Politics is a Selfless Service—Says Delta State SDP Governorship Candidate

By Chioma Iruke, The Sight News

Owing to the many atrocities often associated with the electioneering process in Nigeria, from the campaigns to the election day, and even after the announcement of results, it can be assumed that politics is indeed a dirty game.

Over the years, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, has become a determinant force in the growth of the Nigerian economy. The region—because of its oil, is considered the core of the nation’s economy.

But then, is the state living up to its expectations in terms of what is supposed to accrue to it as compensation for being the chief financier of the nation’s economy? The answer is easily answerable. Despite its potentials, it is rather unfortunate that the region is still living below its expected standards, engulfed with crisis and ravaging poverty.

This of course, has led to many aspirants professing varying solutions to curb the imminent problems.

Notable among the aspirants is the governorship flag bearer of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Delta State, Dr Akwara John Ogheneovo, who spoke to our correspondent. He is a retired Medical Doctor with over 33 years of practice.

Dr. Akwara who retired from active service in 2010, vied for the House of Representative slot for Ethiope constituency in 2011 and also contested for governor in 2015, but lost. Despite his initial set back, Dr. Akwara is still determined to be the messiah of the state, especially now that he is carrying the mantle of the SDP.

His agenda: ORP which connotes ‘Operation Rescue Delta’, according to him, would “educate the people about their rights”. He says his government would focus on Agriculture, Education, Housing, Job Creation and Security.

Akwara, who is also into Real Estate, said he only ventured into politics because of his desire to serve the masses.

“I ventured into politics because I wanted to serve humanity on a higher level. I saw the way people were misusing things, in fact, what stimulated me more was that, at the level of a medical officer, I could not employ a cleaner that could clean my office. They would have to bring them from Asaba.

“My younger sister graduated and I was looking for a job for her and those at the top, these so called politicians said I should pay before you get a job. At that point I said no; the time has come for people like us to join politics because if you say you should leave politics for those who are there, many are noise makers who don’t keep to their words and I describe them as Kleptomaniacs.

“I want to do things more differently, and show that politics is not just about acquiring things but more about selfless service,” he said.

According to Dr. Akwara, peace and security goes together. He noted that one of the reasons for insecurities in the Delta State and the entire Niger Delta region, was because the youths were not properly engaged.

“Our youths are not engaged and that is why they are into cyber fraud, aside that, some don’t even have jobs and the government isn’t doing anything about it. If you bring in things that would remove them from the streets then you would have less problems. Aside that, Delta is an oil producing state, but some of the things our leaders collect from these companies is appalling. Ask what Chevron is giving to the government, even the tax will amaze you, ask these companies how much they give to our local governments and our youths will be amazed. With this, our health issues can be take care of,” he continued.

Banking on his vast experience in the Real Estate sector, Dr. Akwara noted that he would bring into the economy more infrastructure that can also provide job opportunities for the youths.

“If I become the governor which I will be by the grace of God, already I am bringing into Delta State 19,500 housing units and that is just one phase and the total cost of the unit is $1.5bn and not just that, by next month, before the end of February, I would be bringing in four shopping malls(Shoprite) one in Sapela, Agbor, Ughelli and in Abraka. I am not governor yet, but I have already given out the contract for the construction of these malls, each of the malls will cost $50.9 million.

“If you raise an instrument worth $200million and that instrument be put on a trade platform, so long as I have a project attached to it, I would be gaining interest. Put in that interest coming from it into your account, that platform would be giving you 50%. How do I know about this, it was through the financial comptroller of Chevron,” he explained.

On the health sector, Akwara added: “There is no first class health institution in Delta State, even the one in Oghara that they call DELSUT is a glorified general hospital. I have the connections to bring in people and I have talked with the ministry of health and they said they want to build five standard hospitals across the geo political zones. When they say standard, we are not talking about the likes of DELSUT”.

Speaking further on the agricultural sector, Dr. Akwara promised to bring in agricultural experts from Israel who would help the state begin to export food and beyond the country.

“Looking at the agricultural sector, I will bring in agricultural experts from Israel who would help train our people in subsistence farming. Israel is a dry land, but they export food. They are not as highly endowed as we are but they even export to others,” he stated.

On the issue of herdsmen attack that was prominent in 2016, he stated that it is over exaggerated. His words: “There is no herdsmen in Delta State, it’s over exaggerated, you can’t compare those in Benue to that of Delta, it is an issue blown out of proportion. Herdsmen is not the problem of this state, the problem is that the government are not committed to the welfare of the people, they are more committed to what they will put in their pocket.

“A governor was accused of diverting bailout funds that the Federal Government gave out to pay salaries. He gave out N10 million to his girlfriend who fled with it. The question I ask is, if you steal N2 billion what will you do with it? If you put it in a fixed deposit every year it would give you N150 million. If I give a person N2 billion and he is to spend N50,000 every day for ten years he wouldn’t finish it, so what is it you are really looking for?

“How many beds can you sleep on? How many cars can you ride? How many houses can you stay? All I want to do is service and development. I wouldn’t be a government that would be only in Asaba. I would give authority to my deputy. I would be on the field ensuring development. Just give us two years and I wouldn’t campaign, I would leave it to the people to decide and by the time I am done with eight years, the people would say— Dr. Akwara give us some one like you.

“SDP stands for progress, equity, righteousness and everything good. I can’t bring in anything good and others would take the glory. I need the power of a governor to effectively work,” he concluded.