Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe, the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has called on President Jonathan to run for a second term in office, saying that he had achieved a lot for the country and deserved to run again for presidency in 2015.
While lauding President Jonathan’s transformation agenda he said: “He (Jonathan) means well for this country. His dream is to see that Nigeria is placed in the right place.”
“I ask Nigerians to give Jonathan a chance to serve the country for another four years”, Orubebe said in Asaba, while also declaring his interest to contest for the Delta State governorship seat in 2015.
Orubebe, who was first appointed minister in 2007 as Minister of Special Duties and later Minister of State, Niger Delta before he was made the substantive minister for Niger Delta Affairs in 2010 made his intention known on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at a declaration ceremony, held at secretariat of Delta Peoples Forum in Asaba.
In an exclusive interviews with Blank NEWS Online in Asaba, Orubebe said:
“Today is a day that I am very happy to the Almighty Father who made it possible for me to serve this great country for over six years and while I was in government.
“I also had the opportunity of setting up a non-governmental organization (NGO) called Delta Peoples Forum with an aim to support and assist government to do what is good for our people and the slogan of that NGO is Deltans Working Together.
“So when resigned from government after this six years, they told me that I should come around, they want to receive me and to inaugurate the Directors and Coordinators that would be working with them. and I also thought that it was going to be a small event, I came and I saw this huge reception.
“So I have served this great country and I have learnt a lot of things by the grace of God through President Goodluck Jonathan, the governor and the people of this state for the support they gave me. So I’ve come home to deposit what I have learnt at the national level to support the governor and the people of this state to move this country forward.
“I have told the people we are bringing new concept of governance in Delta state. DPF has come to bring Deltans together to think, love and attain justice. God is telling me to listen to what the people of Delta are saying.
“God has spoken and those who have ears, let them hear. Before, l do come to Delta weekends; but now, l shall be fully here and l shall be going to Abuja weekends, except on special assignments from the President,’’ Orubebe said.
Que: Its obvious that you will be the man that the people want in this state. Why do you think you will be the right man for this job?
Ans: Yes I have worked with them over the period. Some of them knew me when I was a councillor, from councillor to local government chairman and then to state chairman of party. I worked as executive member of state primary education board and then adviser to Governor James Ibori on Urban and regional Planning and then after spending over six years they said I have the the experience and knowledge to lead as team that is ready to support government for the advancement of developmental activities in the state and that is why they have called me to head them and I am happy heading them and I believe that we will work with the governor and the people of this state to move this statefrom one level to the other.
Que: What is your message to Deltans?
Ans: Today, my message for Deltans is that God has a reason for bringing all of us together as people of Delta state. We should love one another. We should work together and look towards having people that will have Delta at heart to rule and govern this state so that collectively all of us will be happy and we will join hands to continue to build this state.
He also hailed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and said that he was in support of Uduaghan’s administration and would work with it to move the state forward.
