The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has pledged to donate his salary and allowances to widows across Rivers State if elected governor in the 2027 general elections.
Lulu-Briggs made the pledge during a media chat in Buguma, his country home in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state, on Monday, where he unveiled his blueprint, titled ‘Reset Rivers State.’
The NDC candidate also promised to run an administration built on transparency, accountability and selflessness, while creating an environment where young people could think big and pursue their dreams.
Lulu-Briggs said his decision to forgo his salary was inspired by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, whom he described as his principal.
“When we have the opportunity to manage government resources, I can promise Rivers people that their every penny will be accounted for.
“I’m sure I’m going to be like my principal, campaigning for President, Peter Obi. I will not even be asking for any salary. Every month, any salary will go into assisting one widow or the other,” Lulu-Briggs declared.
He said his financial independence would enable him to serve without relying on government remuneration, noting that his businesses would continue to support him after leaving office.
“The way we have gone, there will be no need to even pension me because I’m sure that my businesses will still be running,” he said.
Lulu-Briggs said such personal sacrifices were necessary to restore public confidence in government and demonstrate that political office should be viewed as an avenue for service rather than personal enrichment.
He lamented what he described as a frightening trust deficit between Rivers residents and those governing them, promising to deliberately rebuild the relationship if elected.
“People need to begin to have faith in their government again. The trust deficit between the ruled and the rulership is frightening,” he said.
The NDC candidate said his administration would pursue a comprehensive “reset” of Rivers State, focusing on the economy, politics, governance and access to opportunities.
“Just give us your support, give us your prayers. Let’s navigate these mucky waters of Rivers politics and we reset Rivers State,” the NDC governorship candidate said.
He explained that the proposed reset would ensure that citizens would no longer need political connections or know any ‘big man’ to access government opportunities.
“You will not need to know anybody to get something,” Lulu-Briggs declared, promising to invest heavily in young people, whom he described as the strength of society.
He further said the future of Rivers State depended more on developing its human resources than merely exploiting its natural resources.
“We will not be defined by the things that God has blessed us with only, but by the innovative things that we are able to create,” he said.
On governance, Lulu-Briggs pledged to reform the state civil service, which he described as the engine of government. He blamed the concentration of contracts and government activities at the Government House for weakening ministries and contributing to the decline of the civil service.
He also promised substantial investment in healthcare, particularly the rehabilitation and activation of primary healthcare centres across the state.
Lulu-Briggs said more doctors would be recruited and provided with incentives, including accommodation and inconvenience allowances, to encourage medical professionals to serve in rural communities.
“If I have a doctor work in a primary health centre in Buguma or Abonema or anywhere in the state, for instance, the doctor will have the reason to want to go there to work.
“Indeed, we might make it attractive in such a way that you might find it more attractive to go and work in the rural areas than to stay in Port Harcourt,” he stated.
While noting that the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital were functioning well, he said more needed to be done to improve patient care and strengthen the nursing workforce to meet growing healthcare demands.
Lulu-Briggs maintained that his ultimate objective was to use public office to restore trust, expand opportunities and ensure that Rivers State’s natural wealth translated into improved living conditions for its people.
