Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Sir Tony Obuh, who visited The Nation’s Corporate Office in Lagos, explained his mission in politics, his agenda for the Southsouth state and preparation for the primaries. Excerpts.
Why are you contesting for the governorship of Delta State?
Having served for 32 years, some will wonder why not the mandatory 35 years before retirement. I retired, not because I was tired or because it was mandatory for me to go, but because I wanted to serve in a higher capacity. I saw that vacancy in the position of the governor of Delta State and, looking at the array of person that have offered themselves for the position, I have an opportunity to serve my people. I have the qualification, experience and exposure to offer something of greater value to the people of Delta State. Putting my experience side by side with theirs, and because I have had the privilege of knowing quite a number of them, I thought that I was well positioned to take over from the present governor and contribute my own quota, to the growth and development of the state. The state has grown in leaps, especially in the last seven years. And our recent growth has been based on our philosophy of ‘Delta beyond oil’. I have been a part of the people who designed that programme. I was well positioned to continue, to sustain in and expand it, for the greater benefit of our people. And so, I decided to leave the service, seek the permission and agreement of my people, consequently upon myself to serve. That is where we are today, so far I had gone round the state meeting different opinion groups both those in the political party the PDP, those outside the political party, students, market women, traditional institutions and other individuals who are critical stakeholders in the life of Delta State. The response that we had, had been very encouraging. So, far our activities have been very well received. What we have used as our campaign materials have been produced and donated freely by people of different classes, groups including civil servants, even the unemployed person. For those who do not have money to spend, they have offered physical labour to support us. It has been very encouraging; we are on that path to pursue the mandate of the people of Delta State, to render service in the capacity of the governor. We believe we have the support of our people and the blessing of the Almighty God, so that we can add values to the lives of our people. We believe that by December 29 when we have our primaries, that will be a great day we will write a greater ‘WAEC’ and collect our result for the big one.
You have been a civil servant and not a politician. How do you accomplish this?
Let me answer directly. W,e have come to a stage where the people of Delta State are very discerning to what happen to their future. What they do in political, I think is the physical thing. How much has it added to the lives of the people in the last 20, 30 years? I have had the opportunity of being available to the people of Delta State for 32 years, and I believe the people are aware enough to know what I can do in terms of managing the affairs of the state. So, being in politics for donkey’s years for me is not the qualification for good governance.
So, you are saying that the people of Delta State will prefer a technocrat to a politician?
They will prefer a technocrat to a politician, at least, somebody who understands the environment, somebody who they accept and believe will be available to serve them the way they want. I want to say that, 14 years after the political class came to the saddle; we know the level of their performance. We have made some significant progress but equally there is the need to try some other persons who have found to be credible in terms of public service.
So, you are saying that what the politicians have offered in the last 14 years seems not to be good enough…
I have seen people work in general terms, there are average work, there are above average work and we do know that there is room for improvement. I am a technocrat, have being in the civil service for 32 years. I may not have been on the position of declaring policies or making policy pronouncement. That does not mean that I do not have the kind of experience, which they have. But I have what I considered an added advantage, because I have been right inside. I have been there helping them to build policy and implementing budget. Having served as a civil service for 32 years, I have also been part of the political process.
Are you coming out because it is the turn of Delta North?
I am from Delta North, from Agbor in the Southsouth, but the truth is that I am not coming because I am from the Delta North. It could be an advantage, but for me, I want to be a candidate for the whole people of Delta State, because Delta State is my constituency. If I am a candidate of Delta North, that will not be enough for me to win an election as the next governor of Delta State. Then the issue of being a civil servant, Permanent Secretary and the opinion people have that civil servants are against politicians, I dare say that ,for more than half of my career, from 1999, I had cause to be with the political class.
What about the rancorous PDP ward congress?
Well, rancorous? I am sure you may have heard of what happened in Delta State. We did the first part of election of delegates last week. If you listen to the outcome of that election, you will find that Delta State is really peaceful. All the delegates have expressed happiness at the outcome of the election, which is a critical aspect of preparing for the primaries. It was so free, less rancorous. I believe that the primaries will not only throw up the best candidates and that is what we are working for.
What support have you been enjoying from the out-going governor?
I will tell you that all the contestants, including myself, have been canvassing for the support of the governor. So far, no declaration has been made. If it is done today, I will celebrate it. I am still working hard to get across to my people based on my past achievement as a civil servant.
What support have you been receiving from the people?
I will say the support has been overwhelming. I have come to see that all classes of people now have my telephone number. Even those who will send me text to ask for a recharge cards have my number. But notwithstanding, they still want to see me, to express their support for you. They have something they will always want to refer to about me, in term of knowing me for who you I am. And what they think can do for them. At the grassroots level, I have the overwhelming support. Within the civil and public service of Delta State, the support is overwhelming. I am very confident on the support I get from the grassroots. This is also a prelude to our philosophy of Delta Beyond oil. I was a part of the transition committee that ushered in the present government. And like you know, the philosophy of Delta beyond oil enables us open up our economy. Even when oil will no longer generate the kind of revenue, we need to build on agriculture, expand on skills acquisition of our people and improve on job generation. So, far the present administration has been working very hard. But then if at the end of eight years, this philosophy is abandoned, and the government of the state is taken over by somebody who does not have the same attitude to this philosophy, I am sure we will witness drawback in development. So, mine is to build and expand on what is already on ground.
What is your position on the derivation formula in the country, particularly as it affects your state?
If you know what has been happening, all the states of the Southsouth have always have some increase in the derivation fund. For me and like every other person from that area, we want a situation where we take control of what is produced from our region. But the laws of the federation will not let us do that for now. Everything has to be coordinated from the centre. They decide what is given to us constitutionally. Since we cannot determine what come to us that is why we are looking beyond oil. We are looking at other aspects where we can generate revenue to grow our economy. We have seen that what is happening which we have no control over, until the oil is finished. But before it is finished, we have to open up other areas, apart from the revenue we get from oil. I think that is really what Delta beyond oil is all about.
You said, if you get the endorsement of the governor, you will do a thanksgiving. Why?
I still stand on what I said. I can also tell you that if you visit or have interaction with other contestants, you see the faces of people who work with the present government or past government. And they don’t have a monopoly over who becomes the governor, so if I get his endorsement I will celebrate.
Aspirants in the party are saying that you are being imposed; they are seeing an umbilical cord from the last administration to the present…
Even the prominent participants in the present dispensation that is the contestant all belong to the family of this cord. If you say you want to break it I should be the first person that should be thrown up to contest for the position. If you look at all of contestants, they had either they served as commissioners or members of the National Assembly of State Assembly and so on and so forth. I am the only one who is coming from outside the family because I have been a civil servant.
Do you see a consensus candidate emerging in Delta?
Let me state from the fact that, we had something similar to what you are saying. We are talking of governor for an entire a state, north a governor for Delta North. The choice is being decided by the three senatorial districts. So, what they can do is to ensure that they encourage everybody that is from Delta north origin, to be thrown into the market and let people decided for them.
When did you join the PDP? People said you joined in disguise…
I joined as a free Nigerian, the law of the country permits me to join any association, including the political party of my choice. I joined PDP formally in 2011.
As a civil servant?
Yes, the law allows that very well.
What will you do well that the present administration has not done?
Government is a continuum that is never an end to what government does. Even if you construct roads today, it has to be maintained. There are so many things that have been put on ground, that whoever takes over, not just me, would have to do, to sustain the growth of the state.
