GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Cross River State, Dr Ntufem Fidelis Ugbo has expressed optimism about his chances of winning next weekend’s gubernatorial election in the state despite the sweeping victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election.

While speaking with The Guardian in Abuja at the weekend, Ugbo who promised to tackle the social menace of corruption, youth unemployment, non payment of salaries and other debilitating burden on the shoulder of the ordinary citizen said his main focus would be jumpstarting the economic sector of the state if elected governor.

Ugbo who is the immediate past head of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and former Secretary, National Economic Council (NEC) said that he is in good stead to usher in an era of prosperity in the state.

According to him, “I have a basic understanding of Cross River State having worked in the state as Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, having worked in the state as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), having worked at the national level as Secretary, National Planning Commission and having worked in the Presidency as Secretary, National Economic Council, a council that is made up of all the 36 state governors of Nigeria with the vice president.

“I have more than adequate knowledge to understand the federation of Nigeria and the 36 states of Nigeria. So with this kind of experience I have, I don’t see any of the candidates in April 11 elections in Cross River State that is more knowledgeable than I am on that basis and also on the basis of performance.

“Why I joined the Labour Party is because it is the party of the people, it is the party for all of us that are here including you because I am sure you are affiliated to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).  Is a labourer not entitled to his wages? So the labour party is supposed to be the number one party in Nigeria and I believe very strongly that the future of the party is very bright.

“If all those who work daily for a wage will realise that LP is where they belong, the party will be the biggest party and the most formidable. Why Labour? Because I understand the challenges of those of us who work for a salary at the end of the month, I understand the challenges they face having worked in Central Bank for 20 years, having worked in so many places and felt the pains that workers go through. To me, it would have been more than a better place for them because that is where I believe I naturally belong.

“What do I have for the people in the party? Yes I understand their challenges. Today in Cross River State, salaries are not paid which is anti people because a labourer is entitled to his wages, pensioners are not receiving their pension regularly and the only university we have in the state has been on strike for almost a quarter of a year now. Their resumption is not even in sight as they might be on strike for 6 months because no one is looking towards that direction and these are people who have families they need to feed and I know that very soon they will say no work no pay and all those kind of things.  Those things should not be allowed if you really want to support education.

“There is unemployment, youths are not being employed. Today the crime rate in Cross Rivers State, which used to be a very peaceful state, is rising up on a daily basis. I was told that few days ago there were clashes amongst the political parties and 3 people were killed. This wouldn’t have happened if we had a good understanding.  So we have a situation in the state where insecurity is taking the upper hand, which, is like there is no government, and I believe such thing should not be happening. If we have a leader that people genuinely love at heart and who is prepared to address the challenges that are facing the people, there will be no crises. Why are we having all these issues about youths fighting and killing themselves?

“Unemployment and what are we doing about unemployment? If you are talking about the quality of education how much are we looking at the dynamics? The United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation says the first 1000 days of a child are very critical for that child’s development educationally.  What are we doing to ensure that those first 1000 days of a child’s life will lay a solid foundation? To me our educational system is such that we don’t pay attention to the primary section of our education.

“We tend to feel that primary schools should be handled by local governments, but it is not so. Even if it is going to be handled by them, we need to have structures at the state level that would give particular attention to that section so that these children’s foundation would be solid. It is then that they will shine. That is how you promote quality education. It is not by putting primary, secondary and tertiary education together. The problems will be too much for whoever you put in charge; the commissioner can’t address specific problems of these primary education, neither will he be able to address that of secondary and tertiary so there should be a separation.

“So I believe that given an opportunity to be the next governor, I am going to split education into two; higher education and the basic education so that whoever is going to be in charge of basic education will specifically address such so that by the time we graduate those in the basic education sector and they are moving to the higher education sector, we have quality products who can compete globally.”

Ugbo who promised to create over 2,500 jobs as soon as he is inaugurated as the governor by ensuring that youths acquire skills and capital to be on their own, said “There is no assignment that I have ever been given that anybody will say that I didn’t do it well. The three years I spent at the National Planning Commission were eventful years because what we delivered during those three years, I think national planning has not seen that for quite a while. So I believe I have bright chances of becoming the next governor of Cross River state.”

On criticism against the use of the card readers and Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for the poll, he said, “Thank you very much. We believe in credible elections in Nigeria because Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa; the number one economy in Africa by the basic exercise I conducted when I was still the Secretary of National Planning by one of the parastatals, National Bureau of Statistics. The entire continent of Africa is looking up to Nigeria to set the pace not only in economic terms, but also in politics and leadership. We are the leaders of Africa so I believe in credible, free and fair elections