2015 and governorship race in Delta State

The declaration was made soon after the governors who were elected on the platform of the party met and took a resolution to endorse Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate. This implies that the presidential primary scheduled for December 6 would be a mere formality to comply with the extant provisions of the party’s constitution.The […]

The declaration was made soon after the governors who were elected on the platform of the party met and took a resolution to endorse Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate. This implies that the presidential primary scheduled for December 6 would be a mere formality to comply with the extant provisions of the party’s constitution.
The party has also dismissed speculations that the president gave his tacit endorsement for the governors serving out their second tenures to handpick their successors.
Among these governors serving out their two terms is Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State. Following this endorsement, the governorship primary election on November 29 is already generating unprecedented interests among high profile politicians in the affected states.
Independent observers are, however, urging the ruling party to allow openness, transparency, free and fair contests in picking various flag bearers.
In Delta State, many political heavyweights and core professionals have declared their intention to succeed the governor.
Unarguably, among all the aspirants in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Juliet Olejeme has attracted a considerable attention from many quarters. This is because she has successfully overcome the conservative traditional apathy to politics associated with many women. She is ready to seek the mandate of her party officials and delegates during the primary election.
It is widely believed that, considering her attributes and credentials, Mrs. Olejeme would bring about transformational and revolutionary changes in Delta State if given the opportunity.
Olejeme has already identified basic areas of interest in which she is ready and willing to implement if the good people of her political party, and by extension, her people would give her the opportunity to serve.
Among her core areas of interest are youth empowerment and employment creation. This is not unconnected with her background as chairman in one of the key agencies of the labour sector.
Education, health, security and urban renewal are also some of her passions.
“A huge number of our population live in the urban area. Therefore, we have a new plan for our cities and towns, which include massive investment in infrastructure and enhanced service to restore order, cure decay seen in most of our urban centres. Pursuant to this, we will build new cities and create conducive environment for investors. In the first phase, we shall focus on Asaba mega city, Warri, Ughelli, Agbor, Sapele, Ogwashi-ukwu, and Burutu, among others.
“Development and implementation of master plans are very important. This will help to ensure that our cities are properly planned to accommodate massive urban roads and street rehabilitation, public parks and recreational grounds, water and sewage systems. More so, the new face of Delta (recreation centres, schools, parking facilities), sanitation and environmental beautification shall be given urgent attention.
“Besides, we have the plan to make massive investment in oil and gas by being the first state to build a refinery. We seek to be proud of being called an oil-producing state in the real sense of it, by designing a model of partnership with the private sector that will accrue benefit from oil and gas to our people. In doing this, we will create industrial cluster in Asaba and Warri to encourage manufacturing. It will be provided with incentives that will encourage investors, industrialisation and removal of the bottlenecks in their ability to compete and create more jobs.
Onwubiko and Kifordu wrote in from the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria. [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>;www.huriwa.org.