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Tag: Uduaghan

  • Appeal to Uduaghan on Olota/Alagbabri road

    Appeal to Uduaghan on Olota/Alagbabri road

    SIR: I wish to appeal to the Delta State government and other stake holders like NDDC DESOPADEC and SPDC to help fix the Olota/Alagbabri Road.

    I have written several letters of appeal to the government and the various agencies named above to no avail.

    These are two oil-rich communities have passed through hell over the years, under the PDP controlled government in Delta State.

    They are both in Ughelli South Local Government Area.

    The only government presence in these two communities are the two primary schools constructed and furnished by NNPC/SPDC joint venture years ago and which were badly damaged as a result of communal fighting between Olota community in Ughelli South LGA and Oboro Community in Burutu LGA which also affected Alagbabri community.

    I am pleading with the state government to come to our aid by constructing this 11km road, that links Bomadi.

    We are sure Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan will give us a listening ear this time around so as to alleviate our plight.

    • Denis Tuedor

    Ughelli Delta State.

     

  • Micro-credit scheme thrills Deltans in Lagos

    Micro-credit scheme thrills Deltans in Lagos

    Joy coursed through Ajegunle, a sprawling Lagos suburb, as 230 residents of Delta State origin got soft loans to boost their small-scale businesses. The facility was provided by the Delta State Micro-Credit Programme (DMCP), the loan certificates handed out at a Navy base located in the area.

    The service enlivened the beneficiaries called clients operating in 23 cluster-groups. In songs and dance, they expressed their joy. Firewood sellers hailed Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the DMCP, coordinated by the state Ministry for Poverty Alleviation. Kerosene marketers spoke of an anticipated boost in their business. The soft drinks group thanked the governor and the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr Antonia Ashiedu who presented the loan certificates to the clients.

    The credit facility is not like the regular bank loan. Accessed through micro-finance banks, it has no interest rate, which removes the usual repayment difficulties which attend other loans. Yet, perhaps the greatest thing about the DMCP credit lifeline is that it helps to open up the clients’ business opportunities and boost their profit profile. It has revolutionised small businesses in the state, some going on to become cottage industries.

    The Ajegunle loan disbursement has expanded and extended the jobs scheme beyond borders.

    Presenting the loan certificates, Dr Ashiedu said Governor Uduaghan is showing the true meaning of democracy by caring for Deltans living in other states of the federation.

    The commissioner also emphasised the need for every Deltan, irrespective of where they live, to be good ambassadors of Delta State.

    “My happiness is that the governor of Delta State Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan is leading by example and that is how it should be – anywhere you are, your government should care for you especially if you are a good ambassador of the state; that is what we’ve come to do in Ajegunle, Lagos State today”.

    Comrade Joseph Evah, a leader in the Niger Delta, who facilitated the event, also commended Governor Uduaghan for showing love and care for his people in Ajegunle. He pointed out that Lagos State has the highest number of Deltans living outside Delta State, and that consequently there are some who are also economically weak.

    He called on other state governors to emulate Dr Uduaghan and empower their people living outside their states of origin as that is a sign of good leadership.

    He said: “For Governor Uduaghan to do this for us, it shows that he loves his people living outside Delta State. By the time every governor will do the same to their people, Nigeria will be a better place. It shows we love ourselves in Niger Delta.

    The Managing Director, Bank of Industry Microfinance Bank Ltd where the money will be accessed, Mr. Kelvin Iyamu thanked the state government for finding the bank worthy, saying that the award-winning programme aimed at improving the living standard of the economically weak persons in the society is a grassroots-oriented programme.

    “The Delta State government is improving the living standard of Deltans in Nigeria and I believe it is a nice and good way to show democratic leadership”.

    The DMCP clients, who could not hide their joy, appreciated Governor Uduaghan for remembering them in Ajegunle and promised to pay back the loan on time to access bigger loans.

    The clients thronged the venue with their various products, happy to be associated with the micro-credit scheme.

    A firewood seller, Helen, thanked the governor for coming to their aid.

    “Ah!” she exclaimed, “we thank our governor so much. Now me and my group, we will order for more firewood and supply to others; you see that means more money for us”.

    Another client, Omonigho, a kerosene seller, said: “My governor has demonstrated why he is the best in empowerment programmes. Look at us in Ajegunle, being empowered outside Delta State. He came to us oh! It is a dream come true for us; for my group we can now buy a tanker of kerosene. God bless you for us”.

    The clients are involved in three categories of business such as trading, services and cottage industry.

