The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the November 16 Anambra gubernatorial election, Chief Willie Obiano, has debunked the claim by his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Dr. Chris Ngige, regarding the actual kilometres of roads built during his three-year tenure as Governor of the state.

Chief Obiano also dismissed the notion that Anambra is in debt, arguing that the state is rather a model for fiscal responsibility and transparency through effective leveraging of donor-funded projects which were impossible eight years ago.

Claims and rebuttals were the highlights of the live television debate organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG) for all gubernatorial candidates at the Women Development Centre Awka.

In his rebuttal, Chief Obiano said: “Ngige’s administration constructed 197 kilometres of roads which were concentrated in the Idemmili area of the state, and the roads were not certified by the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN), yet he was busy condemning the eight hundred kilometres of roads constructed and duly certified by COREN by the Peter Obi administration.”

The APGA flag bearer also dismissed the notion that Anambra State was owing money from foreign loans. He explained that the concept of Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) is predicated on the effective use of the MDG Goals to attract counterpart funds which are not loans but are based on the government’s ability to show capacity and transparency by providing 30 per cent of the funds required to execute projects. He stressed that the present administration has excelled in this. As Chief Obiano confidently put it, “I am the most qualified based on my background and performance as a Chartered Account and Banker with the ability to attract such funds to Anambra State.”

Chief Obiano, who also had a brief chat with journalists immediately after the debate, said that the APGA gubernatorial campaign is driven by the concept of “Continuity” because of the achievements recorded by Governor Peter Obi, and that his Blueprint for Anambra would take developments in the state to greater heights based on Four Pillars: Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Trade and Commerce, and Industrialization, which would lead to massive economic activity, industries and jobs, jobs, jobs for people.

Chief Obiano urged ndi Anambra to try and sieve through the plethora of promises from the candidates and pick the realistic assurances by APGA that are doable which would be in the interest of the people.

He also assured that his administration would not pursue a sectional agenda as the one before the administration of Governor Peter Obi which cited more than 80% of the much trumpeted roads it constructed in the Idemili area of the state stressing that his Blueprint has earmarked programmes for all parts of the state as he planned to be a Governor for all.

Obiano and Ngige were part of the first round of the debate held from 10am to 12 pm while the second round involving some other candidates which started by 4pm is just rounding up.

•Photo shows Chief Obiano greeting supporters during his campaign in Awka, yesterday.

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