By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyichukwuma Odii, has warned against violence and bloodshed before, during and after the 2027 governorship election
Odii, who spoke during the flag-off of his campaign in Abakaliki, said his campaign would be issue-based and devoid of rancour, name-calling and intimidation
He said he was contesting the election to “rescue Ebonyi State”, stressing that there would be no room for politics of hate, harassment or assault
Odii, who was represented at a press briefing to kick-start the campaign by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Darlington Onwe, said the party had also commenced an empowerment programme for its members and residents of the state
He said: “As the embargo has been lifted for all campaign activities and we step into the field, let me remind us that our campaign will be strictly issues-based We are running this election together to rescue our state; therefore, there will be no room for the politics of hate, intimidation, harassment, or any form of assault.
“We will not throw a stone into a crowded market, as it may hit one of our own However, we will never tolerate any form of state-sponsored hostility. We shall keep our eyes firmly on the ball, anchored by an absolute commitment to the rules of engagement.”
Odii said no political ambition was worth the life of any citizen and urged political actors to avoid actions capable of triggering violence
“No leadership ambition is worth the life or blood of any citizen Any leader who attacks or sponsors violence against their people simply because of their choice of party or lawful association has missed the mark and failed the test of genuine love for the people. We will not give in to any form of violence or intimidation,” he said.
The PDP candidate also promised to prioritise youth development, saying his administration, if elected, would treat young people with dignity and provide opportunities for them to build sustainable livelihoods
He said his campaign would be anchored on his blueprint, titled A Promise of Possibility, which he said was designed to address poverty and promote development across key sectors
According to him, his administration would seek to transform Ebonyi into “a globally competitive, industrialised, innovation-led, and investment-ready economy” through investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, enterprise development and social protection
He promised to create jobs, support businesses, modernise agriculture, empower women and youths, improve healthcare and infrastructure, and strengthen security and justice across the state’s 13 local government areas
Odii promises free education
On education, Odii promised free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school if elected governor
He also pledged free tertiary education for Ebonyians studying medicine, specialised science and critical technology-related courses
“In education, human capital development, and the knowledge economy, we will create a symbol of freedom by providing free and compulsory education from primary through secondary school
“Furthermore, we shall grant free tertiary education for every Ebonyian studying medicine, specialised science, and critical technology fields,” he said
Odii also promised to reform the state’s agricultural sector by moving farmers from subsistence production to what he described as a modern agribusiness-driven economy
He said his administration would establish Farmer Income Stabilisation and Social Safety-Net Schemes to protect farmers against floods, price collapses and poor farming seasons
He further promised to establish agro-processing plants and an Agro-Industrial Park for rice, cassava, yam and other priority crops to increase value addition and create jobs within the state
On healthcare, Odii pledged to expand affordable services across all 13 local government areas, with the aim of reducing the financial burden of illness on families
He also promised to leverage Ebonyi’s solid mineral resources, including limestone, crushed stone and the salt lakes in Okposi and Uburu, as well as the digital and creative economies, to expand the state’s revenue base
The PDP candidate said his administration would also introduce merit-based recruitment, transparent public financial management and performance-based governance
He disclosed that the party had resolved to empower 20 people in each ward across the state as part of its ongoing programme
According to him, the initiative would subsequently be extended to the polling-unit level, with ward leaders expected to oversee the selection of beneficiaries for the first phase
He said the state-level campaign would be followed by campaigns at the local government and ward levels
Odii also thanked party leaders, elders, women, youths and grassroots members for their support, saying their commitment was critical to the campaign
“Our greatest strength lies in the fact that our people are with us; they are eager for change, growth, progress, and prosperity The time to make it happen is now,” he said.