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Tag: Emmanuel Uduaghan

  • Community holds rally

    Community holds rally

    EKU community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State has staged a solidarity rally to reaffirm its commitment to the Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration.

    The community said there was no space for the opposition in the state. It thanked the governor for initiating several projects within its domain.

    A community leader, Arthur Akpowowo, said: “This appreciation is coming from Eku community because of the developmental projects, such as the bridge linking Eku and Edo State.

    “Our roads are now tarred and dilapidated schools renovated; our son is a commissioner. This rally is to show our commitment to the government that Eku is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fort and no opposition party will survive here.

  • Uduaghan assures investors of quick returns

    Uduaghan assures investors of quick returns

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged businessmen to invest in Delta State, assuring them of quick returns.

    Speaking after a tour of Vanguard’s printing press in Asaba, Uduaghan said his administration had created an enabling environment for investments to thrive.

    He said private investments would provide jobs for youths, adding: “Private investors should be encouraged to go into certain areas of investments and I am impressed with what I have seen here. The equipment is modern.”

    Vanguard’s Deputy Electrical Manager Tunde Balogun said the press had a capacity of over 100,000 print run.

  • Seven hospitals designated as Ebola centres in Delta

    Seven hospitals designated as Ebola centres in Delta

    Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has announced the designation of seven hospitals as isolation centres for identified cases of Ebola virus in the state.

    Speaking at a meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the Delta North and Delta South senatorial zones in Asaba, the governor said there was no case of Ebola in the state.

    “We have designated seven hospitals in the state as isolation centres where any suspected case will be managed.

    “Every local government area has a contact person and there is a contact phone number – 32815 – where messages (SMS) can be sent to report any suspected case in the state,’’  the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying at the forum.

    Uduaghan said the government had also set up a committee to educate and sensitise the people about the prevention and management of the virus.

    He said the committee, which comprised the commissioners in the ministries of health, information and environment, had been inaugurated and would brief the people about the measures already taken to ensure that the virus did not get to the state.

    “There is no Ebola virus in Delta State and it will not come to the state. We are doing everything possible to deal with the scourge.

    “We have set up an inter-ministerial committee comprising the commissioners for health, environment and information to sensitise and brief the people on the measures in place to tackle any outbreak in the state,’’ the governor said.

    He urged politicians to take the message to the nooks and crannies of the local government areas in the state to sensitise the people on how to maintain personal hygiene and to regularly wash their hands.

  • Who’s the shoe-shiner in government?

    SIR: I was amused when I read a news report carried by an online publication, DNA Nigeria, of one Julius Ogboru’s characterisation of the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, as a shoe-shiner in terms of development of Edo State compared to what Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has done in Delta State.

    I consider this unprovoked attack unnecessary and uncalled for, particularly as it was reported that Ogboru, described as a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uduaghan on Community Affairs,  ‘’made this statement while commenting on the finishing strong slogan of the administration’’. It is evident from the report that Ogboru was not asked his opinion on the performance of the Comrade Governor of Edo State nor was he asked to do a comparative analysis of the developmental efforts of the two governors.

    Julius Ogboru was quoted as saying: ‘’When you are far from the government, you feel the government is not doing anything but having started working with the state government, I now see that sometimes we stayed at a distance and start criticising the government over things we know nothing about. A close look at what the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has done and that of our sister state, Edo, you will agree with me that Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is shoe shiner as against the impression the people are having’’.

    If Ogboru who has been living in Delta state did not know what Uduaghan of the PDP was doing in Delta until recently when he was asked to “come and chop”, how would he know what massive infrastructural development Oshiomhole of APC has brought to Edo State where he does not live in?

    There is no basis whatsoever for comparing the two governors. They govern two different states with different endowments in terms of people and places, resources and needs. Even the platforms which brought them to office at different times are not the same. While Uduaghan has been in office as governor in Delta state for close to eight years, Oshiomhole has done only five and half years in Edo State. While Uduaghan started from the foundation laid by his predecessors, Comrade Oshiomhole had the misfortune of clearing the debris left behind by PDP administrations in the state and laying a foundation for the rapid transformation and development of the state.

    With a meagre monthly allocation of an average of N2 billion and an internally generated revenue of less than same amount, Oshiomhole has maintained a motivated workforce paid as at when due; built, renovated and reconstructed primary and secondary schools across the state; rehabilitated, reconstructed and constructed health facilities; built and reconstructed roads and streets designed and completed with covered drains, walk ways and street lights; provided communities across the 18 local government areas in the state with potable water and electricity as well as flood control, environmental sanitation and beautification. Benin City, the Edo State capital, is undoubtedly a cleaner, safer, orderly and beautiful city compared to the decay of the past.

