Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has promise to increase the tempo of activities geared towards the transformation of the state.

At a reception in his honour organised by the Ukwala-Ngwa nation last Saturday in Aba, Ikpeazu said that he has not done enough work in the state to satisfy his curiosity to make Abia State better.

The Ukwala-Ngwa people put the event together to commemorate the governor's one year in office and to express their gratitude to other stakeholders who contributed to the emergence of their son, Ikpeazu, as governor.

Said Ikpeazu: "One year has passed since I became governor. There are many things you expected me to do. I have done some but there are many that I have not done. I have not done enough to satisfy my desire to make Abia better.

“When I assess myself, I say that there is much work left for me to do. But I am sure that I am committed and passionate to make Abia and Aba better. So I promise that in the days ahead we will increase our speed,” he said.

Ikpeazu appealed to those who have suffered losses in the process of developing infrastructure in the state to forgive and endure, noting that it was a sacrifice they were making for the good of Abia.

The governor said that he would remain grateful to God, his Ukwala-Ngwa kinsmen and other well-wishers who contributed to making him the governor of Abia.

Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Chief Emeka Stanley, who also served as chairman of the occasion, explained that the event was organised to celebrate Ikpeazu 's outstanding one year in office.

"It is remarkable in the sense that we have never celebrated a one year in office as exemplified in the actions and merits that we are seeing through various facets of development in Abia state.

"We also put today aside to give credence and honour to our elder statesmen of Abia and beyond who heard our clarion call and worked assiduously with us to produce the dynamic governor of the century," he said.

The state’s Commissioner for Works, Mr Eziuche Ubani, thanked all those who graced the event, saying that the gathering became necessary to thank the governor and all stakeholders who contributed in diverse measures to his election.

According to Ubani, those who helped the Ukwala-Ngwa people to produce a governor deserved thanks for their support for the Ikpeazu candidacy, adding that Ukwala-Ngwa people would remain grateful to these stakeholders.

The Chairman of the South-East Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Eberechi Dick, commended the governor for his good works and promised that the traditional institutions in the state would continue to support him.

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu.