By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Delta State for the 2027 election, Dr Emmanuel Usiwoghene Unuafe, has called for a shift from political promises to measurable projects, saying deliberate planning is critical to improving the lives of Nigerians.

Unuafe made the call in his Independence Day message to mark Nigeria’s 66th anniversary, arguing that the country’s vast natural resources and human capital had not translated into broad prosperity because of institutional and infrastructural challenges.

He said Nigeria had weathered civil war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheavals while retaining its unity and potential, but continued to face significant development challenges.

According to him, the anniversary should provide an opportunity to assess the lessons of the past 66 years and identify practical ways to convert the country’s resources and potential into better living conditions.

Unuafe said progress required deliberate planning, competent management and consistent measurement rather than reliance on promises.

He said if elected governor of Delta State in 2027, he would draw on his experience in project management, governance and development to make government an enabler of economic growth and improved living standards.

He listed his proposed priorities as linking agriculture with industry and markets, expanding reliable energy supply, improving transport and logistics infrastructure, strengthening healthcare and education, supporting enterprise and manufacturing, and deploying technology to improve public services.

The ADC candidate also pledged to create an environment capable of attracting private investment and generating sustainable employment opportunities in the state.

He said his proposed administration would adopt a project-management approach to governance, with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, defined timelines, accountable leadership and transparent performance monitoring.

Unuafe said the central challenge facing Nigeria was not a lack of potential, but converting available resources into productivity and public spending into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.

He summarised his proposition for Delta State with the slogan: “Let us move from promises to projects, from resources to productivity, from potential to prosperity, and from development by chance to development by design.”

He congratulated Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary and urged citizens to remain committed to building a more productive and prosperous country.