    Compared with Governor Uduaghan’s huge monthly allocation of an average of N20 billion and internal revenue receipt of N8 billion, Oshiomhole by all standards qualifies to be termed a genius in financial management, prudence, accountability and transparency.

    Julius Ogboru requires a lesson or two on how not to cause friction between the governments of two sister states. It is unfortunate that Governor Uduaghan chose the wrong person to do a job meant for saner minds. As it appears, Julius may well be a shoe-shiner, whose sole intent is to polish his master’s ego and bring himself into political limelight having stayed in the shadows of his more illustrious brother, Great Ogboru over the years.

    • Blessing Yakubu,

    Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

     

  • I’ve no problem with Uduaghan, says Omo-Agege

    I’ve no problem with Uduaghan, says Omo-Agege

    The former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Ovie Omo-Agege, has said he enjoys a robust relationship with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

    Omo-Agege said he once had political differences with the governor but noted that they settled at a reconciliation meeting last year.

    “I have bad news for those who believe that the governor can never handover to me because I am not on good terms with him.

    “It is true that we had political differences in the past but we have reconciled and since then I enjoy a very robust relationship with him to build our party and state.”

    He spoke at Olomoro and Emede, Isoko South Local Government during his visits to a renowned scholar, Dr. Idodo Umeh and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Tom Egbuwoku, in furtherance of his consultation on his governorship aspiration.

    Omo-Agege recalled that he conceived the idea to become governor in 2006.

    “This is the time I believe that my candidacy will be embraced by all Deltans.”

     

  • Doctors’ strike: Uduaghan assures of early resolution

    Doctors’ strike: Uduaghan assures of early resolution

    Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the weekend assured of early resolution of the nationwide industrial action by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), which has crippled hospital services.

    The action, he stated, will soon be called off.

    The governor, who fielded questions from journalists in Asaba, observed that lives have been lost as a result of the strike.

    He stated he has met with all the parties involved in the industrial face-off, hinting that the striking doctors have agreed to embark on skeletal services if they cannot resume immediately to save lives.

    “If you recall, the doctors gave a warning strike sometime in December 2013. They were to go on another strike early January but we had to intervene and some agreements were reached with the federal government.

    “I understand that some of those agreements that were reached have not been fulfilled and that is some of the reasons they had to go on strike that started on the 1st of July,” the governor explained.

    Disclosing the outcome of a meeting recently with the parties involved, the governor stated: “I think reasonably some of the issues have been resolved and hopefully, emergency services should start very soon, by God’s grace in the next few days.”

    He also debunked insinuations that the strike may have political undertones.

    According to him: “Having met with both sides, I didn’t pick up any political undertone to it and I think that they might be some challenges with the management of the issues at one point or the other.”

    On why he intervened, he said it was based on the fact that he is a medical doctor, a concerned citizen and an elected governor.

  • New twists in Delta 2015 governorship race

    New twists in Delta 2015 governorship race

    With the 2015 governorship election just eight months away, anxiety on who succeeds Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has reached a crescendo, as leading aspirants in the race intensify a fierce but subtle underground campaign, reports Remi Adelowo

    Less than a year to completing his two terms as Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has yet to give the slightest clue on his likely successor.

    At several political gatherings involving his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uduaghan has tactically refrained from giving anything away either in his utterances or body language on his 2015 succession plan.

    As a source at the Asaba Government House puts it, “Even the governor’s closest aides are in the dark on which among the governorship aspirants he is backing to succeed him come next year.”

    As at the last count, over 10 aspirants drawn from the three senatorial districts of the State are currently strategising, consulting, mobilising, aligning and re-aligning to gain advantage at the polls.

    These aspirants, it was gathered, are also deploying their pedigree-educational, economic and network of contacts-into the race.

    The aspirants include the Senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Dr. Ifeanyi Okonwa; a member of the House of Representatives representing Oshimili and Aniocha federal constituency, Ndidi Elumelu; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe; Presidential Adviser on Monitoring, Prof. Sylvester Monye; a former deputy governor of the State, Ben Elum; two former Speakers of the House of Assembly, Victor Ochei and Sam Obi respectively; Chief of Staff to Uduaghan, Festus Okunbor; a retired Police chief, Godswill Obielum.

    Other names being touted as having interest in vying for the exalted seat include Senator James Manager, who currently represents Delta South.

    In the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), former governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, is allegedly revving up his political machinery to give the race another shot, while wealthy businessman, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, who contested the Delta Central senatorial bye election last year on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is the party’s only visible governorship aspirant so far.

    The big question is: Is Governor Uduaghan looking in the direction of any of these aspirants as his would-be successor?

