By Tochi Onyeubi
The Imo Community Europe an Organization made up of Imolites across Europe has held a gubernatorial debate in the State.
The debate which held at the Rockview Hotels Owerri, had only five candidates present, among whom were, Dr. Linus Okorie of the Young Progressives Party, Sir Okey Ezeh of the Social Democratic Party, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, Barr. Ahize Chukwu of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and Rev. Ikenna Emmanuel, candidate of the Change Advocacy Party.
Questions fired at candidates by moderators of the event, ranged from Legislations, Economy, Environment and Rural Development, leaving candidates to slug it out on the podium with earlier warning for teeming supporters to maintain decorum while the debate lasted.
The candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Dr. Linus Okorie while speaking, promised to institute the right government to execute the right legislation, he also promised to use rural human capacities to develop rural areas while ensuring the cleanup of the city to create the enabling environment for development to thrive.
For the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP Candidate, Barr. Ahize Chukwu, he maintained that his government would lead by the rule of law.
In the area of rural development, Ahize Chukwu maintained that every local government area must be self producing in terms of food and cash crops, while also promising to provide the enabling environment and machinery for food boom as well as free medical treatment for aged Imolites from 60years and above.
In his own input, Social Democratic Party Candidate, Sir Okey Ezeh, promised to re gig the legislative arm of government through adopting global best practices to rebuild Imo economy. He promised to revamp and revive the agro sector in the rural areas with emphasis on palm oil, cassava, rubber and saw dust as well as managing environmental degradation holistically through bringing back sanitary inspectors.
For the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, promised Imolites good governance and transparency. He promised to bring his wealth of experience in the legislature to bear, to ensure independence of the second arm of government.
He promised to improve rural life through the revival of technical college, introduction of cottage industries, getting hospitals in the rural areas working while ensuring cheap labour and access to power.
The Change Advocacy Party Candidate, Rev. Ikenna Emmanuel, maintained that his government would lead by the obedience and respect to the rule of law, he added that, he is committed to ensuring separation of powers that would give room to the expression and independence of the legislative arm of government.
He also promised to use his HEAL programme, which stands for Health, Education, Agriculture and Landed property to revive rural economy.
Earlier the coordinator of the Imo Community Europe, Sir Chuks Ogbonna in his address of welcome informed that the organization which has over 50,000 members is made up of Imolites across the Europe.
While thanking the candidates for their show of humility in attending the debate, he said the guber debate in Imo was a follow up to the political debate held in the UK in July 2018.
He appealed to the candidates to caution their supporters against widespread violence during the electioneering period, while also urging Imolites to get their permanent voters cards ready to vote wisely at the polls.
At the end of the debate, all candidates promised to work together, if they win or lose.
Accord party and the Action Alliance point was vacant all through the debate, while other major parties like the All Progressives Alliance, APGA, All Progressives Congress, APC and others were not part of the debate.
