Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State says his administration had evolved a new strategy for rapid community development in the state known as Direct Touch Initiative.
The governor disclosed this while addressing the people of Ikwuano during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting held at Iberenta in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the Direct Touch, which would be controlled by the office of the governor, is aimed at collaborating with the people of the areas concerned in carrying out any proposed government projects.
Ikpeazu, who invited few stakeholders to meet with him over the issues raised in the meeting, said he would liaise with stakeholders in Ikwuano Council Area to ensure the construction of the various roads in the area, including Ibere Ring Road and the Ariam-Osaka Ring Road, which construction has been made impossible due to litigation threat from an existing contractor.
He described Ikwuano as strategic to the economy of the State and the South East and stressed the need to fixing the roads.
The governor also assured the people that their indigenes would be employed to work as medical personnel and other service providers at the Ikwuano General Hospital, which was been revitalized, urging them to remain resolute in their support to the administration.
In his remarks, convener of the meeting and former chairman Ikwuano LGA, Deacon Stanley Ojigbo, said that the meeting was convened to strengthen the party in the area and to assure the governor that Ikwuano Coucil Area was more united now than ever and would sustain their support for him.
He revealed that Ikwuano people had decided to vote PDP in the forthcoming general elections, assuring the governor that his second term and victory of all other PDP candidates were non-negotiable.
According to Ojigbo, the governor had performed beyond expectations and should be allowed to complete his two tenures as his predecessors did.