    The zoning controversy  

    Since the creation of the state, Delta North has not produced the governor, while Delta Central and South have had turns through Olorogun Felix Ibru, Chief James Ibori and Uduaghan. The strident agitation for power shift to Delta North perhaps explains the high number of governorship aspirants from the area than Delta South, where the incumbent governor hails from and Delta Central senatorial district.

    However, a closer look at the pedigree of the leading aspirants from Delta North shows that three of the governorship aspirants; Okonwa, Elumelu and Okunbor stand out.

    How the aspirants rate

    Considered the frontrunner among the governorship aspirants from Delta North is Senator Okowa, a medical doctor by profession.

    Okowa, former local government council chairman and a renowned grassroots mobiliser, Okonwa’s political pedigree has placed him in a vantage position to give the other aspirants a run for their money.

    A former Commissioner for Health under the James Ibori administration, Okonwa also serves as Secretary to the State Government during the first term of Uduaghan from 2007 to 2011.

    Okonwa’s profile was boosted recently following the passage into law the National Health Bill, which he solely sponsored.

    Another notable aspirant is Elumelu, a second term member of the National Assembly.

    In the last few months, Elemelu has embarked on intensive consultations with key stakeholders across the State in his bid to enlist the support of the powers that be for his aspiration.

    During his first term, Elumelu was the chairman of the House Committee on Power that exposed the fraud in the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

    The federal lawmaker had earlier being rumoured to be interested in contesting for the Delta North senatorial seat in 2015, but he quickly dispelled the report, even as has not formally declared his governorship ambition.

    From the Kwale area in Delta North is Godswill Obielum, a former Assistant Commissioner of Police.

    In the run up to the 2007 general elections, Obielum made quite an impact in the PDP governorship primaries which was won by Uduaghan. It is, however, not known whether he still pulls much political weight in the current dispensation.

    Monye, a financial guru is a technocrat and currently the Presidential Adviser on Project Monitoring and Evaluation.

    Speculations are rife that some leading private sector players who hail from Delta North are propping up Monye to contest the governorship.

    The argument by this pressure group, according to sources, is that what Delta needs to move to the next level is a technocrat who can deploy his expertise to address the myriad of challenges confronting the State.

    Also in contention in the race is Festus Okunbor, the Chief of Staff to Governor Uduaghan.

    Having previously served as a commissioner under Ibori, Okunbor, no doubt, is well grounded in the politics of the State, but not a few PDP members in Delta State have argued that it would take more than experience in politics and perceived closeness to the governor to win the 2015 governorship election.

    The only female aspirant from the zone is Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme, a member of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P).

    Alleged to be the preferred choice of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan as Uduaghan’s successor, Olejeme, who is also the Chairperson of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has, in the last couple of months, been garnering the support of stakeholders from the three senatorial zones in the State in the pursuit of her ambition.

    Can Delta South retain seat?

    The entry of former minister, Godsday Orubebe, in the governorship race has thrown up controversies on whether the much talked about zoning policy in the State is real after all.

    Since he resigned from the cabinet a few months ago, Orubebe, an Ijaw from Delta South like the incumbent governor, who however hails from the Itsekiri stock, has doggedly pursued his aspiration unfettered.

    Currently on a statewide tour to confer with key opinion leaders in the State, sources however revealed that Orubebe may be using the governorship contest as a bargaining chip for another elective office.

    Though those close to him have denied this claim, but Orubebe may also have to contend with other obstacles, major of which is the opposition of his kinsman and leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark, who has openly canvassed for Delta North to produce the next governor of the State.

    Also expected to join the race from Delta South is Senator James Manager, the Chairman, Senate Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The Senator’s alleged interest in the governorship is coming against the backdrop of pressure on the governor to contest for Delta South senatorial seat currently occupied by Manager in 2015.

    The governor, according to sources, is being prevailed upon to contest the seat, which has never been occupied by an Itsekiri.

    Mrs. Stella Omu from the Isoko area represented the zone from 1999 to 2003 and was replaced by Manager, an Ijaw, who is currently serving his third term.

    Politics of zoning in Delta North

    Can Delta North speak with one voice in choosing an acceptable candidate among the deluge of aspirants from the zone?

    The Nation gathered that rivalry between the Anioma area and the Kwale may, if not handled with tact, scuttle the governorship aspiration of the zone.

    Unconfirmed speculations have it that top political stakeholders from the South and Central zones would only agree to a power shift to Delta North only if the candidate comes from the Kwale area comprising three local governments, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ndokwa North.

    The external factors

    External forces, according to sources, will play a major role in who wins the 2015 governorship election in Delta State.

