YPP guber aspirant promises education, employment, entrepreneurship to Rivers people
By Amaike Ihuoma Okoronkwo, Port Harcourt
The Young Progressive Party (YPP), Rivers State chapter, has come up with their blue print in readiness for the gubernatorial seat in the state.
Speaking to journalists at the event, the state chairman of the party, Prince Omangima Idomiboye Obu-Harry told journalists that his party has come to serve and industralise the state.
“We have just issued out our Expression of Interest Form to one of our aspirants for the office of the governor of Rivers State. We still have congresses and primaries for Federal House of Representatives, house of Senate and the gubernatorial.
“The only challenge we have is having an electoral umpire who would be free, fair and transparent. We are barely five years and we have gone this far. We believe that as a political party, we are the party to beat,” hr said.
In his response, the gubernatorial aspirant, Engr. Danagogo Wenike-Briggs, promised to provide education, employment and entrepreneurship to the people of the state if elected as governor in 2023.
He said, “I happen to be the first grandson of late Chief Wenike- Briggs who was among the voices that effected the creation of Rivers State, a one time minister of trade and commerce, a one time secretary general of Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers COR assembly.
“I am actually the president of CRY initiative known as Community Reformed Youths and we long before now started this Non Governmental Organisation to reduce the rate of unemployment in our state.
“The poverty rate in Rivers State is about 22.9% with an unemployment rate of 43.7% which is very high and Rivers State produces about 21.9% of the country’s national crude oil and we can’t even employ our youths or own our refinery.
“As a party we have an agenda we call the 3E agenda which is education employment and entrepreneurship. Only a system can change the narrative in Rivers State and that system is what YPP is offering to our dear state. Consider the banking system in Nigeria, whether employed or not the system goes on. The banking system did not start in a period of four years, It has been working hence we will create a system that will work.”
Also speaking, the chairman of Community Reformed Youths Initiative, Prince Okul Amos, who was represented by a legal adviser, Imiete Akebin, told journalists that Wenike-Briggs has all it takes to beat other aspirants.
He warned that the YPP is not to promise heaven and earth just like others but to bring a system that would industrialise Rivers State.
He was optimistic that he is a leader ready to serve, trustworthy and capable to affect a paradigm shift.
“He should be given a bigger platform because he is in touch with the people and the young people are behind him. We believe in ideology, the tenets of democracy especially what it holds for the people.
“We are not here to promise heaven and earth, to say that our candidate will do this or that, we believe we would build a system and institution that drive the needed change in Rivers State.
“It the era of the youths a good product does not much stress marketing it. My advise for him is to remain focused, continue with the good work even as we are giving him our platform,” he said.
