By Francis Sadhere
Foremost economists and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Pat Utomi on Friday said that if the APC is allowed to take over the reins of power in Delta state in the next election, the party can develop the state in such way that Dubai will become jealous of the state.
He lamented that despite the abundant human resource in the State, it is still in a backward and pitiful state, vowing to work with all APC members to revive the state.
Otumi who spoke in Benin city while paying a courtesy visit to Delta South APC leaders and Stakeholders, at the residence of Dr. Alex Ideh, also noted that despite the pitiful state of Delta State, it could be developed within one year in such a way that Dubai will look like a joke.
He said, “I think if people like us who are sitting here have nothing else in the way but how to make the future of Delta better for our children, we will make Delta make Dubai look like a joke in less than one year. I think this is a journey of educating our colleagues so that we can make APC in Delta State a fire for true change and make our state bright. If we can accomplish that, I would be the happiest man on earth and I will die a fulfilled man because it is not about me, but about the goal and destination.”
Utomi said all that the state needed were true leaders who could stand firm on their ground and ensure that development spread to all the nook and cranny of the state, adding that previous government since 1999 have squandered the fortunes of the state.
Utomi, pointed out that the problem of Nigeria in general and Delta state in particular, was a leadership problem, noting that the leaders that have been leading the country lacked the qualities to move the state from where it is today to where it ought to be.
Utomi, therefore stressed on the need for government to put good policies and institutions in place that would galvanize the rapid development of the country, just as he also noted that without the proper values instilled on Nigerians, the country will continue to languish in absolute poverty.
Commenting on the reason why the nation was not growing, Utomi blamed the wroth in the nation’s economy on leaders who think only of themselves and not the people, adding that until people began to change their attitudes, the country will continue to remain the way it is.
Speaking on the reason why he is meeting with the Delta South APC leaders and stakeholders, Prof. Utomi said it was his desire to see that Delta state becomes one of the most developed states, not only Nigeria in Nigeria, but the whole world at large.
He added that Delta has the one of the brightest brains in the world, and wondered why the state cannot compete favorable with developed countries in spite of the abundant of human resources in the state.
Utomi said he wants to work together with other faithful members of the APC in the state to ensure that 2019 would be a work-over for the party and they will take over the reins of power from the ruling PDP, who he said have ran the state aground for over 17 years.
Responding Dr. Ideh said APC needs people to drive the process of making Delta State one of the best in the state but added that there must be an enabling environment for them to drive the process.
He said Utomi has a lot of work to do to drive the change that he is preaching, urging him to address some of the challenges the party is facing in the state. He said that by the grace of God they are going to take the party out of the hands of those who did not want the party to succeed in the state.
He revealed that the party is trying to amend the its constitution to take care of some of the loopholes that has been created, adding that a situation whereby a new entrant comes into the party and automatically becomes the leader is unaccepted.
He said, “You read in the papers that the party is trying to amend its constitution to address some loopholes. Some people ask me what are they trying to achieve in amending the constitution and I said that a situation whereby somebody just came from another party into the party and that very day automatically becomes a leader of the party, is not accepted because it does not make any sense. Will any one accept that? Those of us from Delta South Senatorial district have been consistent in our resolve to make the party better.”