    Many of the PDP governorship aspirants, it was gathered, are hoping to get the Presidency’s endorsement to further brighten their chances at the party’s primary and the general election.

    Who will the lucky aspirant be? The answer to this poser will be provided before the year end.

  • Council chief sworn in

    Council chief sworn in

    The Delta State Government yesterday appointed a caretaker committee chairman for Burutu Local Government Area.

    This followed last week’s sack of former caretaker chairman, Capt Deinne Buckman (rtd), for alleged incompetence and financial misappropriation.

    Administering the oath of office on Julius Takeme, Deputy Governor Prof Amos Utuama, who represented Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, urged him to eschew corruption.

    The deputy governor, who was accompanied by Secretary to the State Government, Ovuzuiri Macaulay, advised Takeme to maintain peace and security in his domain.

    The caretaker chairman promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him.

    He said his appointment was a call to service.

  • Supreme Court throws out Ogboru’s case against Uduaghan

    Supreme Court throws out Ogboru’s case against Uduaghan

    •Orders lawyer to pay defendants N8m

    The candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the 2011 governorship election in Delta State, Great Ogboru, lost again yesterday in his challenge of the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

    The apex court, in a ruling, struck out Ogboru’s application seeking to relist the appeals he filed against the decision of the Election Appeal Tribunal in the case. The court described the application as absurd and an abuse of its process.

    It also came down hard on the applicant and his lawyer, awarding a cost of N8million (N2million per defendant) against Ogboru, but ordered that the cost should be paid to the defendants by his lawyer, Dickson Osuala.

    The defendants, who are to benefit from the cost, are Uduaghan, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    Justice Walter Onnoghen, who presided over the proceedings, conducted by a panel of seven justices, said this was the third time Ogboru was filing similar applications, in which he sought the same prayers.

    He held that the court having dismissed the earlier applications, and ended the case in its earlier ruling, Ogboru was wrong to have brought back the same application, which the court had decided.

    Justice Onnoghene said the argument by Osuala that the court applied a non-valid law in reaching its earlier decisions was insufficient to clothe the court with jurisdiction to hear the application.

    “From the facts revealed in this case this is about the third time that the applicant is approaching this court for an order setting aside the decision of this court made on March 2, 2012.

    “Secondly, the applicant is contending that the provision of Section 285(7) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was not validly enacted and as such the court ought not to have applied same in striking out the consolidated appeals.

    “In conclusion, the application is a gross abuse of process of this court and consequently dismissed, with cost of N2million against the applicant and in favour of each set of respondents payable by Dr. Dickson D. I. Osuala personally. Motion filed on August 21, last year, is hereby struck out.

    Justice Tanko Muhammed described Ogboru’s application as akin to asking the court to beat a dead horse with the hope that it will wake up, a move he said, was time wasting.

    “We are not ready to have our time and energy wasted. We have a lot of work to do. There is no need beating a dead horse because you cannot revive it.

    “The application is a gross abuse of the process of this court. This is the last time this case should be brought to this court. Please respect yourself. There must be limit to litigation,” he said.

    Justices Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Mary Peter-Odili and Clara Bata-Ogunbiyi also agreed with the ruling.

     

  • Uduaghan inaugurates 21-member committee

    Uduaghan inaugurates 21-member committee

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan inaugurated yesterday a 21-member peace committee that would interface between the host community, Ugborodo and the Federal Government on the $16 billion Delta Gas City project in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government.

    Uduaghan said he laid the foundation for the truce between the parties that culminated in the peace committee.

    According to him, he handed over the peace process to the offices of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) to give credibility to the process and its outcome.

    The governor said President Goodluck Jonathan, as part of his transformation agenda, was committed to the successful completion and takeoff of the Ugborodo Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

    “With the setting up of this committee, the peace process in Ugborodo has to continue for the community to be at peace and get maximum benefit from the project.”

    Uduaghan observed that the reconciliation of the warring factions that culminated in the setting up of the EPZ Interface Committee was a good development that would be beneficial to the Ugborodo Community, Itsekiri nation, Delta State and Nigeria .

    Austin Oborogbeyi of the State Board of Internal Revenue is the chairman. Each party will nominate 10 members, one of whom would will serve as secretary.

    Members are: Thomas Ereyitomi, Alex Eyengho, Prince Perry Atete, Ayiri Emami, Pullen Esimimajemite, Isaac Botosan, Sunday Omadeli-Uvwoh, John Edah, Mercy Olowu, Julius Atete, Dr Alex Ideh, David Tonwe, Dr Ayo Ayomike, Maxwell Egbele Okoro, Moses Ajijala, Betty Igbene, Mike Lodge, Tuoyor Ojogor, Elliot Totuoma Ukutse and Femi Wawah.