JOK promises ‘visible prosperity’ for Abia after quiet PDP…

PDP governorship aspirant leader John Okiyi-Kalu says his aim is to ensure prosperity Abians can “see and feel” by industrializing the state and overhauling education, healthcare and agriculture.

Speaking after a thorough selection by the Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP governorship screening committee, Kalu described the process as smooth and described the PDP as a party he has supported since 1999 without defecting.

He used the moment to criticize the current Abia administration, calling it “90% propaganda and 10% substance”. Kalu disputed claims of 51 smart schools, a train station and a flyover, arguing that billions have been spent on projects that do not exist. He also said that he, and not Gov. Alex Otti, completed the renovation of the Ariaria International Market during his time as trade and investment commissioner.

“If you are not from Abia or work there, you are free to believe whatever you want,” he said. “Those in Abia know Abia well, and once I move, they will all stand behind me.”

Kalu said he was not interested in accumulating wealth, noting that he left office after eight years in poverty and survived repeated investigations through no fault of his own. His plans include:

– N100,000 annual scholarship for every Abia tertiary student
– 100 Abians sent abroad for study purposes every year
– Minimum salary of N120,000 for the lowest grade civil servants, with regular promotions and allowances
– More industries in garment and footwear clusters to create jobs
– Secure public schools with fencing, teacher accommodation and permanent security before distributing teaching equipment
– Two tertiary health institutions per senatorial district connected to primary health centers via telemetry
– Mass palm plantation to make Abia a palm state

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On infrastructure, he said roads and flyovers were critical but he would build them where necessary, citing plans for flyovers at Waterside Ogbor-Hill in Aba, Isi Gate in Umuahia and Ugwu Enuda in Abiriba.

“The Smart School will be a joke compared to what we are inventing,” Kalu said, vowing to end the theft of public funds and rebuild Abia public schools.

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