Chief Mike Uwaka is one of the aspirants for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. A retired security expert for Chevron, Uwaka during a courtesy call on Vanguard Media Limited expatiated on his purposes and plans if elected into office. Excerpts:

By Gbenga Oke

What is the inspiration behind your aspiration?

Basically, it is service to humanity. Over the years during my career with Chevron, I had this inspiration to serve the people and to show my happiness for public service.

How long have you been a member of the PDP?

I have been a member of PDP since 1999, though I won’t call myself a foundation member.

Uwaka

Nothing much has been heard about you politically. Why?

That is because I was working in Chevron and playing politics is not allowed when you are working for such organizations.

When did you start nurturing this ambition?

I have been nurturing this ambition since 2003.  I gave this a shot during the Ibori time, I aspired but the ambition fizzled out.

Do you have a structure in place to actualize this ambition?

Of course we have a structure. We have been campaigning even though not openly. What we have been doing is consultation and that has been done and our structure that we used during that consultation is Delta Fresh Vision.

Most aspirants in Delta State have some big politicians behind them. Who is behind you?

I don’t know whether people are behind some of these aspirants but God is behind me and it is my hope and I am very confident that I will have the best with God behind me.

You talked about a 5 point agenda in your manifestos. Can you expatiate on it?

The first is education. If you educate a child, you educate the nation. I can say all previous administrations have done what they could on education, but there are still more to be done. I also looked at the area of infrastructure in the state, it is my intent to make sure that I improve on all what my “predecessor” has done.

I will empower agricultural production effectively in Delta state. You will find out that all families will be able to feed themselves. It is not just a question of poultry or other things, there must be a follow up into President Jonathan’s agenda on agriculture.

Also, I have a special plan for women and youths. Security is my area of expertise and I am bringing that experience to bear in governance. So, all the experience I have gathered over these years including serving Chevron overseas in California where I was in charge of security for Chevron all over the world, so that is why security is my main agenda on the list. As governor, I believe I can eliminate illegal bunkering, kidnapping and all source of criminality to the barest minimum.

Will you say a level playing field has been provided by the incumbent governor for all aspirants?

That is one thing I have going for me. I hear a lot of people say a, b, c, for me, but I am going into that primaries believing that there will be a level playing field. I am going in there and I will get it. I am not there to negotiate, I am going to the field to win the primaries.

What do you make of the communiqué issued by some of the aspirants at the home of Chief E.K Clark alleging that the incumbent governor wants to foist a candidate on them?

For me, I read it because I was not present at the meeting. That is their personal opinion and not my opinion. I don’t know the premise they are talking about but I know that when you want to fight such battle, people must come out to say one thing or the other.  Have you seen me gang up with anybody? No. I am a very strong independent PDP member and am going solo and I will get to the end and win the primaries.

Do you think what they accused the governor of is true?

I am not aware, I don’t know but they could say anything. Everybody comes with a power of politicking. Everybody will say money is being given to that person or another but nobody can say money has been given to Chief Mike Uwaka because I am running with my personal funds and with the help of God. But I believe when we all get to field, I will realize whether what they said is right.

You claimed to be a party man. If the party asked you step down, will you do that?

The party does not tell people to step down. I am a very strong party man. What I mean by independent party man is that I am not ganging up with anybody.

What is your assessment of the outgoing administration of Governor Uduaghan?

It is difficult to assess what you don’t know. You have to be inside the government to able to assess the government.