Chief (Mrs) Aisha Eleojo Audu-Emeje was first lady of Kogi State during the reign of her estranged husband, Prince AbubakarAudu. She is the only female candidate jostling for the coveted seat in Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State under Justice Party (JP). In this chat with ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, she relishes her chances and justifies why she is opposed to her husband.
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?What do you want to be the Governor of Kogi State?
Kogi State has been very far from development and I think it is time to effect some positive changes. The change is me. I am a UN Ambassador for Peace, a believer of God and an industrialist. I want to use my international connection to develop the state if elected. Previous and present governments in Kogi State have thrown the state into bankruptcy and I think this is not too good for us. I have the ability to pursue and embrace the pathway towards sustainable development.
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?You recently talked about power project. Do you still want to go ahead with this if elected governor?
Yes. This is not an Aisha’s project. It is a project that will help the whole country, not even Kogi State alone. I will assist the North Central State in the area of regular power supply if elected as the state governor next Saturday. Aiba Vortex LLC, a power company I own in the United States together with some foreign companies will deliver 1,000 Megawatt to Kogi State and the country. The companies that will participate in this power project of delivering 1,000 Megawatt of power to Kogi State and Nigeria have been able to put a formidable team together and the financing would all come out of the American system and will create an enabling business environment.
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?The need for power in Nigeria is enormous and will help in contributing to the daily lives of the Nigerian people and? there are lots of investors, not just Nigerians, that are interested, not only in making profit from this but realizing dreams that will take the country to greater height. I want to note that power has crippled a lot of infrastructural and developmental projects that would have made Nigeria greater than most of the developing countries.? We are still lagging behind because the solution to seeing that things move smoothly is power. You can not do without this. As a matter of fact, these companies will be playing two great roles, apart from having supporting role to play with the major investors that we are bringing in. We’ve been bidding, contesting with others to win bids though not conclusive in most cases, because the system is still trying to get itself together. Most bids were stopped. Most bids we participated in, we were awaiting answers were stopped. We believe that the reform is affecting everything and of course we are still in the play.
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What will be the focus of your government if elected?
I will be focused and I will not deviate from my programmes that have attracted the interests of the masses? that are interested in good governance in Kogi. I will run a government that would be receptive to the intelligence and wealth of ideas of professionals that have great vision for Kogi. So I enjoin Kogites to hold me to my promises and call my attention to any perceived deviation from my stated policies as I intend running an open-door policy in the administration if elected as the executive governor. We will strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of private health care service providers to check quacks.? Our emphasis will be on preventive mechanisms; we will rejuvenate child welfare especially immunization against the six vaccines – preventable Diseases, Maternal and Child Health, Environmental sanitation, Family Planning, Health Education, Maintenance of statistical records and Control of Communicable Disease. I will ensure that my government combats insecurity that has become a major problem in the country? by creating more than 5,000 jobs in the first six months of my administration.