ABUJA – A governorship aspirant in Taraba State, Mr Musa Jen, has promised to utilise the Gembu Electricity Dam to boost electricity generation in the state if he becomes governor of the state in 2015.
He made the promise on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing newsmen after picking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination and expression of interest forms to contest the election.
Jen, who was the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, described as unfortunate the electricity situation in the country.
He said the situation was hindering economic development in the country.
“We need electricity; you cannot do any meaningful investment in Nigeria without a stable source of power supply and Gembu, particularly Taraba state, is the key,’’ he said.
The aspirant said he was already discussing with an Italian company to invest in the Dam, adding that the company was eager to commence work on a Build Operate and Transfer (BoT) basis.
According to him, the dam has the capacity to generate electricity not only for Nigeria, but six other African countries.
He, however, described as a mere speculation the alleged endorsement of a particular governorship aspirant by a major political stakeholder in Taraba.
He added that he would not be deterred, even if the rumour was true, stressing that he was qualified to win the PDP ticket to contest the governorship election.
Jen said his focus would be on boosting the state`s internally generated revenue, to develop the entire state if elected.
Chief John Abdul, the immediate past Dep. Governor of Nasarawa, was also at the PDP headquarters where picked the forms to contest the state`s governorship election in 2015.
He promised to ensure that the PDP emerged vicorous in the state in 2015.
The aspirant promised to tackle issues of security in the state, if elected.
He promised to effectively utilise the state`s human and mineral resources to the benefit of its people as well as provide employment opportunity for youths.
He further promised to use his experience as an economist, to give value and direction to the state.
Mr David Ker, a governorship aspirant from Benue, also picked the forms for the state`s governorship election in 2015.
Ker, a former Vice Councillor of Benue State University, said he already had a blue print that focused on the development of sustainable agriculture and education in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the aspirants would contest for the PDP ticket at its primaries slated for Nov. 29, ahead of the Feb. 2015 election.
Meanwhile, the national headquarters of the PDP has remained a beehive of activities since it began the sales of forms to aspirants for the 2015 general elections on Oct. 10.
The party leadership had, however, said that it would not extend the sales of the forms beyond 6.00 p.m. on Oct. 30.
Supporters of different aspirants have also continued to throng the party`s secretariat, singing and chanting praises of their aspirants.
Petty traders have also taken advantage of the crowd at the PDP headquarter to continue to make brisk businesses.
According to the party`s time table for its primaries, forms for all elective offices are to be submitted by Nov. 15, while Local Government Area Congresses for national delegates would hold on Nov. 8.
NAN reports that the PDP primaries for the senate and appeals would hold on Nov. 22 and 24 respectively, while gubernatorial primaries would hold on Nov. 29. (NAN)