‘APGA will explore new frontiers of growth’

CANDIDATE of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Goodman Akwu, a youth activist and politician, explained his mission to JOHN AKUBO in Lokoja.

Why I want to be governor
I want to be the governor of Kogi State because I want to serve my people and contribute my quota to the well being of Kogites. And having dwelt in their midst, I know what their problems are and I will bring solution to their problems to the fullest within the ambit of governance designed for some specific roles in the lives of the people. Government is not meant for organising birthdays or wedding ceremonies; that is out of it. We are to provide social amenities. I think I know what the people need and what exactly the government needs to do, which is why I want to be governor. I have the skills, the passion, maturity, experience and pedigree to be there. Our people have been short-changed; our resources have been mismanaged, so I want to come to provide better management.

APGA is the best platform
First and foremost the fifty political parties registered are of the same status, APC was formed barely a year ago and PDP about 16years ago, but APC defeated PDP, so I don’t know what you mean by popularity. APGA has being there, it has being a stimulus party, it has been managing the affairs of Anambra State. APGA is a party that has not had issues with the ICPC or EFCC, how can you compare party that has been choked up with crimes and criminality, with APGA? Look at the personality; do not look at the political party. White emblem does not give the taste of bread and anybody can write anything.

What is the popularity of a political party if the people are not benefiting from it? As a youth activist, president of several youths and one time Media Director of APC, I was one of the founding fathers of the party in Kogi.

Why I left APC
I left because I wanted to actualise my dream; APC has been stained and abducted in Kogi State. Looking at the APC rally in Lokoja, only two of the 27 aspirants attended the rally. Why were the rest absent? Why was the President, Vice-president and the Minister not in Lokoja during the flag off rally recently held. Do you call that a popular party?

I think I know what the people need and what exactly the government needs to do, which is why I want to be governor. I have the skills, the passion, maturity, experience and pedigree to be there. Our people have been short-changed; our resources have been mismanaged, so I want to come to provide better management.

My plans for Kogi
I am going to turn things around. First is to restore the salaries of workers. I have not seen anywhere in the world that salary is paid on percentage. The agreement between workers and their employer is for them to get full emolument and their lives depend on it but in Kogi State, they are paying 10 percent or 20 percent. I also want to restore fully, security of lives and property. Everyday you hear of crisis and attacks especially in the centre.

I want to ensure the youths are moved from the streets and empowered. I will upgrade the school curriculum to meet international standards. I will upgrade all cottage hospitals and make them General hospitals and establish three international hospitals in the senatorial districts.

I will also establish a farm centre where farmers will be trained to acquire skills, where they will be issued certificate at the end of the day. Some can also be allowed to stay behind and get paid. I will also provide potable water supply to take them out of water borne diseases.

Kogi state will also be industrialised because of the abundance of solid minerals that are not less than 26 different ones. I will only develop only six of them to be able to reduce the rate of unemployment. At least I know how Obajana Cement Company has created a lot of employment and it is out of one of the minerals, so I am going to develop the mineral resources to accommodate triple what Obajana is employing. Commercial motorcycling or Okada is not a business for graduates.

Other areas of intervention
Also the Kogi transport sector has been abandoned. You know the state is blessed with water, which is one of the cheapest means of transportation both in the importation and exportation business, which no one is exploring. What stops us from traveling through the inland waterways from Lokoja to Idah, Koton Kraffi etc; about 15 states are connected to these waters in Kogi and we are not using them. We will also embark on road construction. Part of my development plan is to meet with the people and ask them what they need. I will also create additional departments where people with skills can be helped to generate revenue for the local government. I will establish the Department of Arts and Crafts and if I am to go on talking, I will not finish today because I am loaded with lots of ideas of how to solve the problems.

Kogi state will also be industrialised because of the abundance of solid minerals that are not less than 26 different ones. I will only develop only six of them to be able to reduce the rate of unemployment. At least I know how Obajana Cement Company has created a lot of employment and it is out of one of the minerals, so I am going to develop the mineral resources to accommodate triple what Obajana is employing. Commercial motorcycling or Okada is not a business for graduates.