OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO
“A Law maker must have the capacity to lobby as well as understand national issues to enable him attract development to his people just as my ambition to go to the Senate to represent Delta South Senatorial District is not ethnic base rather it is because I have the capacity to give good representation to my people.”
These were the words of Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, immediate past Governor of Delta State at a media interaction with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents Chapel in Warri, he disclosed that he is contesting for the position but yet to officially declare his intention adding that he has consulted his immediate family and still consulting.
According to Dr. Uduaghan, “I have decided to run but I have not declared yet. Being a law maker goes beyond sponsoring bills and motions. You have to attract sustainable development to your people and the entire State through lobbying. I have decided to run for the Senate because I have the capacity, knowledge, experience and contacts to do the needful for my people. Being a former Governor has developed my capacity base, made me have quality contacts across the country, broadens my knowledge of national issues, this will enable me to contribute my quota to debates but if you don’t understand, you will just be a bench warmer and your area might be short changed.”
He further said that there are a lot of issues that affect various parts in the national assembly, adding, “You may have been in the national assembly for years and might not understand the things that may benefit your people. When issues appear in the Senate, you need to see them and interpret them critically beyond the surface view. You must ask questions well to know the interest of people on every issue that comes to the floor of the National Assembly.”
The former Governor said that to actualize his ambition, he would need the support of the Ijaws, Isokos, Urhobos and that of his own people, Itsekiris noting that the Itsekiris has to put forward their first eleven, adding, “my ambition is not ethnic base. This is not anchored on the fact that I am an Itsekiri, as I would be representing not just the Itsekiri nation but the Ijaw, Isoko nation and some Urhobos. Having contested election in 25 local government areas, I believe contesting elections in 8 local councils would not be stressful.”
Suggesting ideas for lasting peace in the Niger Delta region, the former governor hinted that the need to enact laws that would protect the host communities in the region would go a long way to sort issues out, saying, “Without these laws, it would be difficult to achieve peace in the region.”
Dr. Uduaghan further disclosed that he has been deeply involved in finding lasting peace to the agitation in the Niger Delta as a former Secretary to the Delta State Government and executive governor of Delta State, adding, ‘‘ I have been engaged in the Niger Delta crisis in so many ways by working closely with some of the key ex-agitators in the creek. I have gone to the creek to make peace without security escort. It was one of those meetings in the creek when I was Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG ) that I discovered the potentials of current deputy governor of Delta State. His Excellency Barr. Kingsley Otuaro which I mentioned during his 50th birthday ceremony. I recommended him to His Excellency, Chief James Ibori and he became very useful to the peace process in Niger Delta. The Niger Delta crisis seems to be recurrent as there is no permanent solution now. Today, we cannot differentiate criminal elements from the genuine agitators in the Niger Delta struggle.”
The former governor revealed that the Niger Delta crisis does not need joint task forces of military men. He said the solution to Niger Delta crisis is dialogue.
