Let’s Rebuild Enugu

Declarative Statement of Intent to Run for the Office of Governor of Enugu State in the 2023 Elections

By Frank Nweke II

At the Press Centre Enugu

Saturday, April, 2022

My fellow citizens and well-wishers of our beloved Enugu State, I welcome and thank each of you for honouring our invitation to attend this press briefing. The purpose is to formally declare my intention, and seek your support, to runfor the office of Governor of Enugu State in the forthcoming2023 elections.

In the best of times, the position of Governor of a state comes with enormous responsibility for the security, welfare and wellbeing of citizens. This burden of responsibility and service has been heightened by the current state of the polity characterised by severe threats – collapse of basic social services, especially in health and education, unprecedented levels of insecurity, youth restiveness, hunger, endemic poverty, high inflation, high unemployment, injustice, shrinking civic space, weakened institutions and an overall pervasive sense of hopelessness across the entire country.

Our dear Enugu State is unfortunately not spared or immune from these multi-dimensional crises. With its high youth population, Enugu is rather at risk of becoming an epicentre of the gathering storm. We see fast diminishing opportunities for good education in public schools – the quality of education we received from public schools, which made people of my generation what we are today. We face urban fragility in our towns and cities, as systems are overwhelmed by the demand for jobs, social goods and services as well as living fundamentals such as affordable housing, transportation, an intractable water crisis, poor electricity supply, and low Internet broadband access. An attendant surge in crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape and domestic violence, substance abuse, cults and gang-related violence are direct consequences of the high levels of unemployment, hopelessness and general break down of law and order.

In its 2021 Fiscal Performance Ranking, BudgiTNG placed Enugu State at 14^thamong states that “rank lower on Index B and have comparatively less revenue left to invest in capital infrastructure for citizens and thus face a greater risk of resorting to more borrowing or risk of under-investing in capital infrastructure for citizens.”

Our dear state is dependent on FAAC allocations to provide almost 70 per cent of its revenue and spends almost 60 per cent of its revenue on recurrent costs. In addition, it has the debt ceiling (caused by poor internal revenue generating capacity), which restricts further borrowing from the capital market with its total debt at more than 50 per cent of the previous year’s revenue.

In 2020, approximately 52.91 per cent of our labour force could not contribute adequately to the state’s internal revenue pool through payment of income taxes (PAYE) as they were either unemployed or underemployed. This is no surprise since the National Bureau of Statistics data also shows a poverty rate of 58.13 per cent, meaning more than half of our people are living below the threshold of income of $1 (N480) a day. These statistics not only show that our dear state has not been able to attract growth and employment generating investments, it also means that our state in its present condition is not positioned to attract such investments. Regrettably, government has not been able to sustain the many industries – Ada Rice; Cashew Processing Industry, Oghe; Sunrise Flour Mills; Aluminium Industry, Ohebedim; Niger Steel, Emene; Vegetable Oil Processing Industry, Nachi; Presidential Hotel, Enugu; Piggery Farm, Okutu; all of which were established by successive administrations from the Michael Okpara era to date.

As daunting as these challenges are, I believe that they are surmountable. I have the firm conviction that with a clear vision, disciplined and transparent leadership, a solid and competent team, in partnership with the hard-working citizens of Enugu, our dear Enugu State will be returned to the path of progress, and even surpass its previous achievements consistent with its pre-eminent position as the capital of the former eastern region of Nigeria, and home to all Ndigbo and Nigerians.

In due course, our team shall share a comprehensive manifesto that shows a clear roadmap on how we will transform Enugu into a safe, smart, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable state. We are poised to make Enugu State a 21st century success story in Africa, anchored on our values and ethos. My leadership will prioritise and invest in women, youth, children, and in technology as key catalysts and foundations for far-reaching socio-cultural, political and economic transformations.

Our women, youth and children are dear to my heart. The role of women intersects with and influences critical areas of national and sub-national development – education and human capital development, health, productivity and wealth creation, formal and informal economy, climate action and environmental sustainability, agriculture and food security, planning and population size, socio-cultural cohesion and security. In many households, both in rural and urban areas, women are primary caregivers to children and the elderly, and contribute significantly to the economic stability of their families. They play a crucial part in the formative and socialisation phases of children, and by extension, shape families, which are the nuclei of a society’s shared values construct and development trajectory.

