NDC guber candidate, Lulu-Briggs, unveils $20bn to $200bn economic blueprint

•Vows to end godfatherism, factional politics

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has unveiled between $20 billion and $200 billion economic blueprint for the state of elected as governor in 2027 election.

He has also declared that state belongs to the people and not to any godfather, faction or private political estate, saying that Rivers urgently needs a reset.

Addressing a press conference in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state on Monday, Lulu-Briggs said he was running to return political power to public purpose and move the state from “politics without purpose to disciplined and committed public work.”

“I address you today with humility, gratitude and a clear sense of duty. We are children of the same soil. Whether we come from riverine communities or upland communities, whether we were born here or have built our lives here, we share the benefits when Rivers State succeeds and the consequences when it fails,” he said.

The Kalabari-born politician lamented that prolonged political conflict has consumed attention that should have gone into jobs, schools, healthcare, infrastructure and business growth, with citizens paying the price through delayed projects, abandoned decisions, weakened confidence and missed opportunities for young people.

He said Rivers people are not condemned to fear, factionalisation and permanent quarrel, stressing that the state can disagree without enmity and compete without violence.

Lulu-Briggs noted that Rivers has what it takes to succeed, including human capital, energy and gas, ports and waterways, industrial experience, tourism, blue economy, agriculture and the commercial strength of Port Harcourt, but that the challenge has been converting assets into reliable power, productive firms, skilled work and secure incomes.

“That is why I am running: to move Rivers State from politics without purpose to disciplined and committed public work; from sharing poverty to creating prosperity; and from a State known mainly for oil and gas to a State respected for what its people built, produced and became,” he declared.

Unveiling his campaign theme — Reset Rivers State — Lulu-Briggs said reset does not mean revenge.

According to him, Reset has six clear implications: reset politics to become peaceful, civil and purposeful; reset government for honesty, predictability and competence; reset the economy to prioritise production, services, logistics and exports over dependence on monthly allocation; reset opportunity so that work and advancement do not depend on political connection; reset trust through fairness and respect for rule of law; and reset commitment to the environment through clean water, monitoring and emergency response.

“Our vision is long term but honest about what one administration can do. We will lay the foundation for moving Rivers State from the current approximation of a US$20 billion economy to one that will become a US$200 billion economy in 15 years,” he said.

He pledged disciplined use of public money, saying government should not pretend ownership is the only path to progress when private financing and professional operators can deliver commercial projects.

He added that inherited projects and lawful obligations will be judged on evidence, not on who started them.

On environment, he said: “Development that destroys the conditions for life and livelihood is not transformation,” promising credible information, faster response and practical protection for riverine communities facing pollution and urban areas battling flooding and failing drainage.

“I do not ask for a blank cheque. I ask for the opportunity to serve and be judged by the evidence we publish and the difference our people can see in their lives,” he said, urging Rivers people to choose purpose over capture, work over noise and prosperity over poverty.

“Let us build a Rivers State in which every community can say: the State sees us, hears us, respects us and works for us,” Lulu-Briggs added.

Ends.

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