By John Oghojafor
As the race to occupy the Delta South Senatorial seat in 2019 attracts more interests, the immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has paid a consultation visit to the Warri monarch, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli I, the Olu of Warri on his intention to fly the Senate flag in the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on behalf of the people of Delta South Senatorial district.
The former governor who made his intention known to the royal father in his palace in Warri on Monday, stated that his presence in the Senate will afford him the opportunity to follow up some demands which the three ethnic nationalities of Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko presented before President Muhammadu Buhari when they visited him recently.
Said he: “Ogiame, you remember that a few months ago you led us to Mr. President. You had a list of demands for project for Mr. President on behalf of the Itsekiri people. I don’t know how far the federal government has treated those demands. I’m not too sure there is an Itsekiri person that to follow up those your demands. But you need somebody up there that will follow up those demands. I cannot follow up those demands if I remain where I am. That is how party politics is played. If you are not in the party, they will lock door against you.
“But if I’m there, those things will be followed up and you will be receiving reports constantly, this is where they are, this is what they are doing, I want to assure you of that.
“Because there are other ethnic groups here. I also want to assure them. I know that the Isokos went to Mr. President and made their demands, I know the Ijaws went and made their demands. And any other ethnic groups in this state that want to use me, because I’m open to every ethnic group in this state, I will follow up whatever demands they have made before Mr. President.”
Continuing, Dr. Uduaghan promised to stand on behalf of all the ethnic groups in Abuja, adding that Delta can no longer be in opposition. He noted that the state has been in opposition for three years, pointing out that “if we don’t move fast, we continue to remain in opposition, Delta will not be in opposition any longer.”
Uduaghan also disclosed he opted to go for the Senate seat because he has to enhance his position from that of a former a state governor to a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also, that it is the turn of the Itsekiri to produce the next Senator for Delta South Senatorial district based on justice and fairness and the agreement between the three ethnic nationalities to rotate the position at the senatorial level.
“I also want to inform you that in addition, I’m also going to Abuja not just as a former governor but also as a Senator. I’m saying this with all confidence because I have looked at the terrain, I have looked at the road and I have knelt down before God and told God that I come from a Senatorial district where there is justice and fairness. In the senatorial district, well over the years we have said that ok, between the Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri, we will be rotating representation at the Senate level. And now, it is the turn of the Itsekiri”¸ Uduaghan said.
He solicited for the blessing of the royal father to enable him achieve his dream, noting that although there are many other aspirants who will still come for royal blessing, since the monarch is not a politician, he will bless everyone that comes to him but “I will catch more of the blessing.”
Uduaghan promised to make a difference at the Senate, adding that he will not go there to sleep or idle away his time. He recalled his immense contributions to the restoration of lasting peace in the Delta through engagement and wide consultations.
He noted that since he left office, he has recognized the effort of the Buhari-led federation government towards sustaining peace in the Niger Delta through the instrumentation of engagement, adding that it was one of the reasons he (Uduaghan) was attracted to the APC party.
Said he: “As I left, some things arose again. It was now the APC government at the federal level which is at the forefront of dealing with the Niger Delta crisis. Mr. President started inviting people and also sending emissaries to the Niger Delta. I remember that the Vice President went to every oil producing state in this Nigeria, holding meetings with stakeholders, traditional rulers and leaders. Ogiame, I can tell you that this was one of the things that attracted me to the APC.”
Uduaghan recalled that in those meetings between the federal government and Niger Delta stakeholders a lot of agreement were reached, reassuring that “I’m going to follow up those agreements.”
He also promised to come up with some laws in the Senate to address the challenges in the Niger Delta especially funding, adding that although so much revenue accrues to the government from the Niger Delta, the communities have little or no participation in the oil industry. He therefore assured he will facilitate laws that will ensure community participation in the activities of oil exploration in the Niger Delta. “We must put up a law on community participation”, he emphasized.
He also noted that laws will be made to ensure that communities in the Niger Delta are involved in the security of oil facilities in the area, pointing out that it will engender peace through involvement of the stakeholders.
Responding, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli I, the Olu of Warri, noted that as a royal father, he is not a politician but he will offer his blessing to aspirant who comes to him to seek his blessing. The royal father also emphasized the need for all the three ethnic nationalities in Delta South Senatorial district to be united, adding that he did not see any reason why they should fight among themselves.
The monarch however stressed that whoever becomes the Senator representing the district should do so with the interest of the three ethnic nationalities at heart, adding that a situation where an ethnic nationality is being oppressed because it has lesser population that the other is not fair enough.
“I want somebody who is going to represent all the groups (ethnic nationalities). If it is the turn of the Itsekiri, the other ethnic nationalities should support its candidate to win. If it is the turn of Isoko tomorrow, the Itsekiri and Ijaw should support the Isoko man to win. When it was the turn of Ijaw we all supported the Ijaw man to win. That is how it should be”, the monarch said.
He recalled the spirit of unity among the three ethnic nationalities of Delta South some years ago which resulted into peace in the area.
He prayed to God to grant the desire of the former governor, adding that the step which he has taken should lead him to progress, success and should lead him to delivering “this part of Nigeria from oppression, from suffering, from hunger, from joblessness”, just as he prayed that God will bless him with strength and resources to fight his battle.
Present at the occasion was the state chairman of the APC, Prophet Jones Ode Erhue, APC chieftain and the Ologbosere of Warri kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the APC in Isoko Federal Constituency, Mr. Joel Onowakpor, and several APC members who accompanied the former governor to the palace.
