WHY I WILL CONTEST FOR GOVERNORSHIP OF DELTA STATE- Dr. Otive Igbuzor PREAMBLE Delta State is a great State with huge potentials. It is one of the major oil producing states in Nigeria. Its human resource is more than oil resources. The people of Delta State are unique in many ways. We are courageous, enterprising, creative and intelligent. But over the years, we haven’t realized our potentials due to huge challenges of leadership and governance. There is a lack of unity of purpose among the ethnic groups in the State- Urhobos, Itsekiris, Isokos, Ibos and Ijaws. Hence, there is a great need for a transformative leadership that will galvanize these potentials for positive change. WHY I WILL RUN Over the past three decades, I have been privileged to be involved in the struggles for democracy and good governance in Nigeria. I have been involved in all the major organisations and struggles for change in Nigeria since the 1980s. Some of the organizations include including Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Patrotic Youth Movement of Nigeria (PYMN), Women in Nigeria (WIN), United Action for Democracy (UAD) and Democratic Alternative (DA). During the transition from military to civilian rule, I contested the primaries to the Delta State House of Assembly. Since then, l have followed the political terrain in the state keenly. In the subsequent elections, l have been encouraged to run for elective positions. I have been reluctant because of my knowledge that votes of the electorate did not count in the past. But the improved credibility of the 2011 elections has convinced me to offer myself to serve the people of Delta for many compelling reasons. First and foremost, there is a great need for a committed and trusted leadership that can completely change the face of our state. Our dear state cannot continue to be run the way it has been run in the past one and half decade. There is urgent need for a fresh and knowledgeable leadership that can unite all the ethnic groups and harness the resources of the state for the betterment of the citizens. Secondly, there is a progressive degeneration of governance and development in our State which must be reversed. Growing up as a child in Delta, my family and community laid a solid foundation for my upbringing. I worked hard and went through public schools to reach the highest level of my career. I received bursary from Prof. Ambrose Alli/Chief Demas Akpore government in the early 1980s. These same conditions provided for me by my family and government is no longer available to the youth of Delta state today. This to me is unacceptable: the joy of every parent is to give to his or children more than what his or her parents gave them. Thirdly, I have been prepared to take on the leadership of the state. My educational background has prepared me in several areas including education, health, governance, international relations and development. Over the years, I have accumulated the leadership and management skills required to turn around our state. I have assisted several state governments and countries across the world in their pursuit for development. I know what needs to be done to accelerate the development of Delta state through harnessing the human and material potentials of the state. I have contacts across the country and all over the world that can help in repositioning Delta State for greatness. Finally and most importantly, we have clear programmes to bring about the required changes that will accelerate the development of the State. In Delta, we have developed a programme on seven steps to greatness in Delta namely: 1. Education and Human Capital Development 2. Health Care Services 3. Infrastructural Development 4. Security of lives and property 5. Agricultural revolution 6. Industrialization 7. Culture, Arts and Tourism Youth, women and disability issues will be mainstreamed and given priority in seven areas. The rescue of our state is a collective mission. All hands must be on deck to bring about the change we desire. Those who know me very well will testify that I do not covet the perquisites of office or the pleasures of this world. This is a response to a great need and divine call to bring about change. As an Activist-Politician, I will not do things like the traditional Nigerian politician. I covenant with Delta people that I will be different and will be guided by truth, honesty, integrity and the fear God. Deltans can trust me. My antecedents speak for me. We shall win. Victory is certain. Dr. Otive Igbuzor 23rd August, 2013
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 16:49:11 +0000