by By Elijah Ugani
The Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Sen Sandy Onor has promised to reactivate the Songai Farms, construct the Bahumono and other ring roads as well as provide water for the people of Abi if elected governor.
Sandy made the promise during an interactive session with traditional rulers at Usumutung, Abi local government area, as part of activities for the statewide campaign of the PDP.
In his words “I promise Bahumono people that if We win, we would construct this road. We would reactivate the Songai farms, rural water, hospitals and roads. Please vote for PDP with character and integrity so we can move the state forward.
“As custodians of our tradition, the onus lies on you to tell the truth. Any chief that is incapable of telling the truth would have a divided community. So I want Chiefs to know me for truth. I am not that type of politician that tell lies. We respect our people and fear God. We would make promises we can redeem. It would not profit us anything to tell lies because we want power.
“PDP had produced great leaders till Ayade came on board who was an outsider and does not understand the political culture of our state.
“We take our mandate very seriously. Bahumono had hard times in brutal communal wars. We brutalize ourselves and make no progress at all.
One of the consequences of such communal wars is that it breeds criminal bands.
“I am doing this because I heard you have been making peace between Ediba and Usumutong. I don’t believe land is so important thay we should begin to kill ourselves.
I urge the Chiefs to also pray for peace and love in our communities. When we come to government, we would constantly interact with you people to bring lasting peace.
“PDP is your first husband, please return to us, we shall not disappoint you”.
On his part, a governor and Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Mr Donald Duke averred that he cannot rest because our state is on fire “We cannot rest because our house (state) is on fire. We came out because the state of our state is deplorable.
“In our time, only two communities were left without light. Abi was the only local government that had electricity in every community. Infrastructures were built here including Pa Imoke bridge.
“You can do your big projects, but do the small things to increase productivity, healthcare was better but when the undertaker came, paradise was lost. But we have the man who knows the road and would restore the paradise first.
“We have to restore our state before we talk of how to move forward. We have a lot of work to do and PDP would do it. We should entrust our destiny into their care.
“So go out and vote because if you don’ t vote, you lose the right to complain. Traditional Rulers should make it a toboo for anyone who is 18 and has no voter’s card or has and refuse to come out and vote. Such people should be ostracized. Don’t allow anybody to intimidate you.
“We would look into the traditional rulers welfare. When we come in, we would review the stipends to reflect the inflation in our time.
Responding on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Ovai Solomon Edward, affirmed that “All Sandy has said has element of truth and we are here to let you know that, as far as Abi is concerned, we maintain a very good relationship with all political parties.
“I know that the society is indeed yearning for good leadership that touches and affect the people.
“I believe that this time around, God would bring surprises to the leadership”.
