chosen by his campaign organisation for a formal declaration in Imo State to kick start the journey to 2015.

Responding to the question that he might have negotiated his chances in 2011 by supporting Okorocha, who according to him had failed the people, Agbaso said: “You are under the perception that I have a crystal ball and that I have the capacity to look into the future and tell how a man will behave tomorrow. That is practically impossible. A man swears with the Bible that he was a philanthropist. That he wants to prove that Obasanjo was wrong when he sacked him from NAMA on the grounds of corruption.

“That he would do his utmost best; pick a good testimonial from Imo State that he would present to the Nigerian people as his CV to run for president. That sounded plausible to me. I deployed my all, hoping that Imo State would improve. However, the unfortunate turn of events is regrettable. I never intended or wished to offend Imo people. And to this, I do apologise. The best way to say ‘I am sorry’ to Imo people, is to send Rochas packing in 2015.”

On his governorship intention, he said “Well, in very clear terms, I will contest for the governor of Imo State in 2015 general election. As you all know, in 2007, I set out to massively rebuild the infrastructure in my state. As I told you, at the time, we had over 900km of state-owned roads to pave and an excess of 1400km of local government roads to stabilise. At that time, approximately 80 per cent of the public water scheme was dysfunctional. We had over 1200 primary schools that needed to be refurbished and made fit for learning.  Seventy per cent of our secondary schools were a shadow of what they were 30 to 40 years ago.

“The industrial centres, set out in the different parts of Imo, had become over grown with weeds and hide-outs for miscreants. The morale of our teachers, civil and public servants will be described as ‘low’ at best. We had 18 general hospitals that were mere consulting rooms. Our state was very depressed as a result of the teeming unemployed young men and women.

“These were my concerns then and they remain my concerns today because not much has changed, apart from the latest television and newspaper razzmatazz. However, what has become urgent is the near explosive situation of over 400,000 young educated, but unemployed men and women. This alarming situation will get worse if not checked immediately.

“My mission, therefore, is to create wealth by tapping into our enterprise, industry, and entrepreneurship. To get every able adult in Imo engaged in productive effort that will stimulate the local economy and expand opportunities across the board. I am driven by capacity and willingness to reposition Imo State into a secure industrial, agricultural and commercial hub of Eastern Nigeria.

“Look, in this region, we have a 50 million people economy and huge disposable income. The potential for growth given the ongoing reforms in the power sector- with Imo in the middle- is enormous.

Therefore, we need a sincere and very competent manager to drive the affairs of Imo State for the common good of our people. We must restore the confidence of our people in our government and ourselves.  That is why I am offering myself for the governor of Imo State in 2015,” he explained.

ADDITIONAL REPORT BY THISDAY