  • Supreme Court upholds Uduaghan’s election

    Supreme Court upholds Uduaghan’s election

    THE Democratic Peoples Party’s governorship candidate in Delta State in the 2011 election, Chief Great Ogboru ,yesterday finally lost the battle to unseat Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. The Supreme Court dismissed his application seeking to compel the court to set aside its earlier judgment with which it upheld Uduaghan’s election of the PDP. The governor hailed the verdict as a vindication of the supreme mandate given him by the people of the state. Justice Suleiman Galadima,in yesterday’s ruling, held that the application was an abuse of court process. The judgment was prepared by Justice Clara Bata-Ogunbiyi. The court ordered Ogboru to pay Uduaghan N50,000 as cost for filing the application which the court described as frivolous. The apex court observed that a similar application was filed and withdrawn by Ogboru’s first lawyer, Sebastine Hon (SAN). It held that Ogboru’s claim that Hon withdrew the application without his authority was not substantiated. The court upheld the argument by Uduaghan’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) that a lawyer has unfettered authority to conduct his client’s case. Olanipekun had argued that when briefed, a lawyer has full control of his client’s case and that such a lawyer could compromise the case or could agree to a judgment, and that the only choice the client has was to withdraw the instruction given to the lawyer. The apex court also held that there must be an end to litigation. The court held that Ogboru did not prove that Hon acted without authority when he withdrew the initial application to set aside the judgment. It held that since Hon had withdrawn the application, Ogboru was bound by the action of his lawyer ,pointing out that Ogboru’s decision to file a similar application was an abuse of the process of court. It did not go into the merit of the application. The court frowned at the allegation by Ogboru’s new lawyer, Dickson Osuala that Hon compromised in the manner he withdrew the application. The court held that it was unfair to allege that Hon compromised himself and warned lawyers not to allow their clients to use them to disparage the legal profession and legal practitioners. Ogboru had returned to the apex court with a fresh application asking that the judgment (with which it upheld Uduaghan’s election) be set aside and a new panel be constituted to hear his appeal. The application was initially filed for him by Hon, who later withdrew it and the court had it struck out. Dissatisfied with Hon’s decision, Ogboru hired Osuala, who a similar application and alleged that Hon was not authorised to withdraw the earlier application. Reacting to the court ruling,Governor Uduaghan said it is a vindication of the supreme mandate given him by the people of the state. “I owe this victory to God and Deltans. I only pray that our opponents would by now have realised that we enjoy a supreme mandate as expressed in the will of the people. One with God has the Majority”, he said. “There is time for politics and there is time for election petitions, but it seems there are those determined to use court cases no matter how frivilous to distract and divide Deltans, but God has been with us because he ordained this government. “Delta belongs to all of us. The time to fight is over. Now is the time for Chief Ogboru and his followers to join hands with my administration to develop the state.”

  • Uduaghan unveils Warri BRT scheme

    Uduaghan unveils Warri BRT scheme

    Delta State Government has concluded plans to introduce the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme in Warri.

    When completed, Warri will be the third African city to develop the BRT initiative, after Lagos and Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan broke the news at the 60th Congress of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), in Geneva, Switzerland.

    UITP is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry and global advocate of sustainable mobility and promoter of innovations in the sector.

    The governor, who was represented by his Commissioner for Transport, Ben Igbakpa, said the seven-month old idea from its conception, traffic surveys and feasibility studies, topographic surveys, detailed engineering designs, will be followed by the award of contract in July.

    The Warri BRT scheme, according to Igbakpa, is an expression of political will and recognition of the strategic importance of public transport to the populace, with its economic impact on the disposable income of the people.

    “The project, which is aimed at creating jobs, would also require personnel and business transactions in the areas of traffic management and enforcement, bus shelters and terminals, segregated lanes construction, public information/enlightenment, traffic signs,” he said.

    According to the governor, the project will induce yearly growth rate of five per cent, increase transport infrastructure, boost population demand for more routes, buses, as well as employment.

    He said the project would take off on the Warri -Sapele corridor and will be extended to Jakpa, Udu and airport road in the subsequent phases.

    Uduaghan said the project would be financed by a combination of acruals from the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P), bond issuance, statutory allocations and bridge financing.

    He said: “This would be the climax of our transport reform programme, which include the delivery of Asaba Airport, introduction of 60 High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV), the purchase of 705 mini-buses (for city and inter-city transport).

    “Others are the ban on commercial motorcycles, construction of 30 jetties, 30 bus shelters, four mini-terminals, two mega bus terminals, 12 junction improvement works and setting up of the State Traffic Management Authority.”

  • Uduaghan: why I’ve not given monarch staff of office

    Uduaghan: why I’ve not given monarch staff of office

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday said his administration has refrained from presenting a staff of office to the Ovie-Elect of Agbon Kingdom, Michael Omeruo, due to high rate of kidnapping in his domain.

