VICE-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has hailed his predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for his contributions to the party’s campaigns.
Speaking on Wednesday at PDP campaign rallies at Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South-West and Udu Local Government Areas of the State, Okowa stated that the PDP is happy with the way the former Governor is reconciling members of the party.
“The work you (Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan) are doing in reconciling members of our party, we are happy with it and we can’t thank you enough,” Okowa told Uduaghan.
At the rallies, the Governor deplored the abandonment of the Gas Revolution Industrial Park project in Ogidigben in the State by the ruling All Progressives Congress’s (APC’s) Federal Government.
He also slammed the APC administration for the moribund Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja now Premium Steel Company.
He said that as important as the gas revolution park was to the nation and the world, the Buhari administration had failed to ensure its realisation.
He pointed out that the world was moving towards gas as an alternative energy source, but lamented that the Federal Government’s ineptitude had put the gas project in jeopardy.
The PDP Vice-Presidential candidate, however, assured that the Atiku-Okowa ticket would make the project a top priority when elected.
According to him, when optimally harnessed, the gas potential in Warri South-West Local Government Area and other oil-bearing communities would significantly boost the nation’s economy and the State as well as the Local Government Area.
He said that the APC administration lacked creative ideas on how to diversify the economic base of the nation which would have put the nation on a pedestal of sustainable growth and development.
“For over seven and half years, the APC-led administration has failed to bring the Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Ogidigben to reality because they don’t understand the economic potential of the project.
“This is why we must have our own person in Abuja so that we can ensure the commencement of the project.
“Let’s vote for the PDP to ensure the realisation of the project. It will be one of the major projects we will embark on once we take over.
“The whole world is moving towards gas and we have it in abundance and I can assure you that we will focus on it because many countries are looking for gas and we have it in abundance.
“If elected, the Federal Government, under the PDP would pay special attention to the enormous gas in Warri South-West Local Government which has been abandoned by the APC administration.
“A PDP Federal Government, if elected, would harness the vast gas potential in the area and other oil-bearing communities in the country to strengthen the economic base of the nation which will also trickle down to the Local Government Areas that produce oil.
“APC has finished Nigeria with their inept administration and we will not allow them to kill us before we act. So, let us vote them out with our PVCs,” the Governor stated.
On Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja, Okowa assured that the PDP would join hands with the core investor, Premium Steel, to revive the moribund company.
“We are already talking to Premium Steel; the State Government may invest in the company for the sake of our people that will be employed there,” he stated.
Deputy Governor of the State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, said he was grateful to Governor Okowa for the construction of the Aladja-Isaba road, Madagho Sport road, and interventions at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko.
Otuaro said Warri South-West would not disappoint the party, and assured that they would vote for all candidates of the party as they had always done.
Former Governor of the State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, lauded the people of Warri South-West for being very peaceful and commended Okowa and Otuaro for their contributions to peace and development of the area.
At Udu, the former Governor decried the mismanagement of Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja, and urged the Vice-Presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to work towards reviving the company, when elected.