Sir Tony Obuh’s Extempore Declaration Speech On Friday, November 07, 2014 @ the Cenotaph, Asaba, Delta State

I am indeed overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in every sense of the word by the audience that I have here, by the crowd that is here today, by the number of Deltans who have come here to witness this event, by the sheer show of love and support.

Looking at you today, there is no doubt in my mind that all of have a single verdict and a clear vision that we want for a peaceful, united and progressive Delta state. I welcome all of you in the name of God. I thank you for the pain you have taken to travel from all the nooks and crannies of Delta state.

I believe that we have one single commission to show our love for Delta state. One Delta, one destiny and one people. That is what we will continue to preach and that will remain the philosophy of the people of Delta state once we have the opportunity to serve in a higher capacity.

So many High Chiefs have left their territories and kingdoms to travel to this place to show support and solidarity. I want to thank you all very seriously and tell you that the way you have respected us, God will continue to respect you and your kingdoms will continue to witness growth and prosperity.

For 23 years we have had Delta state and we have continued to witness and notice progress in various sectors. Particularly in the last seven and half years, we have noticed progress, development and growth in different aspects. All anchored on the philosophy of Delta Beyond Oil.

What we are seeing have shown us that there are great opportunities that are open to us as a people to grow. We have opportunities to grow our industries, youths, agriculture, micro-credit facilities, skill acquisition and to make Delta state remains on top in the Nigerian nation.

I want to assure you that the march we are starting today, is a consolidation of the opportunities that we have and I will expand on the opportunities that we have to grow Delta state to a situation where all of us will be proud and feel dignified anytime we see ourselves as people of this great state.

My dear people of Delta state, we have grown and we have had opportunities but there are still lot more to be done in the future. And we can do that if we are able to concentrate on what we are doing now, expand on it and then carry out an integrated development that would see us moving from stage to stage. What we want is continuation in the rendition of progressive service to the people of Delta state. A service that will ensure that people, especially the youths and women are properly employed and engaged and provide us opportunities for employment, opportunities for the possession of our food items, opportunities to benefit from the value chain that is now the in thing in our country.

Great people of Delta state! I Tony Chuks Obuh, having consulted widely with members of my family, my immediate constituency, elders and leaders of thought, traditional rulers, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and all other stakeholders, I am ready and set to serve you. I am set to serve you because I believe in Delta state. I am set to serve you because I believe that every part of Delta state have a stake on what happens to the people. I am here to serve you all. I have visited all the communities in Delta North, Delta Central and Delta South. I have a stake in the life of the communities. I know the communities and I believe that the communities know me. We have one thing in common and that is growth that will never be impeded. And that is what I promise to offer you.

Great people of Delta state, having looked at all the opportunities that we have ahead of us, taking into consideration the outcome of my consultation and watching the crowd that’s here gathered just to listen to me, just me. I want to humbly declare to you that I want to contest for the office of Governor of Delta state.

I am doing this because I have confidence that you would support me but some people will ask, Who is Obuh? Obuh is a seven years old man that has served Delta state for 32 years in the civil service. 32 years that afforded me the opportunity to understand what government is all about and create policies that are meant to serve the interest of the people of the state. 32 years that has exposed me to know how policies fail and how they succeed and to knowing all the segments of this great state, the opportunities that exist and how we can tap into them. These years have greatly prepared me for longer service.

I left the civil service not because I’m tired, not because I was forced to retire, not because because I didn’t know what I wanted to do, not because anybody compelled me to retire. I left the service voluntarily because I wanted to serve my people in a higher capacity.

I stand here before you in all sincerity to assure you that I’m contesting for this election not just because I’m from Delta North but because I want to be a child of the whole of Delta state.

We are all here gathered as one people with common destiny. I want to stand for that election as a true son of Delta state. I seek your support. I seek your support, prayers and mandate. That is why I’m here to let you know that I am setting out to transform Delta state.

There is no gainsaying the fact that we can only accomplish what we want, working on the platform of a great, united and solid political party and that is our PDP.

I want to assure everybody that the march we are embarking on is a march that will grow PDP in strength and in size.

We will continue to ensure that PDP will win all elections from the ward level up to the state and national level. We shall never reduce the size and potency of our great political party. We will pursue policies that would ensure that PDP serves the people and serve them well at all times.

Great Deltans, I cannot complete this address without thanking you. I want to thank you because you have given me great encouragement. I want to thank you because I am standing here on the comfort of the assurance I have from you.

People have alleged that I am being funded by unknown persons but I want to tell them that the people who are funding me are here gathered. Students have volunteered to paste my posters free of charge, printers are printing posters for me free of charge, unemployed persons are helping with physical services to make sure that I contest. They do these things because they believe that I have something to offer.

I want to assure you as a person, as a true Catholic, as a true son of Delta state that I cannot fail you. I will offer you value service, a service that will transform our community, a service that will grow our state.

They have also asked, “Who is Obuh? Is he a politician?” Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been a Permanent Secretary for eight years. If only on that score, for eight years, government has recognised me as a politician.

Before today, I had the opportunity of founding and funding a political support group that has been in existence since 2006. The PUI International participated in supporting PDP since 2007 up till today, in all elections that have been conducted and I know that the leaders of our political party recognise that. Even those who want to deny the fact in public, they realise and accept it in private.

I am from a political family. My late brother (Ben Obuh) was the Chairman of PDP, Delta North. He was a Council chairman. He was a Secretary of PDP and he had a vibrant political group that he put together. Although he has been away for three years, the Association has continued to grow. The answer to that point is that we have been working together as a political group, supported by me as a person and yet they say I am not a politician.

I am a politician and on top of that, a registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) being a card carrying member for the last four years. Who can be a better politician?

I am trained to serve. I am determined to serve. I am here to serve. I have come to ask your permission, your approval, your prayers. God will bless our dream because He is the ultimate and it is only Him that will give power and we solidly believe that the Almighty God will bless our mission and our vision.

Thank you amd may God bless you all.

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