…says his focus has always been for the common good of all
SAT, SEPT 01 2018-theG&BJournal-The renowned Political Economist Professor Pat Uotmi is on the campaign trail preaching the need to create economic opportunity for the people of Delta state and he hasn’t shied away from criticising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State for their inefficient deployment and investment policies given the huge N17 billion monthly federal allocations.
On his marathon run through the state during the week, Utomi emphasised what needs to be done quickly to get the state up and running like its peers and emphasised jobs creation, education, women empowerment and healthcare. He also spoke to his numerous involvements in those states and what he has helped the states accomplish in terms of economic growth.
‘’My plans have been translated into reality in many places- Lagos is a good example where the governor can attest,’’ he told thousands of enthusiastic crowds in Warri, Emevor Ozoro and numerous other towns he visited on the campaign trail.
Enumerating on his extensive development input in other states including Lagos, Edo, Kaduna and Anambra States where he is adored. He cited the $250 million Lagos New City project that he seats as the chairman of the project and noted he was appealed to, to be in this race for his good governance principles.
‘’So your message to our base is about what we have done and achieved elsewhere that can be replicated and will be replicated in even better ways in Delta State for their benefit and that includes a better affordable healthcare and quality free education for their children,’’ he said.
‘’I am not looking for fame. I have been better known than governor for more than 20 years. Life is not about being bigger than anything, life is about service. My ambition is to make the difference in this society- that is all I am about,’’ Utomi emphasised.
The positive response of the audience and hosts at the various communities Pat Utomi visited offers clues to the sour political mood in the Delta State were majority of families have been deprived of quality education and health care services during the almost two decade long rule of the PDP in the state and ahead of next year’s gubernatorial elections.
It is critical that supporters get their friends and families to vote, Utomi said while delivering his message. ‘’ We must all wake up and make this our personal fight to ensure that good men and goods things return to Delta,’’ he added.
‘’Some of us have thrown ourselves into this with the conviction that God is able to use people who make themselves available to change things for the good of humanity. So we are in this struggle convinced that the good people who probably were quiet before decided that enough is enough, we can turn around our state and tomorrow we can pay tribute to all of us who collectively worked towards liberating our people. So we must collectively, in spite of whatever we see, stay committed to rescuing Delta. It is a collective duty that all of us must uphold. The mission to rescue Delta is a task that must be achieved.’’
Deputy Director General of Utomi campaign DCN Patrick Emerhana said Utomi is way ahead of the rest.
‘’We believe that he is a better material because of his pedigree. He has both brain and financial resources; he has a lot of contacts that will help with the financial resources to make Delta State a bigger, cleaner and better place. He has the contact and ability to develop Delta State. He has the capacity to develop the state without federal allocations.’’
He told a gathering of Utomi followers at his residence where he hosted the gubernatorial candidate that the people of Emevor is following Utomi because they believe that he is better than all of the aspirants on the card today.
‘’Besides, he was instrumental to the drafting of the APC constitution with the VP Yomi Osibanjo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Wale Edun. The meeting here today in Emevor is to see how we can actualise the dream of making Delta Great again and advice on how to move forward our collective aspiration for the State,’’ Emerhana said.
‘’So one of the things we must do in the transition of this current state that Delta finds itself is that within one month of being sworn in we will recruit at least 300,000 young men and women in Delta and give them basic training, give them meaningful jobs to help keep their families healthy,’’ Utomi told the gatherings
‘’We are going to have housing schemes that these young men and women will be involved in-employed as builders. That is how Lagos State took the ‘area boys’ off the street. But to better what Lagos did in that regards, we will send these young men and women to school to learn a skill. As soon our industrial parks in Warri and other places around the state are up and running, these people will get quality jobs in those industrial parks.
‘’So I want to assure you that this is a mission and not a run for office,’’ Utomi said.
Engr Leo Obibi, the spokesperson of the Pat Support Hub (PUSH) told the audience in Ozoro were Pat Utomi was guest of a party stalwart in Isoko land, Chief Fred Obe, to receive the renowned Professor firmly in their fold and he reassured them that the Utomi administration in Delta state will ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of development in the state.
Utomi said on his visit to leaders and members of Ijaw APC in Delta State at the home of the ex-managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),Pastor Power Aginighan in Udu Council area of the state that it will be a thing of natural justice to give the ticket of the APC to an aspirant from Delta North Senatorial District to battle the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP.
‘’In two years of my administration, we would have put the state on the path of development that subsequent administrations would build on,’’ he said.-theG&BJournal
