ANAMBRA GUBER: My Administration Will Give Top Priority To Security – Chief Ben Etiaba

By Joshua Elekwach, Abuja.

Chief Ben Etiaba is a titled Chief from Nnewi Anambra state, a trained lawyer and Son of the former Governor of Anambra State, -Virgy Etiaba.

Today, he is aspiring to govern Anmbra state under the political platform of All Progressive Congress,  APC.  In this Interview With Joshua Elekwachi of All Facts Newspaper in Abuja, the Governorship Aspirant gave reasons why he is the most suitable candidate to govern the state, giving his his vision For Ndi-Anambra and Why they should choose him to fly the flag of his party.

Excerpts;

Awka, the capital of Anambra State is said to be congested, and poorly looking as  a state capital, how best are you going to clean up the city to be befitting of a capital city?

I think Awka was an emergency capital city and the designers never reasoned beyond that emergency status. If you ask me so for any governor to clean up Awka,I think we need to rehabilitate Awka city for the indigenes of Awka, but go to Awka north were we have enough land to develop a new modern capital city. Think much how Abuja was built, we need a new state capital in Anambra, and I think Ebenebe in Akwa north will offer enough space for that.  We can’t redesign Awka because it is already congested, but we will rather move to a virgin land to build a new state capital.

Recently, Security in Anambra and other parts of Southeast worsened, do you think it is as a result of failure in leadership or do you see it as a threat to the guber election?

As a Democrat, I will always believe that the Democratic process will always prevail. If we think it is a child’s play and fold our arms  and watch the state degenerate security wise, and do nothing about it, then we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The governor is the Chief security officer of the state, he did very well in the area of security in his first tenure and started well in second tenure, but today we have seen that security challenges have overwhelmed him and I don’t think he planned for it. This is now time for him to rise and show the stuff he is made of, security is always number one in any Political agenda and the incoming APC government led by myself will ensure that security is handled as number one priority, there is enough money for that, we shall utilize that money and ensure that lives  and properties become safe in Anambra state because without that, you can’t develop Agriculture, Education, Health and other infrastructural needs of the people.

There are Allegations that public schools in Anambra don’t have adequate teachers, what will your administration do to give a facelift to Education in Anambra if elected the Governor of the state?

In the four Cardinal points we are ruining with, Education is second after security. If we have had security in the state, Education would have been the priority. If I am elected as the next governor, we will try to reposition education, secure the environment by seeing that our schools have perimeter fencing, rebuild and renovate the existing schools, Recruit the right number of teachers, pay them adequately and make sure that we have school fees at a level parents can afford. Every year, Anambra has been comes third in the Academic league, that is not bad, but we should come first, we are light of the nation. I believe we should be able to move from number three to first position by investing wisely on Education, and  not just throwing money on problems,  but targeting it  at solving the problems.

In the forthcoming election, almost all the candidates of all the political parties are said to be money bags, APC inclusive, what are your chances of picking the APC ticket at the primaries?

My chances are very bright because we have seen that all the Billionaires come out every four years, with their billions, yet they achieved nothing with their billions. It has always been business as usual, so the people are now wiser that things need to change, it can’t be a game of money carnival. We need a hard thinker, strategic planner, who will deliver the message of the party not just go and celebrate and say we are popular and on ground. The important thing is the ability to communicate the APC message to the masses and voters in Anambra state. Yes, money has a role to play, but beyond that,  any other money put on top is a waste.

 What really is your driving force? Why do you want to Govern Anambra state?

Well, what is driving me is frustration, I am frustrated because I see a lot things going wrong,  I am  frustrated because not many people are seeing what I am seeing, we need liberate our people, so it is high time we do the right thing in this state , and I believe that I am the man that will do that.

Anambra is an All progressive Grand Alliance, APGA state, do you see Ndi-Anambra voting Against APGA in this Election?

Anambra will not be voting Against APGA, but will be voting for the right candidate to lead them in the next four years. It is not a case of voting against APGA. Once the Party’s select their candidates, the state will decide which of the candidate they think will lead a right and take Anambra out of darkness, it is that candidate that they will vote for and not the party. So this time around, it is not about party but about the right candidate.

Are you suggesting that Ndi-Anambra will change Their Perception about APC as a Northern party?

Yes! APGA has done 16 years and PDP did 4yrs , APC has a golden opportunity to win,  but APC will win if two things are done, number one to elect the right candidate who is sellable and selfless, secondly, the party must unite behind that candidate after the primary election. If this two things happens, APC will win the election freely and fairly.

Sir, will you step down to support to a consensus candidate if asked to step down by the stakeholders and leaders of the party?

I believe in my own wisdom, with every sense of humility, that I will be that consensus candidate, if that happens because power belongs to God ,but if for any reason God says that I am not the one, I will not fight God but,  I believe I will be the consensus candidate.