South East breaking News
The former Abia state Commissioner for finance,Hon.Obinna Oriaku has declared his intention to run for 2023 Abia state Governorship election under the platform of All Progressive Congress(APC) vowed to reclaim Abia state with honest and sincere leadership and that under his watch Abia state will be the hope of every Igbo man and Nigeria towards economic emancipation.
Hon.Oriaku who made the declaration at his hometown,Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South LGA,Abia state on 19th April,2022, promised to enthrone a sincere and passionate leader come 2023 with the support and decision of Abians.
He pointed out that Abia state has been a sleeping giant and that under his watch he transform the State adding that his years of experience in the banking sector has prepared and taught him the rudiments of the economy.
“Abia state be great with your support and your decision to enthrone a sincere and passionate leader come 2023.
” My over two decades of working in the banking sector has taught me the rudiments of the economy.
” But more practical experience came whilst I became embedded in the Successive tenures of former Governors Chimaraoke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime of Enugu state as their official banker and part of the State Economic team.
” Ostensibly, my four year stint as first,the Economic Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and later the Honorable Commissioner of Finance,Abia State (2015/2019) was the most outstanding.
He said his tenure as the Commissioner of Finance under his Boss Governor Ikpeazu brought result oriented policies, adding “that analogue pay roll management system was completely replaced with an automated e-payment system .
“We went further to intiate reforms on Civil Service reforms; Judiciary reforms; procurement reforms; Local government system reforms,State Owned parastaltals reforms like ABSUTH, Abia poly,HMB etc.
“Most of these reforms have capacity of repositioning Abia for growth and development but have remained unimplemented till date”
He said his tenure as Commissioner of Finance reintroduced Abia state to development partners like World Bank, African Development Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), French Development Agency, Afrexim Bank and other partners though the potentials of these collaborations are yet to be fully explored .
” For the first time also,a successful biometric exercise that captured to near- accuracy,the population of Abia work force in both the State civil service and local Government service was implemented to the displeasure of Abia CABALS,who have for long held Governance to its jugular while they smiled home with resources meant for Ndi Abia’
Speaking further he said,” While serving as Finance Commissioner,I had always insisted even in public that the current template of governance of the state can not support growth and development.
” During my years of service to the State, various cost heads were revisited while costs we considered as exorbitant, like the monthly FAAC traveling allowances were reduced from 1.6m to 500k .
” These policies may have irked some few minorities ,who were benefiting from the anomalies as this was reversed to N1.6 m immediately I left Government till date”
He opined that,” Our agenda and strategy are devoid of clannish considerations or primordial, albeit obsolete and opportunistic postulations.
” Thus there will be no ethnic divisions but one united Abia with shared values and common heritage.
” We will definitely dismantle parochialism and clannish sentiments that have held us bound”
He promised to populate his Government with men and women who are passionate and knowledgeable on Abia problems and have the precise solutions with zero tolerance to corruption if given the opportunity to serve Ndi Abia.
