EDEVBIE LEADS CAMPAIGN TEAM TO SEEK BLESSINGS FROM OLU OF WARRI – Reveals his Gubernatorial Interest and Manifesto

WARRI/The UPU-endorsed PDP Guber aspirant for Delta State 2023 elections, Olorogun David Edevbie on Tuesday 19th April, 2022, led his campaign team to visit the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III and his Chiefs at his Palace in Warri to officially notify the Warri Monarch of his political ambition.

Olorogun Edevbie told the Warri Monarch that the purpose of his visit was not for a political campaign but to seek the Olu’s royal blessings for his 2023 governorship ambition. Edevbie stated that Nigeria is suffering from grave challenges, and Delta State, which is an integral part of the country, is also suffering from them such as poverty, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure and epileptic electricity supply, amongst others. He noted that Nigeria’s development efforts have failed to produce the desired results because we keep doing the same thing the same way.

According to him, “for me, constant electricity supply is number one on my development agenda. For us to move forward, there is the need to do things differently; we need a paradigm shift. If we don’t have constant power supply, everything we do is a waste of time. If given the mandate to be the Governor of Delta State, my administration will cause to be built a 500 Mega Watts Power Plant in Delta State which can be accomplished within a total of 4 years. I have experience in structuring such transactions in India and the Philippines. This will supply power to all parts of the State, the excess of which will be sold to the national grid in concert with BEDC in which Delta State is a shareholder. Already, an 8.5 Mega Watts power plant has been built in Asaba, supplying uninterrupted power constantly to government offices and facilities in the State Capital, and I was the Chairman of the Committee that made it possible. This demonstrates that it can be done.”

Edevbie’s next priority is security. “No security, no investment. We are currently operating a unitary security command system from Abuja which I want to work with other stakeholders to restructure and give a security architecture to Delta State in which we can have increased local control enabling the deployment of drones, and CCTV cameras with our own Security and Command Centres in Delta State. These we shall fund through a Security Trust Fund that has already been set up which I will expand its resources. Traditional Rulers will be brought into this architecture to make it very effective,” he promised.

The three times Finance Commissioner said when constant power supply and adequate security are in place, industries will be established. He said “we shall translate industrial parks and free trade zones that were created on paper in the State into reality and jobs will be created to employ our youths which will further reduce insecurity, with positive multiplier effects on the economy of Delta State.”

Edevbie also told the Olu and his Chiefs that the next item on his agenda is agriculture towards food security, job and wealth creation in Delta State. He stressed the need to modernize Delta State through the increased application of information technology. He also promised to address the problem of inadequate social infrastructure by constructing bridges, roads and railways, driven by information technology.

“Over 50% of the State is riverine, and they must be taken care of. We need to integrate the riverine areas of the State with the mainland. Within the first 6 months of my administration, we shall produce a long term development master plan for an inter-modal land, river and air transport system in the State,” he assured.

Edevbie also promised to carry out public sector reforms to enable the public sector function effectively. In addition, the most preferred Guber aspirant stressed the need for Delta State to have a government that reflects the demographics of its population. Therefore, he said 25% and 35% of all political appointments in his administration will be reserved for youths and women respectively. “I will make this an actual government goal in Delta State, so that in 8 years time, our youths would have built up capacity, as well as acquired enough experience in governance to qualify them to run for Governor. If I have my way, I would want a woman as Deputy Governor, just as I want nine or more out of 25 civil commissioners, to be women,” he stated.

In his response, the Warri Monarch thanked Olorogun David Edevbie and his team for the visit. He wondered why Lagos State works but Delta State which is supposed to lead the Niger Delta Region, is different, describing the situation as worrisome, as Delta is very strategic to Nigerian development.

The Olu prayed for Edevbie that the resources he needs to become the next Governor should not have strings attached that could make it difficult for him to implement his well laid out development agenda and to forestall driving the State into unsustainable indebtedness due to borrowing to execute the projects. He also advised against running a government characterized by ethnic, tribal and loyalty sentiments. He prayed God to bless Edevbie with abundant financial resources, good health, protection and wisdom to enable him prosecute his political ambition to a victorious end.

Earlier, the Director General of Olorogun David Edevbie Campaign Organization, Chief Clement Ofuani told the Olu and his Chiefs that Edevbie is in the Guber race to save the State from suffering the consequences of the failed Nigerian State. He said Olorogun Edevbie is thoroughly educated, and he has the capacity to manage human and financial resources for the benefit of Deltans, having served as three times Commissioner of Finance in Delta State, as well as the Principal Secretary to former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Chief Ofuani described Olorogun Edevbie as thoroughly Pan Delta, and also well prepared for the job of Governor.

The visit climaxed with Olorogun Edevbie presenting his Manifesto to the Olu, followed by a group photograph of the Olu, Olorogun David Edevbie and principal officers of his campaign team.