The Abia State Governor-elect, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has met with a former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and Chief Economic Adviser to ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof, Charles Soludo.
Ikpeazu, who met with the ex-CBN governor in his Enugu home on Monday night, solicited Soludo’s economic road map that is capable of launching Aba into the industrial and economic hub of Nigeria.
The governor-elect said he decided to consult Soludo because of his (Ikpeazu’s) firm belief in expertise, submitting that Soludo remains a force to reckon with in the workings of economy.
Ikpeazu said he was in a hurry to reposition Aba, adding that he was willing to synergise with all necessary stakeholders, irrespective of party affiliations.
“Repositioning Abia is a task that we must accomplish, God helping us, and we need the support and partnership of people like you to drive our vision,” the governor-elect told Soludo.
“The present state of Aba, the commercial town of our people, which is almost in a comatose, is part of the reasons the economy of Abia, Ndigbo and Nigeria is always on the downward slope, but all of that will be history after May 29. We are prepared to hit the ground running.
“I appeal to you to leave your doors always open for us because all hands must make Aba work again. We believe that if we get Aba right, Abia will be right and we are determined.”
Soludo commended Ikpeazu for his passion and vision for the economic recovery of his state.
“Ikpeazu has the capacity and all it takes to reposition Abia and make Igboland great again.” he added.
He described the governor-elect as a man “with clarity of vision, who has done thorough diagnosis of the Abia problem,” expressing confidence that Ikpeau would deliver.
Soludo gave his firm promise to visit Abia soon and to support the governor-elect. –Punch.
