Wada, Igali pick PDP governorship form for Kogi, Bayelsa
By Tunde Opalana, Abuja
The immediate past Governor of Kogi state, Captain Idris Wada (rtd) and former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali picked expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the November 16 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The two aspirants were at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Monday.
Captain Wada lamented the state of abandonment of infrastructural projects he embarked upon before leaving office by the incumbent Yahaya Bello administration.
Speaking to journalists after collecting his form, he said it was unfortunate that since he left office even projects that were 90 per cent completed have been abandoned by the succeeding Bello administration, adding that the projects that were at 60 per cent are still where they were when he left office, reiterating that as someone whose government has positively impacted on lives of the people, he was disturbed by current prevailing hunger and poverty ravaging the people.
To address poverty, he said “if I come in, I have a very robust agricultural transformation programme. So I assure you we are going to empower people through agricultural programmes, we will bring in young people, we will have extension farmers fielding into a larger farm with processing industry that will lift all the people out of poverty
“When I was governor of Kogi state, I added value to the state. I had several infrastructural projects which I did for the state, rural electrification for more than 400 communities.
“I want to pull Kogi out of the present mess that we are in. Meanwhile, when I was there, I was paying salary almost 25th of every month. Now, we are hearing story of people not been paid for 39 months, you can’t fold your hands and do nothing.
“And of course the solid mineral resources, we will work with the federal government to work towards reactivating the Ajaokuta- Itapke operations to employ more people, so with agricultural transformation and processing industries we will get our people out of poverty.”
In a related development, a governorship aspirant from Bayelsa state, Ambassador Godknows Igali said in as much as he would love to continue with the good policies of Governor Seriake Dickson, he is ready to redefine the infrastructural landscape of the state.
He said “government is a continuum and you have to continue with what has been done, especially if is in the right direction. But, there is always a possibility for you to bring your experience; other ideas you have to improve on things.
“One of Nigeria’s biggest problems is the issue of funding infrastructure. Because the money that comes through federation account cannot be enough. So, the difference that I think I will bring is that there are innovative ways all over the world.
“And for all the high-flying economies of the world, what brings development is infrastructure, both physical and social. There is a lot of money in the world. It depends on if you are able to know where the money is and how to get the money down.”
