Immediate past Commissioner for Energy in Delta State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Isoko Federal Constituency in the forthcoming general election, Pastor Engr. Jonathan Ajirioghene Ukodhiko, has called on the Isoko nation to unite towards the emergence of credible candidates at the upcoming polls, while saying that his scorecard demonstrates that he has the capacity to engender laws that will address the developmental challenges of the area and attract the dividends of democracy.
Ukodhiko, who is the Founder of Joeny Holdings Group Limited and UJA Homes Incoporated, said that as a philanthropist, clergy man and lover of humanity, he has been in the earnest endeavour of impacting lives positively.
While pledging greater service to Isoko nation at the green Chambers in Abuja. He said, “God knows that I am out to serve my people. I don’t have any other ambition, rather than to serve my people. I did not wake up one morning and just decided to leave what I was doing. By God’s grace, I have built companies and engaged in meaningful investments”.
On his plans to render quality service, as well as value-addition, he posited that, for him, politics should be devoid of self-serving pursuits or issues that are personal, but working and making sacrifices for the general good.
The Owhelogbo-born politician recalled his upbringing and character over the years, declaring that, “Jonathan Ukodhiko has not changed because I can never change; that is my nature. I was groomed to render services to my people. I remember when I was in the village, I was a unifier amongst the youths”.
On his ambition, he said, “when I look at what is happening in Isoko nation, it is very, very painful because we are a wonderful nation that God has blessed so much, so we have all it takes to achieve the desired development. I strongly believe that things can be changed. Ukodhiko, therefore urged his compatriots to eschew bitterness and divisiveness so as to move Isoko nation forward, while saying that the town hall meetings in every community is intended to heal wounds and to carry the people along as he marches on with his desire to represent Isoko nation at the Federal legislature.
Giving account of his stewardship as Commissioner, Ukodhiko said, “some people don’t know what I did within seven to eight months. Before I left office, I awarded the contract to fix areas that were not reached, such as Ofagbe and Oyede. The electricity supply to Kwale and Ogume was the same power that supplied Isoko. As a Commissioner, I removed Isoko from the whole of Kwale and merged it with Abraka that has a lesser load, so that whenever there is power, Isoko people would be able to enjoy it. I awarded that contract before I left office and work is ongoing, in ensuring regular power supply”.£
“When I came into office, the 132 KVA that was awarded to take power from DSC down to Isoko had been abandoned. I wrote to the CBN through BEDC because there was an intervention fund that could be accessed to obtain the power facilities and by God’s grace, we were able to secure about N36 billion through that intervention fund. There are other facilities which needed to be upgraded, so through Effurun, they are going to upgrade through Obosi, also Delta North, Delta Central to Delta South; all of which were secured and work is ongoing. I also discussed with the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on proper activation, so by the time these projects are completed, it will be of great relief to our communities.”
“If you go to Ozoro right now, they are developing some low-cost houses, meaning that it is attracting development. When I came into office as Commissioner, I found out that electricity was an exclusive preserve of the Federal Government. I and the Delta State Ministry of Energy drew up a bill, worked with the House of Assembly and Governor Okowa signed it into law, thus empowering Deltans to generate, transmit and distribute power. I am one of the people that pushed for power to be removed from the exclusive list. I am setting up structures from the ward to unit level, so we can be engaging the people continuously, especially the youths and to give them the opportunity to owe this project.”, he said
He concluded by saying, ”I am very accessible and that will remain part of my life”. Let us work together and push ahead with giving our people a sense of belonging, while Ukodhiko maintained that Isoko nation has no business with poverty, or needless crisis, but he promised to effect a new dawn through quality representation.
