Mr Victor Ochei
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Senatorial Candidate for in Delta North, Mr Victor Ochei, has unveiled a 10-point agenda focused on security, agriculture, infrastructure and economic development.
Ochei said his vision was to build a Delta North where residents could farm safely, access markets, attract investments and create sustainable economic opportunities.
This is contained in a statement, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Asaba, by the candidate himself.
He said his vision for the senatorial district, comprising nine local government areas, would place security at the centre of his proposed agenda.
According to him, the focus will particularly be on protecting farmers and rural communities from insecurity and conflicts affecting agricultural activities.
”Development cannot take place where people are afraid to enter their farms or where rural communities are cut off by bad roads.”
Ochei a former Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly said he would, if elected, advocate effective enforcement of the state Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law, 2021.
He said his advocacy would also include better coordination among the state government local councils and security agencies to protect farmers and rural communities.
He listed rapid response mechanisms, lawful investigation and prosecution of violent crimes, dialogue and stronger community-based intelligence systems among measures he would pursue.
He said his agenda would also prioritise the rehabilitation of rural and inter-community roads connecting farming communities with markets, processing centres and major highways.
He added that he would work with other Anioma legislators to establish a coordinated legislative and constituency advocacy framework for critical roads across the senatorial district.
The NDC senatorial candidate further identified electricity as a major development concern, particularly for communities around the Okpai Independent Power Plant in Ndokwa area.
He said he would pursue engagement with the Federal Government, relevant power agencies and other stakeholders toward achieving a functional electricity step-down arrangement for benefiting communities.
”A reliable electricity will support agro-processing, cold storage, small businesses, health facilities, schools, water supply and rural industrialisation.
”Delta north also needs to move from agricultural production to agro-industrial development through processing, packaging, storage and marketing.
”Agricultural residues can be converted into commercially useful products such as compost, animal feed, biomass fuel and bioenergy, depending on available technology,” he said.
Ochei explained that his proposed approach would bring together farmers, investors, researchers, processors, government and young entrepreneurs to develop agricultural value chains.
He said young people should be equipped with practical skills in agro-processing, agricultural technology, renewable energy, logistics, digital enterprise, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
He noted that government employment alone could not provide the economic future required by young people in Anioma.
According to him, my administration if elected will also seek to attract private capital into agriculture, processing, renewable energy, logistics and rural enterprise through investment-ready projects.
He said the impact of such investments should be measured by jobs created, farmers reached, produce processed and economic activities generated.
He also proposed a structured constituency-engagement system through which communities could communicate their concerns and receive updates on issues being pursued.
”The proposed system will focus on security, infrastructure, electricity, economic opportunities and human-capital development,” he said.
The NDC candidate further said his vision would involve changing the political culture by encouraging people to rise through competence, character, enterprise and service rather than political patronage.
He said politics should create opportunities for young entrepreneurs, farmers and professionals to contribute to society without depending permanently on political godfathers.
”My vision for Delta North is not simply about political representation. It is about creating the conditions in which our people can live securely, farm productively, build businesses, attract investment and create a better future for their children,” he said.
Ochei said the proposed agenda would ultimately focus on securing farms, improving roads, expanding electricity access, developing agro-industrial clusters and creating jobs.
He said it would also include attracting private capital, supporting farmers, strengthening constituency advocacy and promoting inclusion, fairness, accountability and competence.
”The objective is a secure, productive and prosperous Delta North—one in which the people are not merely beneficiaries of development, but active participants and owners of their economic future,” he added. (NAN)
