By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dr Obiora Okonkwo, has dismissed the belief that petty traders and artisans were the major drivers of Anambra economy.

Okonkwo instead that these category of tax payers do not the kind of money he would need to develop the state.

Speaking to journalists after the unveiling of a self-sponsored research work on Igbo apprenticeship model at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Okonkwo said he was very confident of his victory in next month's governorship election in the state, boasting that none of the other candidates equalled his reach and contact.

Okonkwo explained that he was in the race to ensure that he liberated the state, saying that when he becomes the governor of the state, he would end multiple taxation, and also abolish the habit of the state government going after tricycle operators and other artisans for revenue.

“Those people (the poor) do not have the kind of money I need to take care of Anambra State. I have the contact, I have the reach and I know where to get money.

“We will not go after petty traders in search of revenue. Recently, I brought in members of the Russian Chamber of Commerce to Nigeria, where we met with the Vice President.

“I’m a founder of that chamber, and we know that if we need investors, we can always go to them. If investment in our state increases, our revenue will increase, and we will not have to run after keke and okada riders for revenue,” the ZLP Candidate said.

On his chances of clinching the coveted governorship seat, Okonkwo said: “I can comfortably rate my chances of emerging as the next governor of Anambra State between 70 and 80 percent.

“We have checked very well and we believe our chances are very high. “I’m the only candidate in the race that is from the Central Senatorial zone, and of course, you know that the rest candidates are from the South Senatorial zone, with some of them being two and above from one local government area.

“My running mate is also the only one from the North zone; all the other parties chose theirs from the Central zone. If you also consider that I come from Idemili area, which has the highest number of voters in the state, and the fact that when the candidates from the South are dividing their votes, mine will be coming in block and that of my running mate (Jessie Balonwu), who is a known politician in the area, you will know that my chances are strong,” he said.