Globally, the pandemic disproportionately affected women, and Enugu is no exception. There are documented increases in gender-based violence, mental health challenges and household poverty. Women in the agricultural value chain in Enugu also face insecurity as a result of herder violence and communal strife. Even in the face of these huge challenges, women have consistently stood as sentinels over our democracy and civic space. They are active citizens who participate in the various stages of the political process – as advocates of civic education and rights, as attendees and mobilisers at campaign rallies, and as voters. Regrettably, although women represent 52 per cent of our population; they are often only recognised during these early stages in the political process and tend to be systemically shut out from the distribution of crucial political appointments. Some are offered positions based on tokenism, yet subjected to inequitable, oppressive and outdated laws.

These will change radically under my watch as Governor. I commit to lead by example by fully exercising my political will and agency to engage with relevant stakeholders –political and non-political actors, to implement existing laws, develop additional policies and regulatory frameworks, drive cultural mindset shifts, and strengthen institutions that ensure rights, dignity, safety and well-being of women. Our government will be intentional in gender mainstreaming, inclusive representation and increasing access for women’s participation in governance and leadership at all tiers. We will partner the private sector and civic society to develop sustainable and pragmatic solutions for childcare and geriatric care, significantly curb maternal and infant mortality, provide affordable and quality healthcare, access to capital and micro credit facilities, technical and vocational skills training.

Our youth, brimming with vigour, courage and ideas, are our greatest resource and they carry the promise and fate of the Igbo nation. Several decades of neglect, injustice and abuse by all levels of government, lack of economic opportunities and a huge trust deficit between the Igbo elite and youth, have combined to give rise to insecurity, criminality, substance addiction and political agitation. In a series of surveys and youth engagement events, the following feedback was given by respondents as key priorities – job creation, relevant skills acquisition and capacity building, free healthcare, stable electricity, affordable housing, reliable broadband, provision of clean and affordable water, and access to capital to innovate and grow scalable enterprises.

By providing the right orientation, transparent, credible and accountable leadership, human capital development, enabling polices, systems and infrastructure, we will work to address these identified challenges, inspire and transform the lives of our young people, ignite their innovative drive to compete/collaborate with their peers globally, and eventually move ahead of the curve in the technology space.

With its unique history, culture and arts, picturesque vegetation and topography, accessibility to the world, educated populace, high clusters of post-secondary institutions, my leadership will transform Enugu State into a21st century global hub for investors, tourists, students, traders, and workers, by harnessing technology and Enugu’s latent soft power spectrum, all driven primarily by our youth.

Children are the most vulnerable demographic in our society. All tiers of Government under my leadership, will implement a comprehensive “no child left behind” policy, and recalibrate our greatness through measurable indices, by investing in children’s rights, protection and welfare, while also being inclusive of children with learning, cognitive and physical disabilities. This will translate to every child in Enugu having access to affordable, quality, equitable, inclusive, and character-based education and extra-curricular programmes, so that they can attain their full potential.

Throughout history, radical transformation and development have largely been accomplished. First, through a burning desire for change, followed by deep thinking, values reorientation, courage to act, and accountability, all backed by strong institutions and evidence-based decision making. These combine to birth innovations in governance and public institutions and unleash the creative genius of citizens in all spheres of life, including advancements in science, technology, arts, business and overall wealth creation for the welfare and wellbeing of all.

There is no sphere of life, or indeed of any society, in which progress has been attained or sustained by accident or rhetoric. When the former Eastern region experienced rapid and radical development under a role model of mine – Dr. M.I. Okpara, it was not by accident or rhetoric: it was by the intentional design of a sincere, knowledgeable and visionary leader supported by the hardwork and selfless service of a competent, committed, transparent, and accountable team.

Ndi Enugwu, it is possible for us to collectively attain, and even exceed these standards today. Enugu State requires a leadership that is visionary, credible, exposed, intentional, strategic, pragmatic, transparent, accountable, sincere, and with the requisite political will to harness our vast human and material resources, at home and abroad.  We are poised to win back the trust and confidence of our fellow citizens as their public servants and their government to work solely for the welfare and wellbeing of the people.

My approach to leadership is the consensus, collaborative and distributed model, as exemplified by Dr Okpara and that is indigenous to Ndigbo. At the heart of this model are the PEOPLE: the voice and feedback of the people matter (Onu NdiBanyi), power belongs to, and resides with, the people (Oha NweEze), and leaders are representative of the collective mandate of the people, and so accountable to them (Ndi Ndu Na-agba Odibo).

With a keen sense of awareness, I believe that my life’s journey has contributed to preparing me for the requirements of this pivotal time and role. Beginning with the nurture I received from my exemplary parents and many role models, who instilled in me commitment to excellence, power of collaboration, a passion to community service; virtues of integrity and accountability; through to my education and my career path/roles in public administration and governance – as consultant to government on economic affairs, to the position of state coordinator of the community county council and subsequently, chief of staff, Government House, Enugu. And subsequently, as a federal minister across four ministries – intergovernmental affairs and special duties; youth development; information and national orientation; and information and communication. And finally, to the private and civic sectors, as director-general and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, among many others.

