Francis Sadhere

Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has called on Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as that was the only way the president can overcome the challenges he is facing.

L-R; Evangelist Jesse Edjedafe, former Manager DBS, Warri (Class PRO), Dr. Osajele Isaac ( Vice Captain), Dr. Frank Samayin (Class Captain), Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Barrister Henry Otis Amurun (Class Scribe) and Mrs. Lizzy Otuedon (Class Treasurer) during the Federal Government College, Warri Old Students Association Symposium/ Award ceremony held in Warri, Delta State.

He said President Jonathan has had more challenges than any other President in the history of Nigeria, adding that though some of his decisions have been criticized by some Nigerians, the  country has benefited from his bold decisions.

The Governor stated this in Warri, yesterday when his class of 72/74 Federal Government College, Warri, Old Students Association held their Symposium/Award event.He was honoured with Award by his fellow old students at the ceremony.

The Governor appealed to all Nigerians to appreciate what the President was doing in the power sector, saying that it was not easy to privatize the sector as he had done.

“President Jonathan has had more challenges than any other president in the country. What he requires to overcome these challenges is our support because he who wears the shoes knows where it pinches. He has taken decisions that people are criticizing; you have the right to criticize. But let me tell you, in taking decisions there are so many things that are involved. Sometime he cannot even tell you why he took such decisions,” the Governor said.

“He needs our support to overcome all these challenges. Though his decisions are criticized some times, we found out that taking decision as a leader is not easy. Many things are involved in decision making. Let us appreciate what he is doing in the power sector. There is going to be a lot of improvement in the power sector in the future,” he said.

Governor Uduaghan also identified critical infrastructures like power, ICT, transportation and economic zones as some of the giants strides needed to move the country forward.

He said climate change and population explosion are major challenges facing the world, adding that unless critical measures were put in place to tackle these challenges, the world may go into extinction.

The Governor also said that the real problem in Nigeria was the attitude of the leaders and the followers, advising leaders to have the right attitude if they want to succeed.

He appealed to the citizens to shun all forms or rumour mongering, saying that rumour  was a big distraction to leaders.

He said; “My appeal is that we should get less involve in rumour mongering. On that note, I stress the issue of rumour mongering and blackmail which has brought a lot of leaders down. It is a big distraction to leaders. Some of the things we say can cause great harm.”

He stressed that leadership was not about popularity “but about being accountable to the people that you are leading.”

Governor Uduaghan noted that leaders needed to take tough decisions and that was why he took some decisions in the past by foregoing some sectors and concentrating on other sectors when he became the Governor.