…As International Community Assures On Commitment To Support Pursuit
By Anderson Hart
The National Rescue Movement Governorship Aspirant For Rivers State, High Chief Hon. Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich had said that if elected into office in 2023, his administration will run on the foundation of accountability and transparency.
He made this declaration at the Lemaco Hall, Ada George Road during his official declaration tagged “Rivers Of Hope” to run for the exalted Governorship position of Rivers State come 2023.
According to him the transparency of his administration will be such that the financial records of government will be made available for citizens to behold, and for the scrutiny of anti-graft agencies. Hear him: “the government I seek to lead shall establish clear internal control and accountability measures that would foster efficiency in the management of State resources, and evaluation that would serve as an indicator to measure performance in the implementation of government policies and programs against set objectives.
Jackrich who is a strong critic of the state government said both APC and PDP lack the capacity to entrench a sincere, transparent and all-inclusive leadership class that will unite the diverse ethnic group and place the state on the path of unity, peace, and progress like the National Rescue movement, a party poised to change the narrative and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
Hear him “Rivers state needs a credible leader that is God-fearing, one that feels the pulse of the people; not one that is, vindictive, and arrogant like our governor has continued to demonstrate”, he said.
The KUF leader further asserted the level of commitment by his incoming government to institutionalize accountability and transparency with the promise to challenge the perpetual injunction obtained in 2007 by the state government restraining the anti-graft agency from investigating its finances, and openly declared to work towards vacating that order that has caused plundering of our joint resources by successive government in the state and making Rivers state a conduit pipe for corruption.
Read Also: 2023: RSG is Scared of My Guber Aspiration ~Sobomabo Jackrich
The politician, philanthropist, and entrepreneur further promised to stimulate the economy of the state through enabling economic policies to attract investors, generate employment opportunities for our youths and reposition Rivers state among the comity of states in the country. He promised to revive the health, culture and tourism, environmental, commerce and industry, lands and housing sectors, and to bridge the deficit in the agricultural sector with conscious investment in fish farming and palm oil development.
In education, he lamented the huge deficit in our educational system in River State adding that he will bring our educational needs to the forefront of public concern through a deliberate policy roadmap, training of teachers, prompt payment of student bursaries, and promotion of knowledge-based learning, creativity and opening for potential innovations and promised to
On Pension and gratuities, he said,” the current situation in our State where pensioners, our senior citizens who worked so hard during their youthful years to give us the legacy of a peaceful society are now treated with so much disregard is outrightly unacceptable; on the assumption of office, I shall reform our pension process and our pensioners will be given priority attention by paying their gratuities and other outstanding benefits”. He assured the women that his government will be gender friendly, assuring the youths and students of better days ahead” he was quoted as saying.
Others who spoke include the members of the International Community who gave a statement of commitment to support High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich in his democratic pursuit to become the next Executive Governor of Rivers State following the role he played in assisting the United Nations to achieve peace and development in Rivers State and Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the event the representative of the international community in Niger Delta, Mr. John Lugbe said “We as international community do not play politics but give recognition to people who have helped to bring peace and development to their nation or state and this is where High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich attracted our interest to speak on his strides as a true leader, peacemaker and agent of development in Rivers state and Niger Delta.”
He said several years ago when there was crisis in the Niger Delta, the then President Umaru Musa Yaradua approached the United Nations to broker peace in the region and help the government to achieve a credible amnesty programme; we contacted High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich and he helped rally other prominent Niger Delta leaders to work and ensure peace returned to the crisis region. He said the peace and development that the people of Rivers state enjoy today are made possible by him, hence the declaration today is a way of returning that favour and further showing gratitude” he said.
Other speakers include the incoming first lady and wife of the Guber aspirant, Mrs. Ibitein Sobomabo Jackrich who poured encomium on her husband describing him as a lion, as well as a kind-hearted man well suited for the Rivers state job.
The NRM National Chairman, Amb Isaac Ude in his remark said Sobomabo Jackrich has shown content of character, potential and huge followership to deserve a consensus status. Hence he announced that the party will be presenting him as the sole candidate for the Guber position in Rivers state. There were also solidarity statements from the Leader of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Mr. Fabeke Douglas, Chairman NRM Rivers state Mr. Ibiekaribo Peters, Chairman Chiefs and Elders Forum, Dr. Tekena Abel Tariah, including solidarity messages from the Arewa, Yoruba, Igbo, and non-indigenes community.
