‘How my people drafted me into Ebonyi guber race’ Tuesday, 18 November 2014 00:00 Written by Ayoyinka JEGEDE Category: Policy & Politics ChuckwuOnyebuchi Chukwu, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and former Minister of Health, is contesting for the governorship of Ebonyi State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke to Ayoyinka Jegede in Uyo after the opening ceremony of the National Council of Health meeting on his aspiration. Decision to quit as minister for governor THE only ambition I have in life is for service — anytime you asked me to serve for the sake of humanity, to serve because of the love of God. That’s the only ambition I have and am always willing. But it’s not an ambition for particular positions; I can serve at the lowest level; I can serve at the highest level. But what happens in my own case is that while I was serving the country as Minister of Health, my state, Ebonyi and generalities of Ebonyians approached me and said they wanted me to contest. After due consultations with all the key stakeholders, including my family, I decided to accept the invitation. I have already accepted. In my own case, the same stakeholders purchased the form for me. I have filled the form and I have personally returned the form. I’m an aspirant by November 29, 2014, and I will be contesting for governorship primaries under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and by God’s grace, I will emerge the candidate for PDP for the gubernatorial race in Ebonyi State and by God’s grace, I will emerge governor of Ebonyi State come 2015. Agenda for the people I will serve the people. I would know what their needs are. They are already making some demands and I have told them to consider them done. We would work with the people but I am very clear-headed about the way to take to what already the earlier leaders of Ebonyi had done very well for the state. It’s one of the newest states in Nigeria and they started from the scratch, from nothing. So, much have been done, and look at what is being done under the present governor; so much. The present governor has laid down infrastructural base for the state. What we want to do is to take it further. Under me, Ebonyi State will move from glory to glory. We are going to work on manpower development. We’ll build capacity, and ensure that our people are given entrepreneurial skills. Because, if they have entrepreneurial skills acquired through proper education, the sky will not even be the limit for our people. With this, they will be able to ensure sustainable private sector that provides jobs for the people and ensure that the economy is stable, and provides for everyone. If government is left to do it alone, it will not work. Certainly, I will continue on the good works that have been done. The foundation is there; I will build upon it. But what is important is that I will concentrate on human capital development. I will ensure infrastructural development and I will ensure entrepreneurship. Shape of 2015 elections in Ebonyi State I believe that PDP would still win in Ebonyi it has always been a PDP state and the people have confidence in PDP. PDP will sweep the elections. Challenge to his aspiration When I see a challenge, I am happy because I want to tackle a challenge. And any challenge that comes, by God’s grace, we’ll overcome. Failure to the ticket I was invited by Ebonyians to contest. The chances of Ebonyians having a change of mind are infinitesimal. So, this is actually an academic question. But in the event of this very unlikely scenario, I would continue to serve Ebonyians, Nigerians and humanity through the health sector. I strongly desire to respect the feelings of my people by becoming their governor from May 29, 2015 but it is not a do-or-die affair. I have the ambition to serve and serve well my people but I don’t have a desperate personal ambition to be governor.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 15:32:04 +0000
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