APC Guber Aspirant, Opah, Promises Industrialization, Job Creation for Abia

Thousands of supporters and All Progressives Congress (APC) faithful stormed the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri, on Wednesday to receive Dr. Eric Opah on his return from the party’s governorship screening in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, the entrepreneur and Abia State governorship aspirant said his ambition is driven by the need for a more accountable government and practical solutions to joblessness and infrastructure gaps in the state.

“My aspiration is not borne out of personal ambition. My aspiration is focused on a few agendas that are very clear. At the end, I’m yearning for a lot more accountable government,” Opah said.
Opah, who described himself as an entrepreneur with global experience in international transportation, shipping, aviation, and oil and gas logistics, said his 20-year track record in business sets him apart.

“What makes my candidacy different from other aspirants? I am bringing to the table an experience built over the years in business. An experience backed up with character,” he stated.

He argued that Abia needs leadership that can create jobs, drive infrastructure, and unify the state.

“We don’t have two Abia. We don’t have new and old Abia. We only have one Abia. My aspiration is to bring about job creation. My aspiration is to develop and support infrastructure,” he said.
Outlining his plan, Opah said industrialization would be the engine of his administration. He proposed reviving moribund industries and branding Abia as a trade and manufacturing hub, similar to how China institutionalized the Canton Fair.

“My government will utilize Aba as a trade hub to brand Abia to create jobs. That will be the first thing to do. From there, it becomes the fulcrum to develop other parts of Abia,” he explained.

He cited Cross River’s Calabar Carnival and Tinapa project, and Akwa Ibom’s development model, as examples of how states have used focused initiatives to gain national attention.

Opah also emphasized vocational education, saying Abia should move beyond certificate-based learning.

“When we talk about industrialization, you have education that is not just certificate-based. We are talking about education that is vocational. China today, every center, every facility, every home is a factory. Abia has that potential,” he said.
The aspirant said running on the APC platform is strategic for Abia’s development, given that the party controls the federal government.

“Today, APC is the government at the federal level. So, Abia needs to connect to the center. Abia needs the federal government connection to be able to develop,” he said.

He noted disparities between Abia and neighboring states in terms of visible projects despite revenue inflows, and pledged to bridge that gap.

“My job is to connect Abia to the center. We are not going to be in opposition.”
On governance, Opah said his administration would prioritize workers’ welfare and ensure salaries match government revenue.

He added that his business experience, which now spans five countries, gives him the competence to manage the state’s affairs from the ground up.

“I have a clear agenda and the experience coming from the competence that I built in business that I started from cradle. Today, I superintend a business that is in five countries.”