Chief Dieyi Mbulu, a businessman contested the Delta North senatorial seat under the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in 2007. In this interview, he explains why he wants to re-contest the seat next year and why other zones in Delta state should give Delta North a chance to produce Governor Emmanuel Udughan’s successor. Excerpts:
BY GBENGA OKE

Mbulu

Why are you re-contesting the Delta North Senatorial seat?
First of all, I will like to appreciate my people from Delta North for calling on me to come and re-run the race to the Delta North Senatorial Seat which I ran for in 2007. I have equally told them I will be coming to talk to them in due course, am still consulting and soon. I will let them know my plans.

If after consulting, I make up my mind to run, what I intend to achieve for my people are so numerous. First of all, the incumbent Senator I must say has done his beat, he has done well, if I get there, I will build on those values he has been able to achieve. I will give quality representation, I intend to touch the lives of people at the grass-roots through various programmes that will alleviate poverty which includes grants for elders, scholarships for students. They know what I can do and that is why there is clamour by my people to come and run for that same position.

Delta North has been clamouring for the governorship seat in Delta State and it seems to be causing some disquiet among the political gladiators in the state. What is your assessment of the situation?
First, I like to say that Delta as a whole belongs to all segments of the three senatorial districts namely Delta North, Delta Central and Delta South. Delta South has produced a governor, Delta Central has done same, it is only equitable for peace to reign that Delta North should be given a chance.

I am equally happy that many agreed there was a gentleman agreement, sure there was an understanding and I am not thinking that our brothers from the two other senatorial zones would repudiate on that gentleman’s agreement by conceding that position to Delta North. It is our turn to produce the governor of Delta state.

Many have argued that zoning does not produce the best candidate. Do you agree?
Well, it depends on the angle one looks at it. You will not tell me that in the whole of Delta North, there are no qualified men to occupy the position of the governor. You will not equally tell me that other zones have more qualified people to run Delta state affairs. It is only equitable that all the three senatorial zones would have a shot at that seat and that is why we are saying, they should stand by the gentleman’s agreement we had and let Delta North produce the next governor of the state.

If the gentleman’s agreement eventually takes place, how will Delta North settle the scheming and infighting that is likely to happen among the candidates emerging from zone?
You must know that for every race of this magnitude, people that are qualified will want to throw in their caps into the ring but I want to say from experience, when we get to the bridge, Delta North will cross it. I know we will come to a compromise, come to a consensus to support one of our own, there will be no fighting or rancour because we all know that we have one purpose, and that purpose is for us to provide quality leadership for Delta state. That I can assure you.

On the National Conference
You will not blame sceptics for what they feel that something meaningful may not come out of the conference based on past experiences. I must however say that this very national conference might come out to be a different conference from what we have had in the past. If you listen to the opening address of Mr President, I looked at him when he was making that speech, I saw sincerity in him and I believe that he will not want to waste resources that has been put into this conference only to throw the reports under the table. If you look at the arrays of personalities there, I dont think it is a jamboree. I feel very strongly that something will come out of it.

On the issue of insecurity
The issue of insecurity in this country is a very big problem to every right thinking Nigerian.