Sen. Athan Achonu, Labour Party Governorship Candidate for the November 11 Imo gubernatorial election, has pledged to industrialize the state if he is elected governor.
Achonu revealed this when he briefed Journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said that arrangements have been concluded with some power generating companies to generate power for the state to boost his government’s industrialization plan should he eventually emerge governor.
“We have mapped out six industrial layouts, two per each geopolitical zone, with focus on job creation through industrialization, and that is why I am focusing on power generation,” Achonu stressed.
Adding that he was encouraged by the bill signed into law by the federal government which now permits states to produce and generate their own source of power, noting that states now have every reason to pursue their industrialization goal.
“I have concluded plans with Afreximbank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support industries.
“I have a license to operate a refinery; I will activate it or encourage people to take it over in order not to distract me while in office.
“Orlu is a Pharmaceutical zone, I got banks to do a pharmaceutical park in Okigwe so that investors can come; I told the owner of Orange Drugs about it a long time ago.
“I am bringing all these ideas into play to create job opportunities,” Achonu said.
On his part, security of lives and properties will be top in his agenda, while Local Government Areas (LGAs) will be given autonomy to manage their funds and resources.
He noted that insecurity heightened in Imo since governors allegedly hijacked the local government (LG) system.
