Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Vision Africa Chairman and senior Methodist Church cleric Bishop Sunday Onuoha has officially entered the gubernatorial race to become the next chief executive of Abia State in 2023, saying that embarked on a mission to transform the state.

Onuoha made his official statement to the State Secretariat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political platform he would use to realize his dream of governing Abia and “addressing the pains and sufferings of our people”.

He said he was encouraged to seek to become Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s successor because of the overwhelming support he had received not only from ordinary people in Abia, but also from stakeholders and groups aspiring for positive change. and relentless in Abia.

“Change is possible, but it is a journey we must all be committed to. Unanimous in our belief that your call to challenge me will not be in vain, we will win together and hold hands in victory, as I walk with you to lead our beloved Abia State towards positive transformation,” he said. -he declares.

“Without appearing immodest,” he added, “I am who Governor Ndi Abia prayed for. I have gained a wealth of experience in administration, business, public and private sectors, of course, in the religious sector, which is my primary duty station, calling and ministry.

The cleric regretted that Abia had, for too long, failed to live up to the expectations of his people as “over the years we have failed as a people to identify leaders who can heal our land.”

He therefore urged Abians to support him to “be the balm and the solution to the challenges of Abia State”, adding that he has come “to serve Ndi Abia with all my strength and knowledge”.

To further explain his motivation to seek to become Governor of Abia, Onuoha, who is so far the only cleric in the race for the House of Government of Abia, referred to what he said the late a renowned and fiery South African clergyman had once told him about the need for men of God to get involved in politics.

“Bishop Desmond Tutu once told me,” he recounted, “on Sunday, if African religious leaders and men of character do not actively participate in politics, Africa will soon be ruled by idiots” .

The cleric affectionately known as ‘the bishop of the masses’ due to his philanthropic and empowerment activities, insisted that ‘we can do better in Abia, if we all stand up and say ‘E Don Do! “(enough) bad governance.

Onuoha said he is a home boy and has traveled across the state and felt the pulse of the people, so he knows the issues, problems and challenges facing Abia and its people, adding that he also knows the solution.

He therefore presented “an 11-point program which covers all critical sectors of our life as a people” and which, if given the mandate in 2023, he would implement with the firm conviction that he “ will transform this state as we hoist our light high on the hilltop and shine proudly as we are truly meant to.

The CDA gubernatorial aspirant listed his agenda items to include, security and social well-being, digital economy and information technology transformation, transparency and accountability, international relations/development agencies as well as job creation/empowerment of youth and women.

Other areas of interest include agriculture and rural development, participatory governance, education for sustainable development, basic health accessible to all, trade and religious communities for development.