    Kokori Kingdom is a sub- clan in Agbon, Ethiope East Local Government.

    He accused the community of complicity in the rising cases of kidnapping in the state.

    According to Uduaghan, the community has refused to assist the government to arrest the wanted kidnap kingpin “Kelvin of Kokori”, the alleged mastermind of the attack on Okere Federal Prison wardens, which left three persons dead, including two warders and an unidentified civilian.

    The governor spoke at a luncheon organised to mark the Democracy Day in Asaba, the state capital.

    He praised the judiciary for its courage in tackling the menace, adding that Delta State has the highest rate of convicted kidnappers in the country.

    He said over 206 robbery/kidnap suspects have been arrested while 86 convictions have been secured.

    Uduaghan urged Deltans to assist government fight violent crimes, stressing that beneficiaries of the proceeds of kidnapping will not be spared.

    The governor said: “Nigerian politics is regional. Every region is struggling for its interest.

    “We must struggle for the interest of the Southsouth.

    “If we have a son from the Southsouth, we must give him the maximum support.

    “There is a struggle for change of administration, but in the last two years, he has been faced with Boko Haram insurgency.

    “No other president has faced such challenge in the history of the country.

    “If he has any shortcomings, he is human and he is doing the best in tackling the insurgents and he has done well.

    “He has to grow into the office of the president because no one was born into it.

    “ I appeal to politicians as they scheme to get power not to kill all of us as there will not be anyone to govern when they get power.”

  • Uduaghan: US perception of Delta wrong

    Uduaghan: US perception of Delta wrong

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has criticised the inclusion of the state in the United States’ State Department’s keep-off zones for its citizens.

    Uduaghan spoke in Asaba when he hosted Consul-General Jeffrey Hawkins Jr. at the Government House.

    He said his administration has done a lot to improve security and curb its attendant challenges.

    The governor said: “The state is peaceful and does not have serious security issues as being portrayed.

    “Moreover, the government has done a lot to tackle security issues and ensure peace and security in all parts of the state.”

    He said criminal activities have reduced because of the various strategies put in place to promote security.

  • Uduaghan advises Ijaw to shun violence

    Uduaghan advises Ijaw to shun violence

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has cautioned the Ijaw of Egbema/Gbaramatu kingdoms against violence and other unlawful acts as a way of expressing their grievances.

    The governor spoke during the inauguration of executive members of Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundaction (EGCDF) at Hotel Excel, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Community Affairs, Mr. Vincent Omorie, he said the state government is delighted that since the creation of the EGCDF through a Global Memorandum of Undertanding between the people and Chevron Nigeria Limited, there has been peace within the communities in the two kingdoms and assured of government readiness to continue to work with the body.

    Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs said the event was significant in two main ways: “It re-affirms the commitment of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture to partnering with the communities in the areas of its operations for socio-economic development through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) while maintaining its policy of non-interference in their internal affairs, including the selection of their leaders and representatives.  It also confirms that the EGCDF and its constituent communities and the other Regional Development Committees (RDCs) have solid processes of appointing their leaders under the GMoU framework.”

    While reiterating that the GMoU is not only meeting its objectives, but has also become a choice model for sustainable socio-economic development that is imitated by other organizations globally, he said it is a development model that is driven by the communities through a participatory approach that involves all stakeholders.

    They commended the solid foundation laid by previous leaders which brought about peace and development and urged the new executive to live up to its billing.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, assured the people of Egbema-Gbaramatu, Chevron Nigeria Limited  and government at all tiers of cordial working relationship, and to bring more development to the different communities.

    “We shall embark on execution of projects across all communities, but we must ensure to live in harmony, and put aside personal interest in order for the foundation to make much progress.

    “We did not elect ourselves, rather the various communities elected us to serve you. So, I can assure you all that it is what the people want us to do that we shall do. My government is going to be people oriented, and for the people”.

    On his part, the out-going chairman, Mr. E. E. Doyah-Tiemo implored the new executive to continue to employ the instrument of peace and dialogue as a means of meeting the crying needs of communities. He, however, called on the people to give their unreserved support to the new leadership to succeed.

    Those elected along Chief Michael Johnny (chairman) are; Apostle Sunny Jero (Vice Chairman), Comrade Jude Ukori (Gen. Secretary), Austine Ojo (Asst. Secretary), Hon Sunny Abilo (PRO), Alex Bubor (Asst. PRO), Hon. Silva James (Fin. Secretary) and Chief Godspower Gbenekama (Communication Director).

