Two governorship aspirants in oil rich Delta state have claimed that their interest in the race was divinely inspired. Both also said they enjoy God’s endorsement, leaving observers in a quandary on who will finally enjoy God’s favour.

The two aspirants claiming divine backing are Amb. Chukuwma Oyibode and Dr. Ngozi Olejeme.

Dr Ngozi Olejeme, a former Director-General of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) was the first to claim the divine support in her ambition to govern the state.

She told newsmen in Abuja today after submitting her nomination and expression of interest forms that her mission is “backed by God’’.

“This mission is God`s mission; I didn’t opt to become governor; God mandated me that He wants me to go and do that great job He used me to do in NSITF.”–Ngozi Olejeme

She said her plan was to ensure better living standards for the people of the state.

“This mission is God`s mission; I didn’t opt to become governor; God mandated me that He wants me to go and do that great job He used me to do in NSITF.

“If God gave me a moribund organisation (NSITF) and within a space of two years, God turned around the organisation to the envy of all, then God will do wonders in Delta through me,’’ she said.

She said that her strength had always been God and would enable her to positively transform the state.

Olejeme, the only female among the 20 aspirants in the governorship race, stressed that she did not join the race for material gains, but: “ to do the will of God’’.

“I would, however, agree that the governorship position had been zoned to Delta North and in that zone, I am the aspirant to beat,’’ she said.

She stated that she was not intimidated by the array of male aspirants in the race, adding that she had what it would take to emerge as Delta`s next governor in 2015

“The men are intimidated by me; in fact they are so jittery and afraid, but I always tell them that they are my brothers and at the end of the day, they will support me. But as it stands today in Delta, I am the number one aspirant; the one people will beat.”

“Its a divine mandate from heaven; I am a candidate from heaven. I did not come into the race because somebody called me or because I want to be popular. I came under the ordinaries of heaven; I believe that I have enough inside me to give to Delta,’’ he said.

—Ambassador Oyibode

Amb. Chukuwma Oyibode, who also claimed to have been inspired by divine intervention, promised to renew the state`s infrastructure if elected.”

“Its a divine mandate from heaven; I am a candidate from heaven. I did not come into the race because somebody called me or because I want to be popular. I came under the ordinaries of heaven; I believe that I have enough inside me to give to Delta,’’ he said.

He promised to address the issue of bureaucratic bottle necks in the state`s civil service.

“There will be no delay of files in any office and there will be no abandoned project in my administration,’’ he said.

Oyibode promised to renew the state`s infrastructure and create an environment conducive for foreign investors to thrive.

The aspirant added that if elected, his administration would also create cottage industries across the 25 local government areas in the state.

This, he said, was to create income for rural settlers and reduce congestion in the urban centres.

Oyibode also promised to provide free technical education for the people, adding that when the people were technically equipped, industrialisation would be encouraged.

“From the technical knowledge they acquire, we will encourage them my giving them loans to establish small and medium scale industries,’’ he said.

According to him, this will reduce poverty and unemployment in the state.