By : Ugochukwu Benson
The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Delta State, Engr. Isaac Eshor, on Thursday stormed Asaba as part of his ongoing consultations ahead of the 2027 governorship election, where he declared that he was determined to take over the state and redirect its vast resources towards economic development and job creation.
Eshor, who was accosted by a team of community newspaper publishers and journalists at the Asaba Airport, later engaged the media in an interactive session during which he expressed concern over what he described as the underdevelopment of Delta State despite its enormous financial and natural resources.
The AAC candidate said his visit was primarily to continue consultations with stakeholders across the state, stressing that his decision to contest the governorship was driven by his desire to provide what he described as purposeful and accountable leadership.
According to him, Delta State is blessed with abundant natural resources and enormous economic potentials which, if properly managed, could transform the state into one of Nigeria’s leading economies.
Eshor said the state had received about N4.119 trillion in federal allocations, but questioned whether the resources had translated into sufficient development and improved living conditions for the people.
He also raised questions over expenditure on major infrastructure projects, particularly the five flyovers constructed by the state government, which he said cost about N177 billion, representing approximately 4.2 per cent of the total allocations he referenced.
He argued that while infrastructure development was important, government must equally place emphasis on transparency, human capital development, employment generation and the creation of an environment where businesses could thrive.
What Delta State needs now is total accountability of our resources and the creation of jobs for our youths. Delta State is bleeding and it needs urgent care, Eshor said.
The governorship hopeful said he had offered himself for public service because of his experience in the maritime sector and his understanding of how to develop businesses and create employment opportunities.
He said his decades of involvement in maritime business had exposed him to the enormous possibilities available in Delta State, particularly in the emerging blue economy.
According to him, Delta State must rediscover and fully exploit its waterways, coastline and other maritime assets as part of a comprehensive strategy to diversify the state economy.
Delta State is blessed with a blue economy. We need to rediscover our potentials and use them to create jobs and wealth for our people, he said.
Eshor also challenged the state to think beyond conventional government projects and explore innovative ventures capable of generating revenue and employment.
He specifically questioned why Delta State could not develop an airline or establish other commercially viable enterprises, noting that some states had ventured into sectors outside traditional government administration.
The AAC candidate appealed to Deltans to critically examine the choices before them as the 2027 election approaches.
He said the state needed competent financial managers and leaders with the capacity to turn its vast resources into sustainable economic growth rather than merely administering government revenues.
I am appealing to Deltans to have a rethink come 2027. We need fund managers who can turn around our economy, and I have the potentials to do that, he said.
Eshor assured the people that his campaign would continue to focus on accountability, job creation, economic diversification and the development of the state’s human and natural resources.
He said his consultations across the state would provide an opportunity to engage directly with communities, youths, professionals, traditional leaders and other stakeholders on the way forward for Delta State.
The AAC candidate maintained that his ambition was not simply to occupy the Government House but to use the office to build an economy capable of providing opportunities for the people, particularly the younger generation.
