LAGOS NOVEMBER 8TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship hopeful, Sir Tony Chuks Obuh yesterday declared his ambition to contest for the state governorship election, rolling out mouth watering agenda for the development of Delta state.

The rally which was held at Asaba, Delta State was besieged by aspirants to different elective offices in Delta State who pledged their loyalty and support to his aspiration.
Obuh, who tagged his blueprints for Delta State as from 2015 as Service, Empowerment and Transformation, said his governance would be built around the economic development strategy of Delta Beyond Oil, adding that to boost agriculture and at the same time industrialisation, major emphasis would be laid on agro-based industries.

According to him, “Unemployment is a major challenge. To engage the large pool of the youth population in the state, we need to redirect the curriculum of Technical Colleges and skills acquisition centres so that they can sharpen the skills of graduates and add professional touch for purposes of self-employment and survival in a world that is more ICT and self-employment driven.”
Obuh maintained that his government would provide the support required by the state’s educational system to bring it up to date with modern trends and technology.

The aspirants did not only declare support for him, but keyed their collective ambitions into his governorship craving.
Among those that stormed the Cenotaph, Asaba, the declaration venue, with their campaign teams, were members of the state House of Assembly seeking re-election and those aspiring for fresh election. Others were those vying for the Federal House of Representatives and the Senate, even as those seeking for Commissionership appointments, Special Advisers and contract awards were not left out.

Speaking at the ceremony, Obuh, flanked by top government functionaries in the state, including serving Commissioners, Special Advisers, current and past party chieftains and faithfuls, said: “I am set for service to offer strategic leadership, which would lift the state to a higher level of advancement and expansion.”
While they displayed their banners and well-worded placards at strategic positions at the venue and formed cluster groups, chanting hymns of loyalty and victory, they rated the aspirant high in equity, justice, fairness and integrity.
While he promised that his government would establish good and qualitative governance that is characterized by friendly policies, people-oriented projects, accelerated commerce through micro-finance loans, rural development, job creation, opening of new roads in the rural areas, rebuild and rehabilitate schools to enhance educational development, Obuh said he would respect the state’s work-force and ensure job security for public servants.
He said: “I am passionate about wealth creation for our people and economic development and I am passionate about the wellbeing of our people.
“We will pursue our policies and programmes with renewed vigour, deep sense of responsibility and deliver proactively to every nook and cranny of the state.”
Obuh hinted that his government would not rely on statutory allocation from the federation account, stating that the state could realize huge revenue receipts from internally generated revenue, which he described as the backbone for the sustenance of the economic and infrastructural development.
He promised that his administration would take concrete steps to reinvigorate and energize the state’s internal revenue generation system.
“Our health policy will aim at reducing exclusion and social disparities in health care by placing emphasis on primary health care,” he said.
Obuh called on other aspirants to work together with him to deliver the state when he finally forms the next government, promising to run an inclusive government.