Why PDP is unbeatable in Delta

MR George Ushere is a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State. In this interview, he spoke on the achievements of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the forthcoming local government election in the State and other burning issues. Excerpts:

How do you rate the implementation of the three point agenda of the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan administration?

I want to say that in terms of peace, for those who know Delta State, it is one of the most complex states in the country and that is because of the terrain and there are a lot of tribes too.  The governor has done so well to build peace in the state. Before now there was the problem of militancy, waterways were difficult to ply, but now you can use the waterways without any problem.

Ushere

But there is still kidnapping in the area?
The issue of kidnapping is a national problem and it is not peculiar to Delta State. As regards to kidnapping, I will say Delta State has the lowest rate.  A law has been passed in the State House of Assembly to that effect to ensure that the issue of kidnapping is discouraged in totality.

The governor has also encouraged the Nigeria police so well to fight kidnapping in this state and for some time now the issue of kidnapping has dropped so low that we hardly hear of kidnapping in Delta State unlike a year or two ago and this because the government has put a lot of things in place to ensure that kidnapping gets out of Delta State. Also, one of the measures he took was to ensure that the youths are engaged in meaningful and gainful ventures, so the governor has also done very well in this area.

The governor’s critics, however, flay the delay in the execution of the Independent Power Plant. Do you think the government is doing enough to make the IPP a reality?

Yes, the issue of IPP is more of a technical issue. Establishing a power plant is not something you can achieve overnight and it has to do with a lot of technical partnership. The government is sincere with the IPP. Very soon, the IPP in Oghara will be commissioned, the equipment are there. The initial problem was the issue of the access road to the place, but the governor has fixed that. It is unfortunate that people make criticism without looking at what is on ground to score cheap popularity politically.

Given the strength of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP particularly in the central senatorial district, do you think the PDP will be able to make a headway in this area in the forthcoming local government election?

Definitely, I am convinced that the PDP will make headway. The mistakes of the PDP in the central senatorial district are being corrected and a lot of those who moved from PDP to DPP are coming back, because they now know that there is no light in that tunnel.

Delta State is a PDP state. It is just that those who were carried away with sentiments left but they now know that politics has nothing to do with sentiments and they are back to PDP and we have welcomed them and some of them are also part of the transition committees some of them are even chairmen, so you see how generous Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is.

What is your view on claims that the present administration is marginalizing the Urhobos?

Well in this present administration, I want to agree with my Urhobo people that we are seriously marginalized at the federal level, and Urhobo is the fifth largest ethnic nationality in this country and in terms of resources, the Urhobo nation also produces a large percentage of oil. So, it is so funny that our amiable President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has not looked inward to also carry the Urhobo nation along in his administration. I want to appeal to the President to look inward and also make the Urhobos to be part of his administration.