Elumelu for Delta is about good governance.... Ogbogu

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.