PAPER DELIVERED BY PRINCE FRANK ONAIVI UKONGA SDMP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE OF EDO STATE @ NTA, BENIN 2012 GOVERNORSHIP DEBATE TOPIC: “STRATEGIES FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE” IN EDO STATE

PAPER DELIVERED BY PRINCE FRANK ONAIVI UKONGA

SDMP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE OF EDO STATE

@ NTA, BENIN 2012 GOVERNORSHIP DEBATE

TOPIC:        “STRATEGIES FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE” IN EDO STATE

I thank NTA the organizers of this Governorship debate in raising the ethics of elections in Edo State and sub Saharan African to higher standards of summun bonum.

The topic of discuss is “Strategies for good governance” in Edo State and in pursuance of that objective as a Gubernatorial candidate in the July 14 polls, I posit the following observations imperative for good governance of Edo State in particular and for all Nation state in generality.

In 1992, I published a celebrated book titled “The Sitting World” which has been classified by many research institutes and Universities all over the world and has made the dean list award of many universities including the North Western University in USA,  Indiana University, Institute of Research and Strategic Planning of the University of Australia and more. My book on strategies for good governance of Nation state is used as a research material in most exclusive circles of the world for Nations in search of rapid social economic and industrial advancement.

In the case  of Edo State as a case study of a developing polity, the strategies for good governance has to focus on economic, educational, agricultural, empowerment of youth and women in the context of Human Resource development as well as infrastructural development in that order of mutantis.

This will now guarantee employment which will ameliorate voluntary and involuntary redundancies.

1).      In the aspect of economic development, it is imperative to cognitize that macro economic structures of most developing States are based on the Keynesian Economic Theory that is largely fiscal driven than market driven. The ratio of the IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) of Edo State to the Federal allocation is well below 40% benchmark of the FIRS, which implies that we have to do more in looking inwards to generating internal revenue to finance the development of Edo State.

          Albeit that Nigeria and Edo State are rental States and not tax Nation states, there is the need for FIRS to put up enabling laws to support the transition of the State. The House of Assembly will also have a major part to play in this context.

2).      Mobilization of the Urban and Rural Areas for accelerated development. Our R&D at SDMP shows that more than 70% of the money that is in circulation are in the hands of unorganized, non bankable concepts in the rural and semi-urban areas of the State, so it is imperative to assist these areas which will in turn assist in financial resource mobilization of the State.

3).      Loans and grants: There is the need for fiscal and financial prudency in government spendings in the aspects of budgeting of cutting our coats according to the cloth available otherwise this will lead to deficits and obnoxious debts for the future generation to service which inadvertently retards development and impart negatively on good governance.

a).      Infrastructural development: The infrastructural development of Edo State will be addressed in the form of the Russian Methods of communal development of forming communal construction companies and brigades equipped with assistance from the Works Ministry in providing tractors, bulldozers, excavators, bitumen and construction materials as well as salaries for all employed in the construction brigade: They will have Engineers, Technicians etc attached to them by the government. This will create more than 30 0,000 jobs as each L.G.A will be empowered to create the Youth Construction Brigade. This method will also be given maximum interpretation in the security, health and agricultural areas which will create an additional 500,000 jobs and Edo State is 4 million people and so far we would be able to create close to 2 million jobs in the first year of SDMP government.

         

b).      Security, Discipline and Accountability: For good governance in Edo State we need to emphasize that security of life and property is paramount. Discipline and accountability is also mandatory and we at SDMP are committed to maintain and support all the security agencies to do their job.

c).      Industries: To quickly leap frog into the future we are committed to industrialize Edo State by creating numerous cottage industries for people to work. We promise 100 cottage industries that will employ 200 – 500 people each 400,000 jobs within our 100 days in office.

d).      Education: Education is the bed rock of development and good governance as an educated society is easy to lead, whence Education is our top priority at SDMP, and we are committed to free and qualitative education at all levels.

e).      Agricultural development: For good governance of a State, it is imperative that it achieve self sufficiency in feeding its people and perhaps export the surplus and its agricultural produce to other States. SDMP will invigorate a strong agricultural revolution policy which include giving loans and grants to farmers and assisting with the cultivation and harvesting of crops both cash crops and food crops by making available good seedlings, chemicals and tractors to farmers, as well as construct access roads to rural areas. We shall also encourage huge mechanized farming and shall invite big farmers from USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Russia to come and invest in agriculture.

f).      Youth, Women and Sport Developments as germane to good governance and every polity will be given maximum interpretations in Edo State. We shall give grants and loans to all market women, built new markets, empower the women and youths of the State to become self employed, disciplines and good moral and ethical persuasions.

          Similarly, we shall develop sports and we want to win the Premier League by supporting the Club side soccer. We shall also sponsor novelty matches with Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man United, Spartak Moscow, Dynamo Kiev, Anderletch and other clubs of the world. We shall also encourage basketball, and other games including athletics.

Conclusion: We at SDMP promise to deliver the dividends of democracy to the table of the Edo people if voted into power in July 2012. We promise to serve diligently with discipline and accountability.

Vote Prince Frank Ukonga for Governor, Vote SDMP the most progressive party in Nigeria.

Thanks