Tonto Dikeh said she accepted to run with Mr Tonte Ibraye because he has an enduring passion for redefining the collective future of Rivers State
By Kehinde Okeowo
Controversial Nigerian actress, Tonto Dikeh ahead of the 2023 Rivers State gubernatorial elections, has stated that her government and that of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), governorship aspirant in Rivers State will make jobs, youth, and women their priority.
The Governorship candidate of the ADC in the State, Mr. Tonte Ibraye, had on Friday, June 24 picked Tonto Dikeh as his running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial elections.
At a press conference in Abuja, the actress told newsmen that she and her principal will focus on creating jobs and empowering the youth and women in the state.
ALSO READ: ADC gov. candidate in Rivers picks Tonto Dikeh as running mate
She also said she will positively touch the lives of millions of less privileged through my foundation, and that her experience in governance, leadership, and administration from the Committee of Youth on Mobilization Sensitisation (CYMS) will come in handy when elected.
Dikeh said, “We shall work out modalities for job creation for massive employment, inclusion of more youth and women in governance and play vital roles in the development of Rivers State where their ideas and strength can be properly utilized.
“As a patriotic Nigerian, an advocate of good governance, and a humanitarian who has positively touched the lives of millions of less privileged through my foundation, The Tonto Dikeh Foundation, and my experience on governance, leadership, and administration from Committee of Youth on Mobilization Sensitisation (CYMS), I will play a crucial role in moving our dear state forward.
She also said she accepted to work with Mr Tonte Ibraye because he is a grounded person in developmental issues and a gentleman with an enduring passion for redefining the collective future of Rivers State.
She continued, “Having interacted constantly with Mr. Tonte Ibraye, whom I have adjudged as a grounded person in international development ventures, a gentleman with an enduring passion for redefining our collective future in Rivers State, where there will be mutual ethnic respect and collective development in all sectors of our economy, I make bold to say that accepting this nomination is not only a good idea but, the right thing to do.”
Meanwhile, the Governorship candidate of ADC, Tonte Ibraye, during the press conference listed the qualities that made him choose the thespian as his running mate, saying they had worked closely for over a year.
His words, “I have worked closely with Tonto Dikeh for more than a year now and she has been part of the party for a very long time. She has been following up with the primary process, she’s an advocate of transparency and I believe I did not make any mistake in choosing her as my running mate.
“She has so many things in her, such as creating employment opportunities. She has a farm here in Abuja and Rivers State, not just that she has supported a lot of young people in growing businesses.
“Yearly, she sends about 3,500 young people back to school. When it comes to choosing a running mate, many people look at a lot of indicators, but for me, there are certain indicators I look at, are you able to employ young people and create employment for the people of Rivers and Nigerians, what is your disposition towards women and youth inclusion, believe me, Tonto Dikeh has all of that qualification. Any day, any time, I am more than proud to work with her as my running mate.
After praising the Nollywood actress for her wealth and job creating ability and qualities, the ADC flag bearer in the state further stressed that they are on a mission to rescue Rivers State.
“I and Tonto are coming on a rescue mission, we want to rescue the people of Rivers State. We would work with data, we would invest massively in social protection, we are going to ensure that we strengthen our traditional institutions to be part of the governance system to transform the people of Rivers State.” Ibraye added.
In his remarks, the Chairman of ADC, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, said the ADC is here to ensure democracy is practised the right way.