    Others are Sheriff Mulade (Treasurer), Gloria Grikpa (Provost), Chief B. E. Tiemo (Mobilization and Advocacy), Mrs Ati Edith Odafe, Mrs. Beauty Warizowie Mr. Segun Ebiwei and Chief Aweh December.

     

  • Soyinka, Aregbesola, Uduaghan, others condole with Awolowo family

    Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, his Delta State counterpart, Emmanuel Uduaghan and former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole yesterday visited the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief H. I. D. Awolowo, to condole with her and other members of the family on the of death Chief Oluwole Awolowo.

    Others at the Ikenne home of the Awolowos were Senator Bode Olajumoke as well as the children of the late Ondo State Governor Adekunle Ajasin.

    Soyinka and Aregbesola urged Mama Awolowo and other members of the family to “take heart”.

    The publisher of the Nigerian Tribune titles died last Wednesday in a London hospital. He was 70.

    The Nobel laureate, who spent some time with the Awos before signing the condolence register, wrote: “To the Awolowo family and Mama, take heart.”

    Aregbesola was accompanied by Dr. Charles Iyore, a member of Osun State Committee on Urban Renewal.

    The governor urged the family to take with equanimity the loss of Oluwole to death. He said death is an inevitable end for everybody living being.

    Aregbesola said: “One clear lesson is the transience of life itself; it’s not about him but about the fact that death is a certainty that must come to every living being, not only human but every living thing will pass on.

    “To me, the moral, the lesson here is the courage of the matriarch of this dynasty and her fortitude, her strength of character and spirit, her ability to imbue this. I pray that the Almighty will further strengthen her, endure her with the capacity to weather this.

    “It is not easy for a human being to have the experience she has had but God, in His Omniscience, will provide her the capacity to bear it. We must all join in praying for her for greater fortitude. To the family, my wish and prayer is that this experience will never happen again.”

    Uduaghan described the late Oluwole as someone who was concerned with Nigeria’s unity.

    He said: “He (Oluwole) was like an elder brother and, of course, as a publisher, you know the Tribune titles are quite popular in Nigeria. I remember on two or three occasions I had some private discussions with him. He was concerned about the unity of Nigeria. He was concerned about development of Nigeria and he used the opportunity of being a publisher to propagate, especially the unity of Nigeria, and the progress of the country.

    “Of course, we know that his father was somebody who gave people like myself the opportunity to go to school. I grew up in a community where there was no light, where there was no water and no amenities. But there was a school and I attended the school free of charge. So, when I say I have an emotional attachment to the family, that was the beginning of my emotional attachment to this family.

    “So, he did his best to see how we Nigerians could be our brothers’ keepers.”

  • Jonathan begins two-day visit to Equatorial Guinea

    Jonathan begins two-day visit to Equatorial Guinea

    …Uduaghan, Geidam, others on the trip

    President Goodluck Jonathan will on Thursday embark on a two-day state visit to Equatorial Guinea, the Presidency has said.

    A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the visit was in continuation of Federal Government’s efforts to boost economic and trade relations between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

    Abati said the president would, in the course of the visit, hold talks in Malabo with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on various issues of mutual interest to both countries.

    He said the issues included the enhancement of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, exploitation of oil and gas resources and the enhancement of developmental cooperation between both countries.

    “It is expected that new agreements on strengthening of economic relations and developmental cooperation between both countries will be concluded and signed before the end of the visit on Friday,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Abati as saying in the statement.

    The presidential spokesperson also noted that the president would meet with Nigerians resident in Equatorial Guinea before returning to Abuja.

    He said Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ibrahim Geidam of Delta and Yobe States as well as Sen. Ibrahim Gobir and Mr. Cyril Egwuatu would be on the president’s entourage.

    Also on the entourage will be the ministers of petroleum resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, trade and investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and culture and tourism, Dr. Edem Duke.

    The Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada and the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, are also on the trip.

     

  • Uduaghan and sports

    Uduaghan and sports

    Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration is synonymous with success, having embarked on a sports revolution aimed at returning the state to the leadership position which the former Mid-West region was known for.

    In recent times, hardly any major international or national sports event has occurred without an impressive and dominant showing of Delta State sportsmen and women.

    We are all witnesses to the brilliant performance of the Super Eagles at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. The team led by the Delta State-born Stephen Okechukwu Keshi brought home the gold trophy that has eluded this country since the past 19 years.

    The deciding goal in the final march against Burkina Faso players was scored by the home based Sunday Mba of the Warri Wolves in Delta State.

    Delta state has a rich history of producing Nigeria’s sports ambassadors. This is made evident by their consistently impressive showing at very major sports event. The laurels and acclaim won by Delta athletes proves their worth and prowess as exceptional athletes.

