Chief Emmanuel Ighomena is the deputy chairman of People’s Democratic Party in Delta State. He also represented Ethiope West local government area in the state House of Assembly. In this interview with SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Sam Akadoro at Oghara, he speaks on the challenges of his office since he became the number two man in his party in Delta State. Excerpts:
What do you say about those that say the PDP-controlled Delta State has nothing to show for its reign?
Before 1999 you had to cross the Forcados River before you could go to Bomadi. Today, you have a navigational bridge almost about 6.6 kilometres in length. The Ughorton and Omadino bridges, were they there? The one at Aboh and many others, where they there? Right now we have three polytechnics.
Where were these schools before 1999? You can see the road network everywhere in cities, towns and villages. Were they there before 1999?
I was the Commissioner for Works and Energy and I know quite well the extent of electricity distribution. Extension of electricity, upgrading and of course I got an award from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). So many transformers you find in this state were brought in by the PDP government from 1999 till date. You can see our primary schools, they are better than so many secondary schools in other states in Nigeria.
What other projects are there apart from the ones you have mentioned?
Check the roads for instance, the state government is dualising all the roads. The road between Ughelli and Asaba, Effurun and Eku; these roads are federal, yet the Delta State government is doing it. Those critics rather ought to praise this government, that it is doing well.
They should tell us what they are even coming to do. These are the people who mislead the Urhobo nation; they took us into opposition. They took us into Egypt. PDP belongs to Delta central people. Delta central people formed PDP. And you cannot ask the owner of the party to leave the party to become a stranger in another party.
The APC, CPC, ANPP, ACN or what have you, they have their trace from the west and we are not part of them. PDP is Urhobo people and Urhobo is PDP. We cannot leave our party, abandon our house and become tenants in another man’s building. You can agree with me that the state government has done very well. Everything that will make life meaningful and comfortable, this government has provided it for her people.
Warri Airport is still under construction, what do you expect from such a government? I do not see any other state in Nigeria that has done better than Delta.
So what do you think of PDP’s chances in future to keep ruling?
As far as I am concerned, PDP will continue to rule because Deltans know that this is the only party that can perform. Those grumbling now, where were they during the military’s reign when virtually nothing was done? The hospital at Eku has been taking over by the state government, and what you see there today is wonderful. The central hospital in Warri is another wonderful
achievement which is more than so many Teaching Hospitals in this county. Transportation sector is superb. And I know very well that soon, there will be no power failure in Delta state as a whole. These people should concentrate in their businesses and leave governance to those who know how to it better.
Many former members of PDP are defecting elsewhere; and a house divided against itself can’t stand. What is the party doing to reconcile former members?
Nigerians are not noted for the ability to bid their time. I am today the deputy chairman of the party in Delta State. In 2007, I left the office. Then I was the Commissioner for Power and Energy (2007-2011), I was not holding any office. That does not mean I have to leave PDP because I was not given another position.
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