Ojiri, strong factor in Imo Guber race -----Chris Nwokeji

Prince Chris Nwokeji, a native of Akuma, Oru East Local Government of Imo State, spoke strongly of the exigency of voting technocrat who has good knowledge of economics, finance and management, with practical experience, not just a politician. He said Imo has had a very bad leadership experience in the last eight years and canvasses for a candidate who can take the state out of the woods. He believes that the candidate is Mr. Ken Ojiri, the Accord Party standard bearer in the forthcoming Imo governorship election, he spoke to Emeka Ibemere.

What is your expectation in 2015 General Elections in Imo State?

My expectation i

s a team that will deliver the good, a team that can turn around our economy from top to toe. From available facts, Rochas government has taken the state backwards and destroyed our economy and cherished institutions, especially the traditional institution, public service, health and education. The style of governance in Imo State is not known in the history of governance all over the world.

For instance, I gathered that Imo State University which rated high before his administration now rates as poorly as 100^thplus in the country. The state which its WAEC performance has always been between 1^st and 5^th now performs as poorly as 30^th among the 36 states and Abuja.

The healthcare delivery service has nosedived; the only functional health institution in the state is the Federal Medical Centre Owerri. The Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu is now a glorified health centre, severely under staffed, without funds and even modest facilitiesto run it. Equipments installed at its inception are not maintained and therefore cannot meet its purposes. Yet Okorocha is busy building block structure and pretends to be needs of the teaching hospital, and does not see the need to fund it.

Okorocha ignored functional general hospitals in various locations in the state and rather began building 27 new ones, mere block works that may remain as such. Both primary and tertiary healthcareprogrammes are completely absent as he has abandoned them and diverted funds to building blocks.

What do you think marks out the right candidate for Imo governorship?

I am looking out for a candidate with the right background, right exposure, right experience, right education and right demeanor- a governor that will understand 21^st century economic dynamics, someone who can grasp with new trends in politics and the economy, a governor who will restructure the civil service and take it to enviable heights.

I am on the lookoutfor a candidate that can turn the dwindled economy of Imo round, a team player, a governor that can understand that government is for the interest of the governed, a governor who can pull things to generate jobs for our teemingunemployed youths. That is my kind of candidate and Mr. Ken Ojiriaptly meets this description.

Why do you think Ken Ojiri fits properly in the mould you described?

As a matter of fact, Ojiri is the only person running for the governorship of Imo State that has properly prepared himself ahead of the task. From good family background, education experience, exposure and all that, you can see he is marked out to deliver better than the rest. His academic credentials are intimidating and he has an international exposure that can be harnessed to better our state. His practical experience and knowledge of economic management and finance constitute a viable advantage. Indeed, Ojiri is a strong factor in Imo Governorship. He is a factor

What makes you think Ken Ojiri can win Imo Governorship election?

As a matter of fact, there is ever increasing awareness that Imo is in doldrums and needs skilled hands to handle its affairs. Everybody is getting to understand that apart from noise, something tangible must be done to change things for the best interest of the people. That there is more work to do than rhetoric or noise making. Our state needs true rescue operation. Sincerely looking of the candidates of Ken Ojiri, he is shoulders high above all other candidates and has proved he can do it by his inspiring career in the private sector.

In addition, he is an expert in finance, management and economics and he is a good man and also, he made a beautiful choice of a running mate in the person of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, a Hamburg scholar with good exposure and rich experience in Nigeria politics.

Again, the manifesto of the Accord Party is the most realistic and practical of all the manifestoes I have seen in the current season. It is a document which captures the salient issues ranging from economic, social, political, institutional and infrastructural. All these blended together will give us what Imo has been longing for in leadership. And above all, he and his team have worked very hard to convince Imo people that he can pilot the affairs of the state if voted in as governor. He is a fit and proper person to deliver the goods.