I plan to ease suffering and pain of Urhobos, says Amori

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta Central senatorial candidate, Olorogun lghoyota Amori spoke to newsmen on his plan to ease suffering and pains of people at Delta Central Senatorial District and described the internal crisis rocking the party as a family affairs that will soon be resolved.
OBlRE ONAKEMU was there.      

You were once in the Senate, what do you plan to do differently this time around? 
Yes, within the few months I was in the Senate, I made enormous impact. I started very well and the people who gave me mandate knew that I never disappointed them within the seven months I was in the Senate. I have a blueprint to develop our people and make them live a better life. Particularly, I will look into how we can revive some of our companies that have folded up like the Delta Steel Company (DSC), Ovwian – Aladja in Udu Local Government and Sapele Sea Port to create job for the people. My representation is for the people and I will do everything possible to ensure that they have the very best representation in the Senate.

The people of Delta Central know my pedigree and records when it comes to human capital development. So, I will create inclusive leadership that will provide enabling environment for local and small-scale businesses to thrive. And you know one can’t do this without security, so I will drive security and work with the state and Federal Government to boost the confidence of the people in carrying out their daily activities.
 Your opponent in the APC is coming from a formidable background; don’t you see him as a threat to your ambition?

I have paid my dues in the Urhobo Project. The people of Delta Central know what I can do if given the opportunity. The records are there for everyone to verify from the time I was appointed as Commissioner of Education, Water Resources Development; Political Adviser and Senior Political Adviser, Chairman of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency and other offices where I have served.

I believe in service delivery and putting the needs of the people first in all I do. I know there could be challenges but I am very sure and confident of victory at the end of the election because the people know Amori, I live and relate with them.
I want you to know that there is no rigging again, people have the constitutional power to choose and make the best choice and I don’t think there is anyone more qualified than I to represent Delta Central at this period. I am going into the election with the backing of the people who believe strongly in my style of leadership.
Educationally, morally, culturally and in terms of exposure, I have all the requisite knowledge and capacity, if the election will be fair, free and credible, which I believe INEC is doing everything possible to ensure the election meets acceptable standard.

Do you think the Urhobos can still trust you with their votes? 
Yes, I remain their choice and I don’t have questionable character that can breach the trust. I have always represented interest of the people in every offices and I will replicate the gesture of their magnanimity if the mandate to represent Delta Central is given to me.
The good people of Delta Central know that I am an Urhobo irredentist and a man who believes in sustainability of our cultural heritage. I will continue to stand for the people by providing best leadership that will ease suffering and pains within the central region.

Going by the zoning arrangement, do you think it is fair to have governor and senator from the same zone (Western Urhobo)? 
The governorship was never zoned to any particular local government or kingdom in Delta Central likewise the senatorial ticket of the PDP. This is why everyone contested freely during the primary election. 
To me, PDP is not talking about zoning again because candidates have already emerged from the last primary elections and what is important to the party now is how we can come together to ensure all candidates win the election.

My antecedent is like a picture, it is not hidden from all those who have lived or followed up with the political trend since 1999 till date. My records of stewardship are there from the time I served as Commissioner for Education and Water Resources. Under me as commissioner for education, there was massive infrastructural transformation in the entire education/water resources sectors. I created four higher institutions including three Polytechnics and a College of Education. The bursary Delta students are enjoying today was a product of my initiative and other reformations in our education.
I am very confident that no other candidate match my antecedent, I have served my people as Political Adviser to Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Uduaghan and three national chairmen of PDP, and I will continue to serve them in every opportunity.

Don’t you think your closeness to Chief James Ibori will affect your chances in the 2023 election?
The relationship between Chief Ibori and I goes beyond politics. We are two brothers and I don’t think whatever internal issue within PDP family can affect our age long relationship.

He is my brother, politics or no politics we will continue to live as one. Chief Ibori is one of the pillars that stood by me during the primary. He was in Mosogar during my official declaration to run for the Senate under the PDP and we all saw the massive support he gave me.

What are the prospects of PDP, considering internal crisis threatening its survival in Delta State?
There is no family without quarrel. What is going on today in the PDP is a family affair and it doesn’t affect the prospect or chances of the party in the 2023 general election.

We have successfully inaugurated the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and every other activities will follow suit on how to build bridges and reach out to all aggrieved members or stakeholders, for everyone to key into the Atiku/Okowa project and vote all candidates across board.

Is it fair for another northerner to take over from President Buhari? 
Like I said earlier, our party delegates voted for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and what is important now is to support the candidate of my party. I am one of the leaders of the party. After primary election, the interest of the party is sacrosanct to regional interest, Nigerians are qualified to rule the nation, so we must put behind every issue and deliver the candidate of our party.

Can the PDP restructure Nigeria if the party cannot restructure itself? 
I think the PDP has nothing to restructure within for now because going by the calculation and agitations, there will be constitutional crisis in the party if the current national chairman resigns. So, the best thing is for everyone to wait till after the election, so that we go for another national convention to reshuffle our national executives.
 
Do you have fears about youth resurgence of awareness and engagement in the political process? 
It is a very good development and I think the youths need to be encouraged but they must be ready to learn. They should not only play politics on social media but join a political party and start from there. They must also understand that politics is not a do or die affair.