A frontline Presidential Aspirant of the ruling, All Progressives Congress (APC), Tein Jack-Rich, says he will establish an International Trade hub and a Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in the South-East, if elected President in 2023.
Jack-Rich made the pledge while addressing APC stakeholders and delegates in Owerri and Enugu, during his consultative visit to the south-east states of Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi.
According to the philanthropist, the siting of an International Trade Hub in the region, would boost the frontiers of global trade in the country and attract foreign investments.
An Industrialist said such a hub would also improve private-sector productivity and increase business opportunities with direct impact on the economy.
Jack-Rich, who said his economic policies would be driven by Industrialisation, also promised to provide cutting-edge leadership that would evolve the right economic policies to grow the country’s GDP.
He said the economic policies of his administration would ensure the reduction of inflation and unemployment rates to the barest minimum, and take Nigeria to the “Trillion Dollars Economic League”.
He also described the Igbo people as very industrious people, and among the most educated in the world.
According to the Rivers-born businessman, the South-East needs someone like him as Nigerian President to explore their enormous potentials, and establish an economic gateway that would enable them realise their core values.
He said if elected president, he would drive profitable economic growth in the zone, and the country at large.
“My Igbo people are among the smartest in the world, they are among the most educated globally. For the enormous potentials that you have, you need a president that can sit with you, understand what you need.
“You need a leader that will establish the economic gateway so that you can realise your core values and be part of the engine that drives profitable economic growth.
“You need a president that can be there for you when you are crying, when you are hungry, when you feel that pain,” Jack-Rich said.
The presidential hopeful also promised to establish a River Port, as well as a Ship Fabrication and Maintenance Yard in Onitsha, Anambra, to boost International Trade and Manufacturing.
He said his government would also establish a Technology Hill in Enugu, to train youths and equip them with the requisite innovative and entrepreneurial skills that will make them self-reliant and contribute to the growth of their families and communities.
Jack-Rich who noted that economic engagement was key to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, promised to be the voice of the voiceless, the downtrodden, the less privileged and those took to crime and social vices on account of alleged denial of their rights.
“I am going to be the voice of the voiceless, I’m going to be the voice of the crying Widow, I’m going to be the voice of the physically challenged, I’m going to be the voice of the angry and hungry people, who feel deprived of their rights and have taken to the left side of life”.
“I’m going to be the voice of you that felt that the only way to show you are strong is to be that faceless and an angry unknown gunman. I’m for you, you don’t have to do that anymore.
“You don’t have to kill your brother, you don’t have to kill your sister, you don’t have to rape, you don’t have to kill our old people just to show that you are angry.
“You don’t have to attack government security forces, you don’t have to attack government infrastructure just to express that anger, you don’t have to do all of these anymore. Jack-Rich is for you because I was once in a war situation than you are, but I held on to faith and today I’m here speaking to you”.
The APC south east chairmen, delegates and other stakeholders, drawn from Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states, took turns at the engagement in Owerri and Enugu, to express delight and satisfaction with the lofty plans and policies of Jack-Rich.
According them, Nigeria needs someone like Jack-Rich to address the many challenges bedeviling the country, given his intellectual prowess, foresight, competence, economic savvy, selflessness and young status.
They then expressed their willingness to rally round the presidential aspirant, and galvanise support for him to clinch the party’s ticket at the primaries slated for May 29 and 30.
