27th April, 2022
By Emmanuel Mogbede
Former lawmaker, Bernard Mikko has purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to join the Rivers 2023 governorship race.
Mikko, at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said his vision for Rivers is to harness the state’s resources for urgent and balanced development and economic growth.
The aspirant said he is not in the race for the acquisition of political power for aggrandisement and brigandage.
“As we continue to emphasise the need for good and strong institutions of government, we often overlook the importance of the personal qualities of those who make them work.
“It is in this regard that I offer myself as a humble servant without blemish to fly the APC flag in Rivers and bring our party to a resounding victory in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
“I have offered myself to be Governor of Rivers not as a supreme leader of the multi-ethnic state with a population of over five million people.
“But as a humble servant that will collaborate with the various cadres of traditional, cultural, social and political leadership that will define our collective priorities for the allocation of the resources for development and economic growth,” Mikko said.
He added that as a former legislator, he is conversant with the qualification for the office of a State Governor as enshrined in section 177 of the 1999 Constitution.
According to him, all the All Progressives Congress (APC) needs to win Rivers in the coming elections, is to have a united front.
“As we begin the journey of reclaiming our state with consultation with our major stakeholders, delegates and party faithful, I appeal that you see this initiative as a significant source of hope to forge unity and prosperity for our people at home and in the Diaspora.
“For far too long, our people have been in the political limbo. I enjoin you all to join hands with us to bring back our state to work for everyone again to the glory of God Almighty,” he said.
Mikko said it is regrettable that there is water everywhere in the state but there is no clean and safe water to drink.
“I will work with you to provide clean, safe and potable water for all; instead of champagne for a few. Our development plan will entail a modest programme for the security of both life and property,” he said.
“We will also generate adequate electricity supply from our huge natural gas reserve. Also, we will rigorously tackle the problem of urban blight, particularly the environmental degradation and the hazardous air pollution that have turned our traditional garden city into an unfortunate garbage city and our natural heritage an endangered ecosystem,” he said.
“As we yearn for a cleaner environment, a comprehensive family health care system will be introduced to tackle maternal and infant mortality while also enforcing public hygiene and modern health care protocols.
“Our educational systems will be rejigged to produce graduates with relevant technical and entrepreneurial skills that will create jobs and address our social problems.
“It will turn out ineffectual graduates that will merely explain the societal problems rather than dominating and solving them.
“In doing this, our administration will be anchored on the voluntary obedience of the rule of law and social values with the engagement of traditional institutions,” Mikko said.
If elected as the next Rivers governor, he said the state judicial reform would be inclined to social justice with the consideration of non-custodian sentences to decongest and improve prison conditions and reduce costs.
NAN