I SPONSORED THE MINIMUM WAGE BILL..DORIS UBOH-OGUNKOYA

Engr. Doris Uboh-Ogunkoya

Engineer Doris Uboh-Ogunkoya is one of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Delta north senatorial aspirant. She is a politician of no mean repute. She was in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, representing Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State. In this interview with DELTA DECIDES, this political amazon gives reasons why she is vying for the senate, her chances of clinching the People’s Democratic Party, PDP ticket, and the legacies she left for her constituency.

Exerts. ....
Q. How long have you been in politics?

Since 2005.

Q. We learnt you were a member of the House of Reps from 2007- 2011. What were your Achievements?

I have a few achievements to display if you have been active in politics. If you follow or research me, I am sure you would know one or two things that I did while I was in the house. Like the Minimum wage bill which was eventually accepted to by the president was solely presented by me and that is the law for minimum wage today that we are enjoying in Nigeria. This is just one of those things that I did.

Q. Apart from initiating bills, what project(s) did you attract to you constituency?

In my constituency, I think it’s better said if we give you the pamphlets we did for 2011 called ‘’our report card’’ .In that report card, we show cased every single project that we did; Such as empowerment programmes, enlisting some of our youths in the Nigerian Police Force which were about 62 in numbers, putting a step-down sub-station at Ekuku-Agbor which currently serves twenty seven communities, fertilizers to farmers, science equipment to secondary school  like ika grammar school. You can go and verify as those equipments are still in use today.
We also made provisions’ of Drugs to different Health centers in Ika Federal Constitueny.These are self sponsored projects not to talk of MDG projects, 7.2  kilometer road from Ekuku-Agbor to Abavo. If you go to Umunede and Emuhu, the market and water project were been sponsored by me. In the entire 26 wards in Ike Federal Constituency, I do not think there is any one that was not touched by me while I was in the house.

Q. Many People actually thought you will vie for the House of Reps.Why the sudden change to the senate?

God decided to uplift me.

Q. Since you are vying for the senate, what legacies do you wish to lay down for posterity?

Basically, like I say to people, everybody goes into governance for different reasons. Mine apart from expanding my political scope, it is also to bring the dividend of democracy to the grassroots and to my people which is something I am passionate about.

Q. How do you weigh your chances considering the caliber of individuals jostling for the same position?

My chances are extremely high. Don't look at the package. If you are going to check how good an individual is by looking at the outlook, then a lot of people will not be in politics. Look at what people have up stairs, look at the track records, look at what we have done in the past, look at the background we are coming from and ask why an individual wishes to serve. When this is done, you will discover that some of the individuals you are calling might even be too big for the position they are going for going by their own judgment. But going by my judgment, we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. Small man, big man, they are all men. It is about time that people want to bring in someone who has something up stairs into governance and not the size of the person. So, I do not believe that one person is more of a gladiator than the other. We are all Gladiators and political juggernaut in our own right. I am very happy to be in their mist. I am happy to be one of them and have them as co-aspirants’. We are all capable but I believe I'm more capable. That's the difference.

Q. There are rumours going round town that you are being sponsored by an opponent of Sir Tony Obuh to vie for the senatorial race. What is your take in this?

Laughs……. I am hearing that for the first time. Nobody has said that to me. That is the ‘’weirdest’’ thing .Tony is my brother and I am supporting him. Tony is a political juggernaut and he has what it takes just like most person from Delta North that has come out to contest for the election. So why would I be against him. I share the same local government with him. I know his worth. At least fifteen of them have come out and I am going around their communities to ask for votes. I am not against anybody, the allegation holds no water. It is a rumor from small minded people who cannot think out of the box.

Q. Do You Believe in Zoning Arrangement?

Yes, it depends. It is a multi –question. It is not a cut and dry question. Zoning can be good if people have been oppressed. For instance the issue of governorship positions. Cases where you have certain zones producing the governorship and Delta North have not produced the governor. In that case, I believe in zoning when a particular area is continuously being oppressed, I believe they should be given an opportunity to also produce someone who can govern us. But in a situation where there has never been an issue. I don’t think the issue of zoning should come up.

Q. What is your message to the people of Delta North?

My message to the people of Delta North particularly the delegates, I say vote wisely, they should look at where we are coming from, check our track records and what we have to offer. Dont just vote because you think that person is a big man or woman. Vote because you think that person can make an impact in your community.