While, I have enjoyed working in each of the above-mentioned roles, it was my time at the community county council during which I visited the then 209 communities in Enugu State that the seed of my passion for service was first ignited. I saw first-hand, the primitive and agonising living conditions of our people and their deep yearning for the most basic needs of human existence. This state of affairs remains true even today and the time to change it is now.

It was in these various positions that my sense of empathy, excellence, character, accountability, capacity and competence, critical reasoning, emotional intelligence, as a leader, and skills in public policy, evidence-backed development planning and implementation, were honed. And I shall continue to build upon a stellar record of public service and demonstrate that the political and governance spaces deserve the active participation of acritical mass of our best and brightest minds; people of integrity, honour, competence, capacity and creative problem-solving skills.

I have lived in the midst of our people and listened to the deep yearnings of a representative cross section. I have walked the markets of Enugu, knelt in the churches, driven our roads, walked our urban roads and village pathways, satin children’s classrooms, spent time with our pregnant mothers, transport workers and vulnerable groups, shared memories with our weary and aged, had sessions with some teachers and pensioners (who are still unfortunately owed after decades of service). I have lifted our infants and held the hands of Enugu’s youth up and skyward, and invested in them to touch their dreams. It is glaring that silo support and interventions by individuals and groups are not enough; we must focus on systemic transformation, and this is possible through our collective political participation.

The current administration has done its best within its own capacity in various sectors. However, it is not enough. We are capable of so much more as a people. And it is time to build new mindsets and new structures, to deliver the outcomes that we desire. Taabugbo.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. I believe in the efficacy of prayer. Indeed, the Holy scripture invites us to pray unceasingly. However, we are also reminded that faithwithout good works is dead and worthless, and we are called to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is the Creator’s. God has given us the head, heart and hands to transform Enugu. Onyekwe, chi yaekwe.

I would like this day to be remembered by all as the day that we, the people of Enugu State, signaled a break with mediocrity, and of abdicating our power and agency in the civic contract. The primary responsibilities of leadership are to be exemplary, provide a compelling and bold vision, and ensure security of all lives and properties so that all citizens have an even playing field to actualise their highest human potential. There is so much work to be done. And it is possible. 

The primary responsibilities of leadership are to be exemplary and accountable, provide a compelling and bold vision, and ensure security of all lives and properties, so that all citizens have an even playing field to actualise their highest human potentials. There is so much work to be done. And it is possible.

I have therefore come to the decision to run for the position of Governor of Enugu State only after very deep personal reflection, meditation and prayer, based on the unflinching belief that, given the chance, I and my team will elevate governance to become truly open, sincere, accountable, results-oriented, and respectful of the public trust and mandate. My sole, and abiding interest in public service is to serve, work for the welfare and wellbeing of the citizens, transform lives and leave a meaningful legacy. 

With your support, when I become Governor, I promise that my team and I will dedicate ourselves to the fundamentals -building a stable and prosperous state where every citizen is secure and every life is treated with respect and dignity. A society where mothers have access to affordable healthcare; a society in which children have access to qualitative and productive education to excel in the 21^st century; a society in which our youth are given the skills to thrive and are gainfully employed and supported to build businesses; a state in which our women are treated fairly and supported to effectively play a role in the development of our society; a society in which the needs of the elderly and all people with special needs and vulnerable demographics are prioritised; a society in which the public service and social services work and workers enjoy consistent living wages and welfare; a state in which investors and tourists enjoy a conducive environment – with world class infrastructure, business friendly policies implemented by a friendly and result-oriented public service, and enabled by technology and our immense soft power.

Overall, a society in which all citizens can attain their full potential, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or station in life.

My cardinal belief is that all these are very possible with visionary leadership, disciplined, sincere, transparent, and accountable public governance. I believe that I have the God-given ability, proven track record and capacity to provide these. 

Ndi Enugwu, umunne m, in the months to come, you will all be faced with the choice of shaping your destiny – you will either rise to the occasion, or we will perhaps watch from the sidelines. We may even move in a direction opposite to it and turn our back on the possibility of a different and better future. It is my prayer that the light of truth will illuminate our choices, and that courage will guide our footsteps to the path that rises toward a glorious future. And it is with utmost humility and sense of duty that I present myself to all of you here, and to the people of Enugu State, for consideration and election as the next Governor of Enugu State in 2023.

Let’s Rebuild Enugu.

NdiEnugwu, nke a bunkeanyi!