Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, recenty held a meeting with Ijaw traditional rulers in the state. in this brief encounter with newsmen, shortly after the meeting, he spoke about his recent purported suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and state of the party in the state, among other issues.
CAN we know your mission in the state today?
I came to see my traditional fathers in Delta State because of the false and nonsense things people have been writing in the papers, including writing false and stupid things to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). My traditional fathers in Delta State were worried and they invited me to come and brief them. So, I came in here to have a meeting with them, to brief them, to talk to them about how I have worked as a minister and also to debunk those false allegations, stupid things they are talking about.
Everybody in Delta State knows that I have built my integrity over the years as a councillor, local government chairman; executive member; State Primary Education Board; Adviser to the former governor on Urban and Regional Planning and State Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Delta State and I have been minister for six years. So, if Orubebe is that bad, there is no way any president will tolerate him.
I have come to discuss with them, I am through with them and I am going back to Abuja to continue the good works that I am doing to support Mr. President in his transformation agenda to transform the country.
How would you react to your purported suspension by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Burutu local government area of the state loyal to the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark?
Well, I know I talked about that issue when I was asked by the press in Abuja and know I did say that some charlatans, who I describe as people that are dancing a political dance, met and ascribe to themselves the power that they don’t have to talk about things. I don’t want to talk about this; they remain my brothers and sisters but I feel sad that people who are supposed to know what is right and good do not understand the constitution of the PDP and the kind of power that they should have.
I don’t think about it, I am moving forward and I will continue to support the PDP in Delta. I will continue to support the governor of this state in all his activities to see that we have a better state and I will continue to support the PDP at the national level to see that we get to where we are supposed to be.
What is the outcome of your meeting with the traditional rulers?
Yes, it was a nice meeting; a meeting between fathers and their child. We had a very good meeting. They are always very proud of this son of theirs and they still have that their belief in me. I told them also that I will not do anything to disappoint them. So, it was a friendly, cordial, father and child relationship meeting and it went very well.
How is your ministry implementing the transformation agenda in the Niger Delta?
The transformation agenda of Mr. President is solid and Mr. President has said over and over that by the time he is through, Nigeria will be better off. That, we have been pursuing. Today, works are going steadily on the East/West Road that was not passable. I talked about the East/West Road a number of time, a road that had no programme, no financial programme, no design, nothing, I did it.
A road that has 42 bridges spanning from 70 metres to 850 metres, I came on board as a minister and completed 36 of the 42 bridges. The road has over 1000 culverts and today, we have completed 704 culverts because we have financial plans put in place. I have told everybody this week at a press conference that by December 2014, this road which has been there since 2006 will be delivered to the people of Nigeria, particularly Niger Deltans, by December 2014. I think we are on and nothing will stop us from getting to where we want to get to.
What is your relationship with Chief Edwin Clark now?
Chief E.K. Clark is a leader of the Ijaw people; he is a father and he will remain so. Our relationship is still cordial. We work together in the interest of the Ijaw people and we work together in the interest of this state. We have a cordial relationship.
What is the way forward to achieve genuine reconciliation and peace in Delta PDP?
I don’t think we have any problem in Delta PDP. Delta PDP remains strong and PDP remains the only party in this state; there is no other party in this state. The party is strong, we have a very strong and vibrant state chairman and we are all working with him to deliver PDP again in 2015. So, we don’t have any issue that needs the attention of people outside PDP and I can tell you that there are no problems in Delta PDP. We are moving on and we are set to deliver PDP in 2015 again.
[Tribune]
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