Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has expressed his desire to further develop Delta South Senatorial District, as well as give its people quality respresentation as the sole reason why he wants to go to the Senate next year.
Dr. Uduaghan who was confident of his capacity and experience to deliver on his promise, having successfully piloted the affairs of the oil rich Delta for eight years noted that he was not interested in going to the upper legislative chamber for mere jamboree, rather, to bring prosperity to Delta South and the entire state.
Though, he hopes to get the nod of the People’s Democratic Party, on whose platform he will be contesting, Uduaghan hinted that currently he is enjoying overwhelming support and that consultations with his immediate family, the Itsekiri people and a good number of other ethnic groups such as Ijaw, Isoko and even Urhobos who are part of the Senatorial District are already yielding positive results.
Pleading with the people in the district to support him in order to emerge victorious both in the primary and the general election, Dr. Uduaghan pointed out that his performance in the Senate if elected would double his laudable achievements when he was the Governor.
“The taste of the pudding is in the eating, beside, I know that my past performance will also speak for me, hence I am canvassing for the support of the people.” He said.
On his preparedness for the exercise next year, Dr. Uduaghan remarked that people should not regard election as a do-or-die affair, explaining that Nigerians should continue to play politics without bitterness.
“I know it is the turn of Itsekiri to go to the senate, but I need the support of my brothers and sisters from both Ijaw, Isoko and part of Urhobo that make up the Senatorial Districts,” Uduaghan stated.
The Ex-Governor, while eulogising the effort of senators that have represented the South Senatorial District in the past, stressed that he intends to build on what they have achieved in the past.
He lauded his predecessor while in office, Chief James Ibori, under whom he served as Commissioner for Health and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the incumbent governor, whose effort he stressed contributed immensely to the peace being enjoyed in the state.
Meanwhile, as the candidature of Uduaghan for the Senate job continue to gather momentum, a group, Ijaw Liberation Movement (ILM) in Ijaw land, one of the three major ethnic groups in Delta South where incumbent Senator James Manager, hails from has thrown its full weight behind the Itsekiri-born medical doctor.
In a recent interview, the leader of the group, Mr. Peremotebi Simeon expressed his kinsmen’s desire to have Uduaghan represent them in 2019.
The leader, who said the Ijaw nation is delighted having its son, Senator James Manager who is about to serve out four tenures of 16 years at the senate, however, said it is now the turn of other ethnic groups in Delta South, making it a mixed feeling for the Ijaws people.
According to him, “The only dynamic thing is change; where there is no change, the people are not happy. There is no doubt in our minds that it is the turn of another section to represent us. That is fair game.
“I am not saying our brother did not do well, or is not doing well, but I believe a fresh candidate will bring something fresh to the table for our own benefit.
“We had followed Dr. Uduaghan’s painstaking effort to develop our area, nay the whole state, while he was governor of Delta State. We are also aware that he stepped down for our son to continue a few years ago, so he is the most suitable person for the job now.
“Above all, we the Ijaws benefitted so much from his government. He did so much to make life comfortable for us through his development plans then. Now it’s payback time as one good turn deserves another.”
The leader said they were not in the know of any candidate developing interest in the position at the moment aside from the former governor.
“Uduaghan is the only person seeking for the office who has ever told us why he is going there. The reasons are quite important to the Ijaw people and we shall put him there. We shall hold him accountable thereafter.”
