Labour Party Gubernatorial Candidate Proposes ICT University For Akoko Edo

The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, Mr. Olumide Akpata has promised to establish an ICT University in Akoko-Edo if elected the State Governor. The establishment of the University was one of the many intervention programmes he announced while fielding questions in a virtual town hall meeting organized by Akoko-Edo Development Association (aka Akoko-Edo Forum) on Thursday.

Speaking as the first Guest in a new programme put together by the umbrella Association of all Akoko-Edo communities and tagged MEET THE CANDIDATES series, Apata deprecated in very strong terms what he termed the unfair dealings with the people by past administrations. He said it was unfair to treat Akoko-Edo in a manner that suggests that the local government area was not part of the state.

In a Press Statement issued by the Association and signed on its behalf by Barrister (Mrs.) Mary Opii, the candidate was quoted as saying that aside the proposed University he would also ensure that the local government council, which was the oldest in the country, was split up into Local Council Development Areas pending when the people will be granted additional local government councils under federal law

“I will bend over backward to ensure Akoko-Edo catches up with other parts of the state. I believe in justice and am particularly pained with the Akoko-Edo situation. I will champion the creation of more LGAs or LCDA if elected”. Akoko-Edo he said, deserves “affirmative action” and intense intervention” to solve this systemic problem of underdevelopment and lack of representation in key positions in the state.

When asked about the area’s palpable infrastructural and industrial deficits, he said Akoko-Edo will be given top priority in his massive industrial plan for the state, considering the area’s comparative advantage in mining and agriculture/agro-allied industries. This will curb the pervasive rural-urban migration in the area, as well as youth unemployment and crime. He said that we cannot watch our youth go into crime because of unemployment when we have vast land for agriculture and incredible scenery that can employ them in the tourism sector.

On the notion that politicians only make promises during electioneering and later disappear after being elected, the LP candidate objected to being lumped together with politicians without a second address. ’I am not a use and dump guy’’ he asserted. He promised to hold regular town hall meetings and move the government seat from zone to zone to feel the pulse of the people and be accessible.

On his capacity to manage the complex nature of diverse societal interests through political governance, he highlighted the experiences he has gained from his years in the private sector and also leading a big organization like the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). He dismissed his lack of prior public service experience as any hindrance pointing out that Abia State Governor Otti who is from the private sector, was at the moment transforming Abia into a new state. Competence and willingness to do the right thing are what are required to make the desired impact, and that is what I bring to the table.

On the question of how he would finance his programs the Labour Party candidate said that the state currently receives huge revenue that is not well managed. He said that his government will develop innovative strategies for revenue inflow into the state coffers and reach the grassroots.

On healthcare delivery, he said that the fulcrum of his healthcare system is for every ward to have an equipped and adequately staffed health center. “My plan is that within 10-15 minutes’ walk, there should be a primary health center.”

Apata promised to make the comatose general hospitals functional to handle major health problems, particularly in rural areas, to stop people from traveling all the way to Irrua or Benin for ailments that can readily be treated at the general hospitals. He said that tied to this is the need for government veterinarian in the council areas to avoid unexpected livestock epidemics and public health disasters.

Prompted to address the shortage of teachers and facilities in primary and secondary schools, the candidate lamented the deception of the current government to the people with the “oxymoron called EDOBEST.” “A situation where pupils learn sitting on the floor in a classroom with leaking roofs and no permanent teachers is unacceptable.”

On the challenges of insecurity, gang violence, and cultism, the candidate said that the way to go was to get to the root of the problem, which can be blamed on bad leadership. “As governor, I’ll use sports, massive industrial development, and technical/ICT training to keep our youths engaged.”