ADDRESS PRESENTED BY DR EMMANUEL EWETA UDUAGHAN, GOVERNOR-ELECT OF DELTA STATE AT A SUMMIT FOR PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS ON MONDAY, MAY 21, 2007 AT GRAND HOTEL, ASABA.


PROTOCOLS

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a very auspicious moment for us to concretely discuss the future of our state. Indeed, this may be one of the rare moments that non-government people would be coming together to rub minds on what actually needs to be done for an administration to make good on its electioneering campaign promises.

You will recall that on Monday, April 23, 2007 I inaugurated a Transition Committee to help facilitate a smooth transfer from the outgoing administration of Governor James Onanefe Ibori to the in-coming government. That committee also has responsibility for defining the rules or ground norm that would guide government business, including defining how best to achieve the three-point agenda, which formed the basis for our campaigning for this exalted office.

Today, I have invited you here to provide insight on how the in-coming administration perceives government business and what is expected of you as key participants in the developmental process. My hope is that at the end of this summit, you must have been well enlightened on the direction of the new government and how to achieve our set goals and objectives.

As you must have been aware, your names have been formally made public as those with prospects for political appointment, at least in the first four years of the new administration. This was done to send a clear signal as to how we hope to do business in this state. No more should government business be done in secrecy, nor should anyone secure appointment through any form of cronyism. It needs no gain saying that you made it to the final list only after rigorous testing and investigation as to your capability as well as your capacity. So, I want to congratulate everyone here today.

It is pertinent to also add that everyone in this hall, other than the Deputy Governor-elect and I, have what it takes to run this state. This is a reflection of the high esteem that I place every one of you. It is my hope that this confidence reposed on would not be betrayed.

But, it may interest you to know that getting to this level has not been easy. Several lobbying groups and individuals seeking political appointments have besieged my home. The pressure got to its zenith after the Transition Committee was inaugurated. The lobbyists did not spare members of the committee either. I have kept sealed lips and patiently taken time to get this team together. I simply consoled myself that the action of the lobbyists was an indication that many are eager to serve their state.

Yet, I cannot resist the temptation to drive home this point, even for the umpteenth time, that appointments would no longer be a darkroom affair, but merit driven, with performance as the key for continuing in public office. Anyone who fails to conform will be thrown out.

Let me at this stage confirm that commissioners are to be appointed from among you. But, whoever does not make it to the commissioners’ list should not be disappointed or lose face. The emphasis for you should be in what area the state has need of you most. Focus more on the service to give rather than what benefits should accrue to you. It is therefore important to take the business of this summit seriously, knowing that you are part of a team put in place to function in whatever capacity for the good of the state.

For the next two days, you will be made to acquaint yourselves with the new vision of the state with regards to your conduct in public office. New rules and tenets that would guide government business in the coming weeks are also to be unveiled. It is vital for you to treat this assignment as being very important. Our three-pronged agenda, which is the platform on which we campaigned, would likewise be treated in a greater detail.

Permit me to state the three-point agenda:

* Peace and Security
• Human Capital Development, and
• Infrastructural Development


Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no doubt that majority of Deltans are eager for us to succeed. This is more so because of the enormous resources that God has in His infinite mercy invested in our land and rivers. The distribution of the resources was not done based on tribal, personal or other parochial considerations. In the like manner, I would expect that government business would be done with the entire state in mind. The future of Delta and the development of the state is in our hands and should be regarded as a collective responsibility.

I am however pleased to inform you that membership of this summit is not necessarily a PDP affair. Other political parties have made significant inputs at our instance. There are also top-flight professionals that are not entirely partisan politicians. This is in keeping with my promise to run an all-inclusive administration. Now that we have been assembled together, I would expect us to regard each other as members of one family working to fulfill God’s wish for our state. Discrimination in any form should be discouraged.

As solution builders I would expect that everyone would put aside every other interests for the next few days of the summit and think on how best to improve on the fortunes of the state. You should remember that key decisions of the state are to be entrusted in your hands. Failure to act according to the laid down rules may lead to serious consequences, not only to the individual, but also for the entire state.

I would therefore enjoin you to carefully consider the rules, regulations, ethics and requirements for public office holders as it pertains to Delta State. The aim is to match requirement to the best man available, not to appoint people for the sake of political settlement or expediency, which does not meet with the developmental needs of the state. We need to perform, we aim to perform and in this regard we need proven performers for public office. Fortunately, we have a reservoir of time-tested men and women for the job at hand.
This address cannot be complete if I fail to place the achievements of the Governor Ibori administration on record. Apart from the huge infrastructural outlay, the outgoing administration must likewise be remembered for its inclusive nature, particularly in the appointment of public office holders. If there was one tool that was effectively used, it was the deployment of personnel as a harmony tool, which needs to be commended.

It is to this extent that we will want you to regard your being at this summit as a demonstration of our willingness to carry every one along. But in this new dispensation, professionalism and achieving results are essential for surviving as a member of this team. What I can assure you is that we are determined to work with the best hands available to achieve the best for our state.

More importantly, we must review the attitude of Deltans to public office. While I may not be an expert on such matters, my understanding of participation in public office stems from the need to offer service for the good of the greater majority in the society. However, you will agree with me that the experience we have had so far is far from what should be the case in Delta state. Entry into public office is not regarded as a privilege but as an opportunity to enrich oneself and build expansive empires to the detriment of the interest of the public such a person was meant to serve. This is a culture we must change. It is my desire that the next crop of public office holders would be genuine and people-driven.

On a final note, I would seek your indulgence to share with you some of the fears expressed, first about the setting up of the Transition Commit, and now, this summit. Of course I don’t need to state the obvious that as governor-elect, I do not have access to government funds. Most of the money spent so far have come from my pockets as well as men of goodwill who have not only expressed support for this project, but have also laid down their hard earned resources.

Because of the fears expressed about our capacity to raise the desired funds, there were doubts as whether we would be able to bring together the best hands for the job. The thinking was that no one would want to serve for free. But I was convinced that we will be able to get men willing to give a part of what they have for the service of their state. I want to thank Deltans for vindicating my faith in them.

I know as of fact that some of you have been staying in hotels at your own expense. None of those who have worked for us these past weeks have earned any salary. This is the kind of sacrifice that Delta State requires from her public office holders. I am greatly gratified that the new vision of Delta State is not only shared by me, but also by all of you. I salute your courage and sense of duty. It is my prayer that our collective sacrifices for Delta State would not be in vain.