The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, gubernatorial candidate in Enugu state, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr. on Saturday declared the state of infrastructures, insecurity, conditions of pensioners and civil servants in the state as totally unacceptable.
Nweke stated this at The Candidates Governorship Town hall debate in Enugu where he acknowledged leadership as key in development; “no matter what plans you have for the sectors, if you don’t have leadership capacity, personal discipline, nothing is going to work.”
Expatiating on his value proposition, Nweke harped on security of lives and properties, environment and waste management, water crisis and state of economy of the state.
“I live in what is supposed to be the best part of Enugu city and I pay dearly to get water. During rainy season, I buy a full tanker of water between twenty to twenty-five thousand naira while during dry season because the water bodies have shrunk further and high cost of diesel, I buy same between thirty to thirty-five thousand naira;”
“And I need 2 to 3 full tanker of water every month; I am sweating about this but think about the poor masses that have to buy water in jerry cans; think about the health and economic impact.”
Speaking passionately on the Enugu state government debt status, the APGA gubernatorial candidate clearly stated that he does not condemn borrowing but such must be judiciously used for development of the state.
“Enugu state is the 20th most indebted states in Nigeria; indebted to the tune of about 70 billion naira domestic debt. Enugu state is indebted to the tune of 125 million US dollars. The domestic debt jumped over 82% over the last 5 years,” Nweke reveals.
“Comparing the rate of borrowings with the state of infrastructure, water sector, health, security, housing sector, are these borrowings justified?” Nweke asked.
On unavailability of portable water in the state, Nweke posited strategy to tackling the crisis if elected into power; “primary strategy is to unbundle the water sector.”
“The output from the entire water infrastructure in Enugu is not more than 12% as recorded by audit conducted by Federal Ministry of Water Resources in 2020”
“I will break the water value chain into 3. We will enter into contract with 3 independent companies; Company that will harness the water, another to transport the water using main trunks and another that will distribute the water from reservoirs to various parts of Enugu making sure of constant supply and metering of same.”
The eloquent APGA gubernatorial candidate further decried the poor waste management experienced in the state which is a far cry of what it was 7 years ago.
“A state which was next to Calabar in terms of cleanliness and sanitation is now probably one of the filthiest states in Nigeria.”
“A state that was named one of the 100 resilient cities in the world 7 years ago has now lost the characteristics that enabled her to be so nominated.”
Frank Nweke Jnr. is one of the six gubernatorial candidates invited to the debate; however, only Nweke of APGA, Ray Ekene Ogbodo of African Action Congress, AAC, and Comrade Chris Agu of People’s Redemption Party, PRP participated in the debate.
Peter Mbah of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Chijioke Edeoga of Labour Party and Uche Nnaji of All Progressive Congress, APC were absent.
The Enugu Gubernatorial Candidates Town Hall is the first-ever nationally televised town hall debates organized for Enugu Governorship aspirants.
The debate held at De BASE Events Centre Independence Layout Enugu was powered by West Africa Broadcast & Media Academy (WABMA), Coal City Elites Forum, Enugu Literary Society, Daria Media among others.
- EFCC Restores 14 Assets to Enugu State Government - April 25, 2024
- Abusing The Nation’s Legal Tender Now Comes With Severe Consequences - April 24, 2024
- Enugu Lawmakers Amending Criminal Code Lawto Criminalize Ransom Payment - April 24, 2024
