Politicians that have stayed in office beyond 10yrs are “social parasites” – Prof. Utomi

By Shedrack Onitsha,

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……Promises to raise the prestige of teachers if elected

 
A Political Economist and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Prof. Pat Utomi has described politicians, either elected or appointed, who have stayed in office for over ten years, and struggle to continue as “social parasites.”

Prof. Utomi stated this during a Consultative Meeting with APC Delta Central party leaders at Ughelli, Friday, noted that given the many challenges of the State today, any elected executive who truly gave his time and energy to the job would be thoroughly exhausted after four years.

While assuring leaders of APC Delta Central on the issue of power rotation and equitable coexistence, Utomi promised that he would be content with just a term if elected, because four years will be sufficient to show the example that Delta State can work, and to set a proper foundation for a New Delta.

 

He added that, thereafter he would move on, just as he has done with the various enterprises he has successfully established such as Lagos Business School, Pan African University, Socket Works’, a pioneer e-Government service provider which created Nigeria’s new Passport, Business Times Newspapers and others.

Utomi explained that he is mindful of the unwritten power rotation agreement in the state; assured that his aspiration would not disrupt the present power rotation order in Delta State should he be elected as Governor in 2019.

This is significant for Delta Central whose turn it should be to produce the Governor in 2023; because this eliminates the concern about a new Governor of Delta North origin who may wish to do eight years. Given Utomi’s pedigree, he can be trusted to honour his commitments.

According to him, “If you do a good job in office, after four years you will be thoroughly exhausted, but because we don’t serve people well enough in this country, some people will be there for eight years without impact.”

He added that Delta state need a retool to refocus the state on the path of sustainable growth and development. “If Delta will be redeemed the people must own their revolution. Their revolution must touch lives, transform communities and make poverty history.”

Utomi quoting Albert Einstein said: “doing the same thing repeatedly and hoping for a different outcome is the definition of insanity.

“To be truthful, that is what we have been doing in Delta State. We have for many years, after the era of Olorugun Felix Ibru who I am ever pleased to acknowledge as someone I was friendly with, have repeatedly gone wrong ways.

“We do it in ways that not only will shock Einstein but will crush George Orwell who reminds us that, ‘a people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims but accomplices.”

He added that, “Delta is in a very big peculiar mess and it’s in the desire to sweep Delta State clean of all its mess that we have employed the right instrument, which is the broom, to clean Delta State.

While lamenting the poor treatment of teachers in Delta state, Utomi promised that the APC government when elected will elevate the status of teachers in Delta, “because they hold the key to our future.”

He added that with the intent to increase teacher’s salaries and raise the prestige of teachers, with Finland as model, people will even be rushing to be sent to the classroom as teachers.