• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Timi Alaibe joins Bayelsa Governorship race

Timi Alaibe joins Bayelsa Governorship race

Former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ndutimi Alaibe, has joined the Bayelsa State governorship race with a promise to transform Bayelsa into a strong blue ocean economy.

Alaibe, an acknowledged technocrat, businessman and politician is contesting on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP

He told journalists in Abuja, shortly before picking his PDP gubernatorial form on Thursday, that he would bring his wealth of experience at the NDDC to drive development and build critical infrastructures needed to expand the efforts of the current administration in the state.

Alaibe, who is expected to face strong opposition from Reuben Okoya, a known political associate of the former President Goodluck Jonathan and Ebi Egbe, current CEO Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited, is however said to have an edge as his area, Kolokuma-Opokuma, has neither produced a governor nor a deputy, since the state was created.

“I will bring my wealth of experience to share economic prosperity for the people of Bayelsa State, using government as a social investor and an enabler,” he declared.

He disclosed that his administration would invest in security, schools, hospitals, and environment, but more importantly, use government as an enabler.

This, he said, would be to “provide the enabling environment to invite the private sector Capital, experience and strategy for the implementation of critical infrastructure development, accelerated economic development, small and medium enterprises support, tourism and culture, ecological remediation and flood control and implementation of a blue ocean economy.”

Alaibe who stated that he was back to the PDP, expressed gratitude to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson for providing a level playing ground for all the contestants

No fewer than five major Bayelsa political groups including the Bayelsa Advancement Movement, Alaibe Support Group, Committee for the Development of Bayelsa State and Concerned Progressive Youths of Bayelsa, are backing his candidature

Alaibe who said he had stepped down for some other politicians in the past, stated that “Anytime I did that it was based on certain political exigencies. For instance, I believe that the party is supreme.

“So, when the leadership of the party says something, we have to abide by it.  But that era is over. It is different this time because I have carried out extensive consultation with the stakeholders both at the state and national levels. I can only say that I am humbled and overwhelmed at the magnitude of support I have received,” he said.

Speaking on his vision for the state, Alaibe said he believed in “shared economic prosperity through government as a social investor and government as an enabler. My vision is to transform Bayelsa State to a centre of sustainable economic development, peace, and prosperity.

“I intend, in my action plan, to focus on economic development through emphasis on the development of a strong private sector.”

Other areas of emphasis include Education and Skills Development, Housing, and Urban Development, Critical infrastructure, Security, Peace and Social Harmony, Institution Building and Entrenchment of a Culture of Good Governance Delivery

He declared that there was no basis for comparison between him and other aspirants, adding that he was coming into the race with an incomparable wealth of experience both in the public and private sectors.

“I have never been a failure in anything I set out to do. And I will not fail my people as a governor,” Alaibe said.