    Though the country did not bring home any gold medal, it is of noteworthy that 12 out of the 78 athletes that represented Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympics came from Delta State, making the state the largest single supplier of athletic talents. At the 2011 All African Games in Mozambique, athletes of Delta state extraction who were on scholarship abroad won six out of the 10 gold medals won by Nigerian athletes

    At the national level, at the recently concluded National Sports Festival, ‘Eko 2012’ Delta state mesmerized sports lovers by their impressive performance. Athletes from the state won 116 gold, 97 silver and 75 bronze medals to beat the last champions Rivers state to the second place with 76 gold, 71 silver and 71 bronze medals.

    Out of the six National Sports festivals held recently, Delta has won four providing and grooming athletes for the country and making preparations for the next Olympics in Brazil.

    During the National Sports festival of 2009 ‘KADA Games’ held in Kaduna state, Delta emerged winner by winning a total of 110 gold medals to beat Edo and Ogun states to the second and third positions respectively.

    It should be noted that all these victories would not have been possible if not for the dogged commitment of Governor Uduaghan with his human capital development policy.

    The governor disclosed that his administration was exploring sports as a strategic area of creating employment, peace and building a state beyond oil.

    He explained that he was committed to developing the state through sports by positively engaging the youths while adding that the power of sports helps to discipline the society, reduce criminality and promote unity.

    And to continue achieving this success in sports and in line with the agenda, the government went into heavy investment in the provision of quality sports facilities, equipments and professional coaches so as to have a conducive atmosphere for competitive training purposes.

    The quality sports facilities built by Uduaghan in the state especially Warri could not fail to gain FIFA’s approval when they visited Warri.

    Because of the state of the art equipment’s and facilities available at the sports centre, many international sporting events have been hosted by the state including the Confederation of African Football (CAF), women championship. Not just that, the governor went further by planning and making provisions for the retirement period of the athletes. According to him “the decision to give cash rewards is because of the pitiable conditions some athletes who had represented the country and won laurels at international competitions found themselves after retirement”.

    Governor Uduaghan has been pivotal to the success of Delta in sports and he has special relationship with the athletes and does a lot to motivate them.

    When the Delta victorious team won in the KADA Games, to encourage and motivate the athletes and display appreciation, the governor gave out a cash reward of N500,000 for each gold medal, while silver and bronze medalists got N3000,000 and N200,000 respectively.

    Each of the coaches whose athletes won gold was rewarded with N500,000, silver N300,000 while bronze received N200,000.

    The governor also doled out N500,000 for each team event. The sum of N100, 000 was given to each athlete that participated but could not win a medal among others.

    Scholarship to study abroad and in Nigeria was awarded to some of the athletes while automatic employment was awarded all medalists who were not on the pay roll of Delta State.

    This display of appreciation led the victorious team to surpass their performance in the KADA games at the 18th National Sports festival at the Eko 2012. The Delta contingent emerged overall winners at the games, with a total medal haul of 288.

    Uduaghan being the motivator he is, rewarded the team with about N291.98 million. At the ceremony held at the events centre, Asaba, he said that Delta had never had it “as good in sports as we did in Lagos”. The cash awards, he said, was for the athletes to invest positively to avoid living in poor conditions when they must have passed their active years. Adding that “we cannot pay the athletes enough for their great performance and the honour they have given to us”.

    Awards of scholarship abroad and within Nigeria was also given out to the athletes while majority of them were given automatic employment in the state.

    Toeing the line of President Goodluck Jonathan, he hosted the Super Eagles for their recent performance at the Nation’s Cup, giving out various rewards in cash and landed properties to the football players and their coaches.

    He called on sports heroes in the country to give back to the society through mentoring programs and development of sporting talents of the teaming youths of the country.

    The Governor who is leaving no stone upturned to see that Delta state wins the forth coming African Youth Athletics championship holding in Warri has already inaugurated an 11-man local organizing committee to successfully organize a hitch-free competitive championship.

    Tagged ‘Sapele 2013’, the competition is aimed at promoting sports from the grass root, identify young talents, nurture and expose them to the world.

    Delta State had already begun preparations for the next National sports festival tagged ‘Paradise Games’ scheduled to hold in Calabar, Cross River in 2014. “At the Games, we will change our strategies” boasted their governor.

    “We are determined to encourage them and from the plans we have, we will have gold medalists from Delta at the next Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016” said Uduaghan.

    At his level of commitment and at the intensity at which he is building new and budding athletes in the Delta State, there is no doubt the state will produce gold medalists at Brazil in 2016.

    • Fidelis is an engineer based in Asaba