Nnaya Eziyi, Umuahia
A financial expert, Dr. Anya Kalu has said that poor quality representation has been the bane of Ohafia, the third largest town and headquarters of Abia North Senatorial District.
Kalu stated this in an interview with our correspondent following complaints from various quarters of the town about their living standard ahead of the 2019 general election in Aba.
He said it was unfortunate that after the country’s about 20 years of uninterrupted democratic representation, infrastructure and developmental challenges of the people were yet to be addressed.
According to him, the town, which is also the headquarters of Ohafia Local Government Area is also grappling with erosion menace, youth unemployment, and lack of basic amenities.
“For all the time, we have been living as if we have no representatives or governments. This is one of the few communities in the country where development is people-driven,” he noted.
Kalu, whose eyes are on Ohafia South State Constituency seat in the state House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019, however said there was hope for the people.
“This is why I want to go there. The challenges must be brought to the notice of the governments. Our people can no longer live without those things governments are in place to provide,” he added.
He said he is aware that his duty will be limited to lawmaking and not awarding of contracts, adding that he wants to use the position as pedestal to better the lives of the constituents.
“We also need a member like me who knows the business and financial terrain of the country to reach out to both individuals and business organizations to address the challenges,” he said.
He enumerated the areas he would add value to include agriculture, commerce and industry, skills acquisition and youth empowerment, education, health, tourism and sports development.
Kalu said his choice of party was based on his conviction that its national spread and manifesto were next to none, adding that it is also the most accommodating for Igbo interest.
However, the aspirant described as unhealthy the existence of two parallel factions of the party in the state, saying efforts were in top gear to resolve the matter ahead of the election.
