Calabar — Nigeria's Ambassador to South Korea and Cross River State gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Chief Akpang Obi Odu has announced plans to reform the state if elected as governor in order to make it a replica of the Korea/Japan economy.

The guber hopeful who stated this in a statement tagged "Redemption 2003," A.A. Obi Odufor governor, Cross River State, a mandate for radical change," maintained that his mission is to reform the state from its present situation to make it, "the Korea/Japan of Nigeria."

"Today, I seek your mandate for reformation of our dear state, to tackle poverty, create investment opportunities for all and not for a few privileged ones, penalise irresponsibility in our public service and make ours a hallmark of fairness and integrity.

The NDP chieftain who is also a retired major in the Nigeria army promised to "usher into the state economic progress, social justice, skill and technology acquisition and the know-how sweeping across the new world order, while encouraging innovation and enterprise in the private sector.

According to him, the reformation programme will embrace the areas of education, agriculture, health, housing, transport and aviation. Other areas of priority the Obi Odu continued include industries and tourism, employment and welfare, security, youth and women development among others.