LAGOS – Professor Philip Njemanze, a human rights activist and scientist, has joined the Imo State governorship race, promising to bequeath to the people the virtue of innovation in governance.
Njemanze, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who spoke to DAILY INDEPENDENT, said that if he emerges victorious in the 2019 election, he would take the state’s economy to a very high level through the use of science and technology.
He said that during his administration, Imo State would become a centre of software production in artificial intelligence (AI) in the world, disclosing that an area had already been mapped out in Mbaise-Ngor Okpala axis for the High Technology Development Zone, for artificial intelligence software development.
Njemanze stated that he had drawn a three phased Vision 2020-2050 Development Plan for the state, adding that within the first three months of 2019, he would focus on paying all arrears of salaries, wages, pensions, emoluments and compensating those who had been harmed by the current Rochas Okorocha administration to restore people’s faith in the Imo State Government.
He said: “Our agenda theme is Rehabilitation, Restoration and Renewal (RRR). The rehabilitation of Imolites focuses on support of every individual person to realise their personal dreams for human development.”
“I will, as first priority, pay 100 percent of pensions, gratuity, workers and contractors with all due to workers, entitlements, emoluments as stipulated in their contracts with Imo State Government.”
Njemanze promised that there would be job creation for 250,000 youths, through a support scheme that would lead to emergence of new businesses, adding that he would ensure restoration of all that was damaged by the Okorocha administration and other past governments in the state.
“The renewal is a total change in the approach to governance, to make it a partnership between the people and their elected representatives to create an enabling environment for socio-economic development and prosperity of the people,” he added.
He promised that under his regime, Imo people would enjoy the dividends of democracy, which he maintained had been lacking for a long time.
No comments: