The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Delta State, Engr. Isaac Eshor, has criticized the ongoing Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, describing it as a misplaced priority and a political spectacle that fails to address the pressing challenges confronting residents.
Eshor stated that despite Delta State’s enormous financial resources and status as one of Nigeria’s highest revenue-generating states, many communities continue to grapple with poor road networks, inadequate infrastructure, and limited economic opportunities.
According to him, the state received substantial budgetary allocations amounting to about ₦809.4 billion in 2023, ₦725 billion in 2024, ₦936 billion in 2025, and ₦1.729 trillion in 2026, bringing the cumulative approved budgets within the period to over ₦4.199 trillion.
He argued that the huge resources available to the state should have translated into visible development across communities rather than being expended on high-profile summits.
Delta State is richly blessed with enormous resources and receives substantial allocations, yet many communities remain inaccessible because of deplorable roads and poor infrastructure. Instead of investing in projects that directly impact the lives of the people, the government is engaging in expensive summits and political showmanship, Eshor said.
The AAC candidate referenced previous remarks by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who described Delta as a wealthy neighbouring state, noting that such observations should challenge Delta leaders to convert the state’s wealth into tangible development outcomes.
Questioning the rationale behind hosting a major investment summit amid infrastructure deficits, Eshor said investors would be reluctant to commit resources to communities lacking basic amenities and accessible roads.
Before attracting investors, government must first create an enabling environment that supports business growth and economic activities, he stated.
Eshor also reacted to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s announcement of a $100 million Viability Guarantee Fund aimed at reducing investment risks and attracting businesses, as well as plans to dedicate over 12,000 hectares of farmland for agricultural development.
While acknowledging the importance of investment promotion initiatives, he questioned why such measures were only being aggressively pursued after nearly three years in office.
For almost three years, Delta State has not witnessed a clear and aggressive investment-driven agenda. It is surprising that government is now presenting these initiatives as major breakthroughs. Deltans deserve a government that plans strategically, manages resources prudently, and delivers sustainable economic growth,he said.
The governorship hopeful further maintained that Delta State possesses enormous untapped opportunities in the maritime and blue economy sectors, lamenting that successive administrations have failed to fully harness the state’s strategic coastal advantage.
Delta is blessed with vast maritime resources that can create jobs, boost revenue, and stimulate industrial growth. Unfortunately, this potential remains largely untapped,” he said, while expressing satisfaction that the state government was beginning to pay attention to the blue economy sector after coping from his blue print on maritime.
Eshor called on Deltans to demand greater accountability from political leaders and support what he described as a new vision for the state.
I am offering myself for service because I have built and managed successful private-sector ventures and understand the principles of investment, productivity, and economic growth. Delta needs prudent managers of resources and visionary leadership capable of transforming the state’s vast potential into prosperity for all, he said.
He stressed that infrastructure renewal, economic diversification, and people-oriented development should take precedence over what he termed “wasteful government jamborees,” urging the state government to focus on projects that directly improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
