In this exclusive chat with Popular News, Ambassador Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, who is aspiring to be governor of Edo State in 2024, laid bare his pedigree
Excerpts:
Why do you want to be the Governor of your State?
My desire to become governor of Edo State is to better the lot of the people. Bring sanity into governance. Address issues of marginalisation of some sector of the society who are commonly called the masses.
For me a better Edo State is very possible.
What makes you different from others who are also running for the same position?
I grew up with the people. I live in their midst. I have always associated with them. I have no cause to play superiority game with the people. To put it succinctly I have street credibility.
Why should anyone vote for you?
My honesty of purpose. My knowledge of nearly all the daily occurrences on the streets of the towns, villages and hamlets in the state makes me the round peg in the round hole. I will not let my people down. As they say, he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. I understand what my people are going through and I know the antidotes.
What is the biggest challenge facing your State?
The issue of irregular migration is a big headache that has made a lot of family to be entangled in life threatening situations where their wards are tricked into modern slavery all in the name of searching for a better life for the entire family. If we make living conditions good here. If we can virtually turn Edo State to the Dubai of Nigeria all these will become a thing of the past as our people will have no need to seek for imaginary greener pastures elsewhere. Rather, Edo will be turned to a Mecca of sorts where everyone will be interested in relocating to to better their lots.
What is your plan to sustainably solve the challenge?
Like I just said if we turn Edo State to the Dubai of Nigeria we will have comfortably solved the problem. My team and I, already have a big and workable plans layout for a Better Edo State of our dreams that will be able to compete anywhere economically in Nigeria and other countries of the World.
What is your vision of your State 4 years and 8 years after you become the Governor?
Turning the state to a Mecca of sorts of the country is attainable. My administration will make things work. Our different natural resources will be tapped into and brought back to life as it was the case in the days of yore when cocoa was our major source of generating income. Now we have gold in some parts of the state which is being illegally mined and whose earnings are going into private pockets. That area will be adequately addressed to boost our internally generated revenue. There will be Free Healthcare Insurance Scheme for the masses of the people.
There will be Free Education for the masses of the people. There will be Educational Scholarships for bright and excellent students with little or no financial background amongst the masses of the people. Construction of flyovers will be visible across the key point areas in the State. Public Complaints Office and Students Scholarship Office will be attached directly to my office as Governor. Completion of abandoned projects across the state. Provision of basic social amenities of life to Edo State People. Education and infrastructural development will be our utmost priority. Extremely reduced taxes for the masses of the people. There is going to be Agricultural Development with huge local and foreign investments because “Food is Life”. Edo State will be well known for Agricultural Products. Security of the State will be the utmost priority of my Government. I personally draw out the proposal letter for Local Security that you now see as the Edo State Security Network today in the State.
What will be your major sources of sustainable funding for your State?
I just listed that extensively while responding to your last question.
What have you done for the poor masses of your State?
I have done series of empowerment programmes for the underprivileged, the youths, women etc that I would rather not want to start listing here so as not to sound vain glorious.
How can you prove that you genuinely care for the poor masses of your State?
If you do a tour of the streets of Benin and make your enquiries about my personality. A few people who have had encounter with me in my numerous engagement will give you some details.
Do you have a Work Plan with deliverables to win the election?
My manifesto, which I believe is what you call work plan, will centre on agriculture, sports, production of art works, rural development, urbanisation of prominent towns, beautification of Benin City centres, construction of durable roads and the likes. Also it will be my policy to make people of an area get together and decide on what they think if the government does will adequately ameliorate their problems. As a Governor of a State, you are simply identified as a Coordinator of all organs of Government in the State. I am going to be a Governor of Edo State people (Edolites) in all the Senatorial Districts and not just a Governor of Benins, Esans or any other ethnic entity in the State because I see us all as one of the same parents!
I am going to be a Governor of Integrity, Accountability, Transparency, Capacity, Competence, Security, Rule of Law and Social Justice without fear or favor across board. I am going to be a Governor of the people with utmost respect for the Traditional Institutions across board. The watchword of the Edo State Government under my leadership as a people oriented hovernor is PROACTIVENESS without sentiments. Payment of salaries and other legitimate renunciations will be my utmost priority as a Governor of Edo State. Build up on Healthcare Reforms (Insurance), Education, Transportation, Agricultural Development, Maintenance of Government Facilities and Reconstruction of Abandoned Projects across the State will take high place in my Developmental Agenda as a Governor(We must bring development to the grassroots through the 18 LGA Councils and will be adequately supervised by my Office as Governor). My team and I are coming to serve our people as a Government of Substainable Industrialization/Production thereby moving the state economy from consumption to production mostly in the Agricultural, Tourism, Production Industries and many other income sources and job creation for my people.
Could you please send what NGO you have or worked with?
I have worked with my own NGO in which I am a co-founder by the name Face to Face Community Employment Initiative since (2011) till date, I am also the founder of the Benin Solidarity Movement BSM Worldwide (2019) till date and I also co-founded the Edo State Civil Society Organizations all for the betterment of the masses of the people, you can check details on Google to see my passion for a better Edo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
