Photo: John Okiyi-Kalu
By: Mandy Park
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), John Okiyi-Kalu, has declared that his ambition to govern Abia State is driven by a desire to industrialise the state, improve living standards and deliver what he described as “prosperity people can see and feel.”
Okiyi-Kalu spoke shortly after undergoing a screening exercise conducted by the PDP governorship screening committee headed by former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi.
Describing the exercise as smooth and successful, the former commissioner said the process reflected the internal democratic culture of the PDP, a party he noted he has remained loyal to since 1999.
“It will be an honour for me to contest under a party I trust so much and have remained committed to without defecting despite several trials and temptations,” he said.
The governorship aspirant also took a swipe at the administration of Governor Alex Otti, alleging that the current government thrives more on publicity than tangible development.
According to him, many of the projects being celebrated by the administration do not reflect the realities on ground in the state.
“What we have now is a government of 90 per cent propaganda and 10 per cent substance,” he said, while questioning claims surrounding the establishment of smart schools, rail infrastructure and other projects.
Okiyi-Kalu maintained that residents of Abia were fully aware of the actual state of affairs, unlike outsiders who, according to him, rely largely on government narratives.
The former commissioner, who once served in the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, said his vision for governance goes beyond road construction, insisting that true development must be anchored on innovation, education, industrialisation and human capital development.
He promised to prioritise education by introducing annual bursaries of N100,000 for students of tertiary institutions in the state and sponsoring at least 100 Abians abroad yearly for academic programmes.
He also pledged improved welfare for civil servants, promising that workers on the lowest cadre would earn a minimum of N120,000 monthly after tax, alongside regular promotions and allowances.
On industrialisation, Okiyi-Kalu said his administration would focus heavily on the garment and shoe manufacturing sectors in Aba, widely regarded as the commercial hub of Abia State.
He added that expanding industries in the clusters would create jobs for thousands of young people and strengthen the local economy.
Speaking further on infrastructure, the PDP stalwart said road construction alone should not define governance, although he acknowledged the need for strategic projects such as flyovers in congested areas including Waterside-Ogbor Hill in Aba and Isi Gate in Umuahia.
In the area of agriculture, Okiyi-Kalu expressed optimism that Abia could emerge as a major player in palm production through aggressive cultivation of improved palm seedlings.
He said his administration would revive the state’s agricultural potential to the point where Abia could become synonymous with palm production.
“We shall put special focus on palms and proliferate so much that people will want to rename Abia Palm State,” he said.
On healthcare, he proposed the establishment of at least two tertiary health institutions in each senatorial district, linked digitally with primary healthcare centres to improve service delivery.
The governorship hopeful also criticised the condition of public schools in the state and promised a comprehensive reform agenda focused on security, infrastructure and quality learning.
According to him, schools under his administration would be fenced, equipped with teachers’ quarters and protected with permanent security arrangements to guarantee safety for pupils and staff.
He argued that deploying advanced learning facilities without first securing schools would amount to misplaced priorities.
Okiyi-Kalu further stated that prudent management of public funds and the elimination of corruption would make it possible to execute ambitious educational and developmental projects across the state.
The PDP is expected to intensify consultations and political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Abia, with several aspirants already positioning themselves for the contest.
