Umahi's Ex-Campaign Director Joins Governorship Race in Ebonyi

By Alo David, Abakaliki The former campaign director to the sacked governor of Ebonyi State and erstwhile federal Minister of state for Health, Engr Fidelis Nwankwo on Tuesday announced his interest to run for governor in the 2023 general elections under the platform of People's Democratic Party, (PDP).

Nwankwo made the declaration in his campaign office, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital. Recall that Engr Fidelis Nwankwo served as Divine Mandate campaign director to Engr David Umahi in 2019 election while he was in PDP. The People's Democratic Party Governorship hopeful pointed out major areas his administration would focus if given the mandate one of which is about bringing functional education in the state where every child born in the state would compete favourably with other school children across the globe. He noted that the importance of education in revamping the poverty ridden state cannot be overemphasized, and added that "At present,the foundation of education in the state which is primary school is in the sorry state.

The former Minister said giving education its due priority would be to fill teaching gap by recruiting professional graduates in their different areas of mastery while those with no formal education would be given skill empowerment. He further added that his administration would correct the scandalous ratio of 35 percent country's current unemployment, even as,he promised to provide enabling business environment, grants and free training to help youths through micro small and medium enterprises. He maintained that the neglect in the provision of basic necessities including electricity, quality drinkable water would soon be a thing of the past. While speaking on the importance of improving the primary health standard in the state hinted that he would reintroduce the idea that whipped guinea worm while he was executive chairman of Izzi Local Government Area.

He explained that his administration would have no term " No non indigene in my government", and appealed to Ebonyians to support his ambition to reward those whose properties including shops at Abakpa market and buildings in other parts of the state were destroyed with a view to replacing them or paying them compensation. The event witnessed party faithfuls from wards, local government areas and state levels including supporters of Omerugropfuru groups.