Hold politicians to their campaign pledges- Says aspiring Nigerian governor

An aspiring governor of the Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia has asked the electorates to hold politicians to their campaign promises in the event that they fail to deliver.

Sir Celestine Omehia, aspiring candidate for the Rivers State governorship

According to the candidate, promises made on campaign platform signify a social contract that binds the politician and the electorates and “must be fulfilled” when voted and sworn into office.

“Every promise that is made on campaign platform must be implemented because that is a social contract binding politicians to the electorates. That is to say that whatever a politician says to the electorates to take their votes should not be a deceit to them. For instance, in a community that is in a dry land, you promise a bridge, what does it mean? It is a deceit and the people will clap for you. Even though you won’t know that you are deceiving them, the electorates should be able to know the difference between lying to them and saying the truth. They should be able to challenge such a politician,” he said, adding “every politician should keep his promise.”

Sir Omehia made this remark in Accra at the week-end when he interacted with Nigerians especially; those from Rivers State in the Diaspora to solicit for their votes in the upcoming general elections in Nigeria scheduled to take place in April.

As the mantle of political office holders in Nigeria draws to a close, there is a build-up in the electioneering campaign in the West Africa country.

Sir Omehia, who is a former governor of the Rivers State face stiff challenge from the incumbent, Rotimi Amaechi, to whom he lost the seat in 2007 as a result of a court ruling over their disputed primaries. One-time Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo is also eyeing the seat.

Mr. Omehia this time around is vying for the governorship race on the ticket of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), having withdrawn from the ruling PDP.

He told The Chronicle that he always has someone to record him when on political platform to enable him have a “quick impact program” to implement when he wins the heart of the electorates and is sworn into office.

He advised politicians not to get angry when their people called on them to remind them of the promise they made. “When you are being reminded of your promises, you must as a matter of necessity, dignity and honour, put them into practical reality.”

Sir Omehia, who is also a former Commissioner for Education in the Rivers State is notably known for his achievements in the construction of the Eleme Flyover to ease traffic on the Port Harcourt-Aba road, the construction of Mile One Market as well as the construction of the Institute of Political and Strategic Studies within his short stay in office as the Governor of Rivers State.

His achievements he said are “a fulfillment of my promise to the community.”

Sir Omehia is again notably known for the diplomatic role he played in wooing investors to the Rivers State to create employment avenues for the jobless.

That notwithstanding his achievements, he promised to give the youth a place in his administration to enable them be part in decision making of his administration when voted and sworn into office.

“In Nigeria and in most African countries, the youth are not involved in the daily administration of the country. They don’t even know how policies are formulated and affected,” he said.

He told The Chronicle that he would create a forum for the youth when voted into office with a mandate of coming out with ideas on what will influence the development and growth of the Rivers State.

He urged the Rivers State community in Ghana who are registered voters to go home and cast their votes for him and the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan explaining that though the APGA is national political party, it would not field a presidential candidate because members share the ideals and vision of the president.

A plaque with his picture embossed on it was awarded to him by a group called Nigerians in Diaspora for Omehia (NIDO) for his sterling performance as Governor and his contributions to the betterment of lives in the Rivers State.