Governorship aspirant under the flagship of the All Progressives (APC) Congress,Hon. Bernard Mikko has vowed to tackle job insecurity, environmental degradation, and lack of industrialization as key areas of focus if given the mandate to govern the state in 2023.
Speaking on a live radio programme with Wave FM, the APC guber aspirant carpetted leaders in the state for the poor resource allocation and management of state funds for only a few persons to pauperise the masses , only to remember them during elections for votes.
The guber hopeful said he intends to create a level playing field in terms of tackling inequality, as he believes that the wealth of Rivers state should be utilized for the general good.
His words,: Our commonwealth should not be limited to only those in positions of power.
We have seen over the years that development has defied both the Riverine & Upland areas of the state.
For him, the upland and riverine dichotomy should be jettisoned for an equitable system that will share power among the three senatorial districts of the state.
Responding to the issue of “Consensus” candidate and the other two contenders in the race he opined that all constestants should be allowed to test thier popularity.
Though he averred not to have served in government for a long time, he stressed that his track record and vision qualifies him as an independent aspirant, as opposed to his fellow aspirants who are being sponsored by some godfathers’ hence making them stooges that will work against the interest of Rivers people.
He called on Rivers people to be alert to fresh ploy to hoodwink them into voting for politcal erand boys who will only do biding of their masters.
The guber aspirant called the party to be cautious on foisting another candidate against the wish of party faithfuls, while recalling the sad fate that befell the party in last elections
Mikko warned that recent statements by Governor Wike of the PDP is a pointer that all is not well for a consensus candidate, as he expressed fears that the PDP might use it again to frustrate the APC.
Unlike many of the aspirants who made their wealth through politics, Mikko has over the years built a reputation as a captain in the industrial sector and wish to replicate his skills as an entrepreneur into public administration , as a way of transforming as well create opportunities for the people of Rivers state.
Nonetheless, the pledged to collaborate with private sector, non indigenes as he insists that civil servants would be given a pride of
place.
He reiterated that his mission is to make everyone in Rivers State part of the governance process.
Assuring of his quest to clinch the party guber ticket, Mikko urged delegates ahead the primaries to support a candidate who can win elections, reasoning that it will boost partys chances significant in the general elections.The Ogoni, unlike the “riverine,” always vote in blocks, he added.
As far as he was concerned,Rivers State is larger than Wike and Ameachi, as a state of 5 million people should not be left to the interests of these two individuals, according to Hon. Mikko stressed that this poses threat to the general interestof Rivers people.
Hon. Bernard Mikko also stated that no one can assess the current administration’s performance without first seeing the budget and comparing it to the work that has been completed, a budget that no one has seen in seven years.
For the past 8years he opined that human capital development has been at lowest ebb coupled with poor environment management with the
soot ravaging Rivers residents for over six years, as well as the state’s poor waste disposal.
Mikko, remarked, “Our Dear Garden City has become a Garbage City owing to the government’s failure to solve environmental issues.”
The APC guber aspirant stated that due to the new electoral law, rigging elections would be difficult, and that only candidates without blemishes would be able to win elections without controversy.
He therefore urged delegates to be vote him as he has blemish-free record who would not be threatened by any legal concerns throughout the election process, or risk the party going out extinct if it loses the general elections.
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