By Ijeoma Uba
LAGOS SEPTEMBER 14TH (URHOBOTODAY)- The widely believed to be anointed for Delta Governorship candidate, Mr Tony Obuh has declared his applicant status and eagerness to get employment as soon as possible.
The Agbor, Ika South born gentleman who just retired from Delta civil service as Permanent Secretary made his status and desire known at a luncheon/interactive session with journalists on Friday in Asaba. He said his retirement has made him jobless and he is willing to be ’employed in a higher capacity as soon as possible’.
Fielding questions from journalists who were curious to find out the truth on speculations on his candidature and that he is being foisted on the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Mr Obuh kept saying “I am now an applicant eager for employment”.
On why he went to see Chief Edwin Clark in his Kiagbodo home, he replied, “I was a civil servant now retired and in the job market. I will be willing to take up any employment. That was why I went to see chief E. K Clark”.
Answering on the posters and messages flooding the traditional and social media, he said, “I see the posters as messages of goodwill. Its a measure of people’s desire for me. There may be a meeting point for them & I. They are all messages of goodwill and I like them. I state unequivocally, I need further employment. Majority of our people want me to serve in that capacity and I say glory be to God, Amen”.
When asked to state categorically whether he is contesting and why he is in the race, he responded, “I reemphasize, I am looking for employment. By the time I finish with my consultation, I will make a formal declaration and what I have in mind. I will call you people and tell you what I want. For now, give me time to finish my consultation”.
Mr Anthony Chuks Obuh was a Permanent Secretary in Government House Asaba for years before he retired weeks ago. He served under both military and civilian governments. He is believed to be anointed and prodded to run on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party by the incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. It is also peddled that all have been set in motion to hand over the party’s ticket to him, to the chagrin of others who have always been there in the party. It is pointed out that as a core civil servant which he has been over the years, he has not been a party man.
Giving his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Delta State Council, Mr Norbert Chiazor said that journalists in the state will work with whoever emerges Governor in 2015 with a pan-Delta agenda with detachment, fairness and dispassionate objectivity.