By CHARLES IWUOHA

Former Minister of State for Health, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, has declared his intention to contest for the 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi state under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nwankwo who made his declaration in Abakaliki said his administration would be anchored on four cardinal programmes of functional education, job creation and youth employment, rural infrastructure and due process.

He identified neglect of rural areas in Infrastructural development and white elephant projects as bane of underdevelopment in Nigeria.

He observed that rural areas are usually neglected by leaders in the provision of basic necessities of life like water, roads, electricity, good sanitation and other amenities and embark on white elephant projects which he said consume chunk of state funds.

The former National Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opined that provision of decentralized water system, rural electrification, and rural roads will be his priority if elected Governor of the state in 2023.

He said the current unemployment ratio of 35 percent in Nigeria today was scandalous and unacceptable.

“This so especially when you compare this to the Neighboring Ghana that has 4.5 percent. It is of course a single digit even in most other developing countries.

The mantra in most government circle in Nigeria that government doesn’t provide employment is a fallacy in my view, and I consider it an attempt for government to shirk its fundamental responsibility to her citizens.

“My government will pursue aggression, youth employment in both formal and informal sector with emphasis on filing quotas of Ebonyi State share of positionsat the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” he said.