…vows to grow state’s economy from $20bn to $200bn in 15 years
The governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has said political conflicts can no longer be allowed to define the state, promising to redirect government attention towards economic development, job creation and improved public services.
Lulu-Briggs said Rivers State had suffered the consequences of prolonged political disputes, with governance, businesses, infrastructure projects and opportunities for young people adversely affected.
In a statement titled, “Why I Am Running,” he said the state needed a fundamental reset that would move it from what he described as “politics without purpose” to “disciplined and committed public work.”
According to him, political power must return to public purpose, stressing that Rivers State belonged to its people and should not be treated as the property of any individual, political godfather or faction.
“For too long, political conflict has consumed attention that should have gone into jobs, schools, healthcare, safer communities, working infrastructure and stronger businesses,” he said.
Lulu-Briggs said the impact of the political crisis went beyond economic statistics, citing postponed government decisions, declining public confidence, delayed or abandoned projects, businesses that failed to expand and young people who had waited too long for opportunities.
He said the people of the state could disagree politically without becoming enemies, adding that political competition should not be allowed to degenerate into violence.
“I do not believe that our people are condemned to fear, factionalisation or permanent quarrel. We can disagree without making enemies of one another. We can compete without violence,” he said.
The governorship aspirant said Rivers possessed the human and material resources required to become a major economic force, listing oil and gas, ports and waterways, industrial experience, tourism, the blue economy, agriculture, culture and creativity among the state’s assets.
He, however, said the major challenge was converting the assets into tangible improvements in the lives of residents through reliable electricity, productive businesses, safer transportation, skilled employment, stronger local enterprises and improved public services.
Lulu-Briggs said his administration, if elected, would pursue what he described as “Reset Rivers State,” with emphasis on peaceful politics, competent institutions, economic diversification, equal opportunities, restoration of public trust and environmental protection.
He said the reset would require politics to become “peaceful, civil and purposeful,” while government institutions must become “honest, predictable and competent.”
He also promised to reduce dependence on monthly federal allocations by promoting production, services, logistics, enterprise and exports.
On economic development, Lulu-Briggs said his long-term objective was to lay the foundation for transforming Rivers State from its current estimated US$20 billion economy into a US$200 billion economy within 15 years.
He acknowledged that such a transformation would extend beyond the tenure of a single administration, but said the next government could establish the foundations required to achieve the target.
He listed safer politics, transparent public finance, reliable power supply, improved logistics, serviced industrial land, a thriving tourism sector, employer-linked skills development, stronger agriculture and fisheries, cleaner communities and bankable projects capable of attracting serious investment among his priorities.
“Reset is not revenge,” he said, adding that his vision was to move the state “from fear to purpose; from conflict to competence; from noise to work; from political connection to fair opportunity.”
He also pledged greater attention to environmental protection, including clean water, environmental monitoring, emergency response, remediation and resilience, which he described as matters of public safety and economic justice.
“Rivers State belongs to the people. It needs a Reset,” Lulu-Briggs declared.
