By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
Top Nigerian financial, accounting and management professional, Chief Charles Nenyiaba, has called on Deltans to embrace Olorogun David Edevbie as the best choice to serve the interest of all ethnic groups in the governorship of the state.
Speaking with journalists in Asaba during the week, Nenyiaba who recounted his experiences working with him in the Delta State Ministry of Finance pointed out that Edevbie is the most detribalised Nigerian and Deltan he has ever come across and one of the most visionary politicians and professionals available not only in Delta State but across the country.
“I worked with Edevbie and I know him very very well. He is extremely detribalised. He believes in competence, performance and delivery of goals. He approaches issues professionally and objectively without regard to tribal sentiments.
“When he came into office as Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning under Chief James Ibori, he got two of us, myself and Clement Ufuani, as his Special Assistants. I am from Ika and Clement is from Aniocha. We were his core team. What does that tell you?
“I came from Kaduna where I had been practicing accountancy for years. I was not part of the political system, I didn’t know him before then. When he interviewed me, it was all about the practical job, he never asked me which tribe I came from.
“His secondary staffs, mostly civil servants, were from Ndokwa, Ukwani, Ijaw, Itsekiri and so on. The office was like United Nations. You would never know which tribe the boss was from because there was never any suggestion of Urhobo sentiment or domination in the running of the ministry.
“When we came in, the office was in such haphazard nature. The whole system was analog. David started the transformation of the office to bring it to the standard of what he was used to overseas. That was how we started the computerisation of our operations, centralised the payment system and also introduced the Cash Budget System.
“The innovation he brought gave great confidence to all service providers and eliminated apprehensions. People could predict when their payment would be ready and can transact with their banks without fear. The system gave no room for influence peddling, whether you are a big man or small man or whether you are from this or that ethnic group. Everybody was treated equally and served efficiently.
“It was from the successes of the innovations that David introduced that we proceeded to develop Project E-Delta which I headed, to computerise the operations of various ministries, departments and agencies of Delta State.
“His strategies helped the state to increase its revenue base rapidly because once he introduced order and efficiency, all other things began to fall in place seamlessly. That was how the government was able to access funds to embark on the capital projects for the development of the state.
“That is David for you. He is an agent of change, modernisation and high performance.
“I am an Agbor man but I plead with all Deltans not to make any mistake in this matter. With David as Governor, Delta State will see a more modern governance, Deltans will experience a leap in development and we all will be the happier for it.”
