The chief executive officer of West Link Airlines, Capt. Ibrahim Kadafir Mshelia has said that the Labour Party will lay a foundation for unstoppable progress that will take the economic progress of Borno State to the zenith.
Speaking in Maiduguri, Borno State on Friday while declaring his intention to contest the 2019 governorship election on the platform of the party, Mshelia said the current leadership in the state had done its best, but “their best simply isn’t good enough.”
He said his LP government “will build our economy in a manner that allows anyone willing to work to do so and enjoy a decent life from the proceeds of his labour.”
“They might have great resources at their disposal; they might have the so called “advantage of incumbency”. But we are not afraid. We will rise to the challenge. We will build our economy in a manner that allows anyone willing to work to do so and enjoy a decent life from the proceeds of his labour. We will restore the dignity of our people and we’ll build a path to recovery for our numerous internally displaced persons who can still contribute to our economy.
“The leaders who have come before us may have performed well at times and not so well at others, but it is time to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership in Borno State that can tackle the problems that have plagued us for far too long. A new generation of leaders that will not rest until every man, woman and child in Borno can feel secure wherever he or she is; a new generation of leaders that can bring prosperity to or people and ensure that Borno takes its pride of place as one of the most prosperous states of Nigeria. A new generation of leaders that can inspire the people to dare to dream and be the best of who they are,” he said.
He said the 2019 election will be different stressing that “the time for impunity, mediocrity and empty promises of the governing party is over.”
Mshelia also said LP will not let itself to be overwhelmed by challenges pointing out that “Borno people are resilient and dynamic at all times since time immemorial.”
LP has not participated in the lacklustre leadership that has altered the course of Borno State and indeed the entire country from the path of vitality and promise to that of frustration, fear and despair.
“I feel a deep sense of pride to identify with the LP because it remains the party of hope and Borno State remains strong in the face of the great challenges at this crucial time in our history because of the hope that the people see when they look at the face of our dear party. I pledge a deep commitment to the working people who give the best of their time and energy so that they can have a better life,” he said.
One way he proffered that this could be achieved is through provision of decent education for the workers’ children, so that they can grow old in comfort and with dignity.
He condemned the insurgency ravaging the state saying “it is a tragedy of epic proportions that Borno state which served as a home of greatness and hospitality and a jewel of Nigeria has battled insurgency that has left so many people living in fear and many brutally driven from their homes.”
He said the state “has not enjoyed peace and prosperity for the past nine years” pointing out that “what such situation means is that the state has hundreds of thousands of children who have lived more than ten years and not known what it means to enjoy peace and prosperity or even a stable life.”
“Very soon they will become adults and the full impact of years of uncertainty and desperation can birth a generation of angry young men and damaged young women. We must not let this be the fate of Borno state. We cannot afford to fail in the mission to bring true and lasting peace to this land,” he added.
However, the LP governorship aspirant lauded the sacrifice of the Nigerian military, security service and the selfless sacrifices made by the civilian JTF who risk their lives so that so their neighbors can sleep with their two eyes closed.
