2027: Abia PDP gov candidate promises agric revolution

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State, Dr Kelechi Anosike, has promised to attract investments into agriculture as part of efforts to reduce the high cost of living in the state.

Anosike, who described Abia as one of the most expensive states to live in, blamed the situation on inadequate investment in agriculture by the present administration.

He pledged this while receiving a delegation of old students of Comprehensive Secondary School, Okoko-Ikom, Bende Local Government Area, who paid him a solidarity visit at his office in Umuahia.

The PDP candidate said his administration, if elected, would prioritise agriculture and invest in food production to make essential commodities more affordable.

He expressed concern that despite the state’s fertile land, it still depended heavily on neighbouring states for food supplies.

“Abia remains one of the most expensive states to live in because the government has done little or nothing in agriculture. Daily, heavy trailers bring goods from other states to Abia even though we have fertile land,” he said.

Anosike added that farmers in the state had not received sufficient support and encouragement, stressing that increased agricultural investment would improve food availability and reduce the financial burden on residents.

He also questioned the impact of increased federal allocations to states following the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that residents were yet to benefit adequately from the additional revenue.

According to him, Abia, which previously received between N3bn and N4bn monthly, now receives as much as N40bn, but the people continue to bear the consequences of rising living costs.

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The governorship candidate also promised to consider the request by the delegation for the renovation of their former school.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr Harold Onyeukwu, said they visited Anosike to identify him as a former student of the institution.

He appealed to the PDP candidate to rehabilitate and fence the school and provide library and laboratory facilities if elected governor.

Onyeukwu said the values instilled in them during their years at the institution had continued to shape their lives.

Also speaking, the state PDP chairman and deputy governorship candidate, Elder Abraham Amah, commended the delegation for supporting one of their own.

Amah described Anosike’s emergence as a turning point for the party in the state, saying it had restored hope among its members.

“God prepares a man before his manifestation. What we are seeing is the manifestation of God. PDP was almost gone in the state, but his emergence revived the party,” he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Abia PDP governorship campaign council, Amb Empire Kanu, said Anosike’s development blueprint for the state reflected the vision of the late Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr Michael Okpara.