By Emeka Nwokocha
DELTA: Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship primaries in Delta State, Prof. Patrick Okedinachi Utomi is leaving no stone unturned towards bringing to fruition his vision to rescue Delta State from its present state of economic and infrastructure asphyxia.
Pulling a crowd of supporters on Saturday 18 August, the political juggernaut stormed the country home of Engr. Samuel Adjogbe, Executive Director of Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), at Evwreni, Ughelli North local government area of Delta state, on consultation visit.
In his address, Prof. Utomi commended Engr. Adjogbe for raising the bar of quality leadership in his prided office as Director of Projects, NDDC, noting that his knack for doing things well as thorough bred Deltan, is evident in the amount of development he has attracted to Delta state in recent times. His words: “part of the reasons we have come to see you is because we want you have a message that you have made us proud in the way you have carried out that assignment as Executive Director of Projects at NDDC, and the huge impart is showing brightly here in Delta.
“We want to say to you that your desire to do things well motivates us to want Delta to do things well.”
Continuing, Prof. Utomi said, “we come with the spirit of Bendel, the spirit of Midwest, and the spirit of excellence that made us the envy of Nigeria. At a point in time, the Federal Civil Service was dominated by Midwesterners, in education, we were excellent, in sports, Afuze defined the pace of sports in our country, and even the Foreign Service career was dominated by Midwesterners.”
Prof Utomi lamented the rot Delta state has become over the years, noting that something had gone wrong, even as he cited tattered economy, decrepit infrastructure, unemployment, and visionless leadership as major challenges demanding immediate solution.
“When you are driving towards the Niger bridge from Asaba, your heart is in your hand because the Asaba end of the road is in bad shape. When you get to the other end of the bridge, you will think it is Europe as the roads are beautifully tarred; you can drive the well-lighted road from the Niger bridge to Awka without a bump,” Prof. Utomi stated.
He said that good spirited Deltans had felt enough shame and wondered why a state richly endowed with human; material and natural resources should be grossly underdeveloped.
“We are worried that our state is not making any progress despite the huge resources accruable to it. We need people like Engr. Adjogbe to help us put together our talents in order to rescue Delta from its sorry state. We can achieve a new Delta state by harnessing the potentials of the people,” he submitted
Describing Delta state as ocean facing, Prof. Utomi said that it has abundant opportunities to grow its economy and build its infrastructure in today’s globalization. Stating, “it is the reason we are taking the trouble to pull together talents to match the resources in the state and create a new Lagos in Delta.”
Prof. Utomi thanked the APC faithful who believe that Delta North should complete its second tenure, saying, “history shall remember you all as a people of uprightness, fairness and equity.”
In his speech, Engr. Adjogbe commended Prof. Patrick Utomi for his love for Delta state which informed his vision to reposition the state on the path of economic growth with world class infrastructure and opportunity for the teeming young people to lead a quality life. He assured Prof Utomi of full support, saying that the APC is solidly behind him.
His words: “We the people of APC from Delta Central are saying we will support the Anioma agenda of APC completing the second tenure as governor of Delta state in 2019. If Delta Central and Delta South had done two tenures, it would be fair for Delta North Senatorial District to produce an APC governor of the state in 2019, so that the Anioma people will in turn support Delta Central to produce the governor of Delta state in 2023.
Continuing, Adjogbe noted that NDDC alone could not provide the infrastructure need of the state, emphasizing urgent need for Deltans to support APC to champion the economic and infrastructural development the people are earnestly yearning for.
Present at the occasion were Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, Olorogun Voke Oshasha, Olorogun Florence Ayomanor, Chief Austin Uloho, Chief Alex Ikpeazu, Prince Maikpobi Okareme, Mr, Stephen Kifordu, AVM Frank Adjobena, Chief Malachi Orode, Engr. Leonard Obibi, Mr. Godwin Anaughe, Deacon Patrick Emerhana,, Mr. Benjamin Amioku, Olorogun Johnny Esike, Mr. Emmanuel Oki, Engr. Lewis Ekiyor, Mr. Onome Yegbeburu, Chief Rex Golde and other APC stalwarts.
