Chief Patrick Ogbogu is a journalist and Politician. He has
held various political positions in Delta State since the inception of the
present democratic settings in Nigeria. He was the Community Liaison Officer to
the Delta State government under the Ibori administration in-charge of the
current Asaba International Airport and Market Projects and was later appointed
a member of the Delta State Task Force on the Beautification and sanitation of
Asaba Capital City under the current Uduaghan administration in Delta State.
Recently, he inaugurated a pressure group in Asaba known as
Elumelu for Delta 2015. The inauguration ceremony which witnessed a great human-and
traffic conurbation including women who were not left out of the gathering as a
preponderant population of women was noticed at the inauguration.
At the end of the inauguration, Chief Ogbogu who looked
resplendent in his dress with a cap to fit had a chat with the press on the
programme thrust of their group among other issues.
Excerpts:
QUESTION: Chief
Ogbogu, you were known and called “airport man” during the Ibori State
administration because you anchored the airport project. But since the airport
project came on stream, we xxx not heard much about you. What is the situation?
ANSWER: Indeed,
during the Chief James Ibori administration, I was discovered by His
Excellency, Chief Ibori and appointed to oversee the construction of the Asaba
Airport not as a contractor, but as a
government functionary. No doubt, it was quite a herculean task, especially
when you have to start such a gigantic project at the teething stage in view of
the problems associated with the land owners and the youths.
However, I was diplomatic and conscious with my
responsibility, which made it possible to overcome the odds dealing with the
said landowners and their youths who only understood the language of money or
conflict. I was always involved in setting issues in and around the teething
airport project site. In one instance, some youths and land speculators in
Asaba who want to take advantage of the porous location of the site armed with
some dangerous weapons had attempted to trespass the land and erect illegal
beacons with the aim of selling portions to unsuspecting members of the public.
I chased item with security men and some community youths. Many such attempts
were made, but on each occasion I was always on land chase them out.
QUESTION: Your
assessment of the level of work at the airport?
ANSWER: I think I am impressed with work so far done.
It is hoped that by the time the project is fully completed, the air port shall
rank among the best in the country. I commend
Dr Uduaghan for going beyond were we stopped in the course of the Ibori
administration. The airport will further attract investment and enhance
commercial activities as well as open the floodgate for the rapid industrial
development of Asaba, the State capital.
QUESTION: What is
your purpose of forming the Elumelu for Delta 2015?
ANSWER: The
Elumelu for Delta 2015 is formed with the responsibility of building a strong
and formidable force including both political and technocrats that would be in
the vanguard with other pressure groups to ensure that the PDP won all elections
at all levels in Delta State come 2015.
With emphasis on the present PDP led State government is good
performance in the area of promotion of peace and unity, human and
infrastructural development in the State, the Elumelu for Delta 2015 shall
continue to work indefatigably to ensure that another politician from the PDP
umbrella emerges the executive governor of Delta State in 2015.
QUESTION: You are
an Asaba man. We are aware that an Asaba woman is smarting positively to
contest for the gubernatorial position of the PDP in Delta State. Why do you
choose to leave her for another man from another town other than Asaba?
ANSWER: If I may
ask, who are you referring to as the other man from another town?
QUESTION:
According to the name of your pressure group: Elumelu, you are working for Hon
Ndudi Elumelu, the member representing Aniocha Oshimili People in the Federal
House of Reps, I pressure.
ANSWER: An
xxxxxx in Anioma says: what you don’t know is older than you. Let me put you
through: Elumelu in Anioma dialect is a ripe fruit. We chose the name Elumelu
because a fruit should ripe before it is harvested for consumption. In the same
light, the next executive governor of Delta State It is guitar obvious that other two senatorial
zones in the State visa viz, central and south have had their turn in producing the governor of our State.
Therefore, it is the ripe time for Delta North or the Anioma people to produce
the next governor of Delta State. It is equally a good objective to encourage
by every meaning Deltan because one good turn deserves another.
QUESTION: It is a
philosophy that promotes good governance; it encourages statesmen and
establishes egalitarian society on the bases of equity, fairness and justice.
It preaches peace, unity and brotherhood in the society, as well as good
citizenship. It enjoins every Nigerian Citizen to carry out their daily
responsibility with discretion, wisdom and with a sense of patriotism. Elumelu
for Delta encourages accountability, probity and transparency generations.
Elumelu for Delta is a way of life. It promotes better understanding among
professionals and technocrats, be you a public servant, businessman or
politician. It encourage every Nigeria to be one’s brother’s keeper and to
always bear in mind that despite our heterogeneity, Nigerians are one under one
indivisible country and God.
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