Frontline human rights advocate and development expert, Chief Mrs Mary Ikoku has formally made her declaration to run for the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in Abia State.
Ikoku made her declaration at Ohafia, where she interfaced with the leadership of her party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local government area.
Addressing the party leadership, she stated that her driving force to run for elections is the hunger to bring needed development in the Constituency.
Her words; “I have come here today to inform you of my ambition to present myself to serve our people of Arochukwu and Ohafia Federal Constituency. When you look at what our people are going through, it brings tears to the eyes. For instance, the only road that connects these two brothers has become a reproach, standing as a division to us. It has degenerated from a road to a meter path that commuters are scared of plying. We will ensure that this road is fixed.
“I came all the way from Uyo airport and it was a freeway all through Akwa Ibom, but once we entered Abia State, we were greeted by bad roads. Why must our state be replete with bad roads?
“As your representative, your constituency project will get to you. Our people in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Governments will all bountifully benefit from the Constituency Projects.
“Our youths you have to solve the problem of unemployment for our youths before you start blaming them for what they are not doing well. We inter to launch an IT hubs in this constituency”.
She also listed other key areas she intended to focus on to include the implementation of the ‘E3’ – Education, Employment and Empowerment; sports, entertainment and culture as a vehicle to creating jobs and recreations for the youths; and the rehabilitation of dilapidated social, physical structures and institutions in the 2 LGAs.
Others include creating a credible atmosphere the Arochukwu Ohafia Safety Net, a social welfare scheme designed to cater for the aged, widows and the poor. It will be an innovative welfare scheme designed to provide succor to these category of people to address the challenges of the harsh living conditions.
Responding, the APC chairman of Ohafia LGA said that they are happy to receive a woman in their midst who had the vision to lead and represent the people. He argued that women in their caring nature, are better as managers and pledged that his local government area would troop out to cast their votes for a female representative for the first time, since women are also capable of making impacts, sometimes even better than the men.
Also present at the meeting include the party secretary, Woman Leader, Youth Leader and ward chairmen of the 11 wards in the LGA.