Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, recently at a breakfast meeting with journalists in Warri, opened up on why he dumped his Delta South Senatorial District ambition. Our News Editor, Francis Sadhere, who was in attendance said the Governor also spoke on other state and national issues. Happy reading.

Introduction by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Within Christmas and New Year I wasn’t around, at least for four years now I have not had a vacation. I spent the Christmas and New Year with my family outside Delta. Thereafter I had to leave my wife behind to take care of my daughter and to the glory of God we had another grandson; my wife was with my daughter. But she is back now; she will be part of the rally today and tomorrow and after the election go back to as a grandmother.

I am explaining this because I heard a lot of things; when you wish anybody evil and the evil does not get to the person, it bounces back on you. So never wish anybody evil, there is no profit. I had no

problem, my wife had no problem. A glad family, a happy family, what will I use now? Family period; we had an addition to the family. Haven’t said that generally, the post primary in the state have quite issues politically? PDP, we have all our candidates, all the elective positions, we have gone round, we are still on campaigning, having have much time to go round with the campaign team, and secondly, really is not me be the one to hear the campaign, we want to listen to the person coming onboard and hear what he has to offer, campaigns remain in the state ends next week, the presidential one get to Asaba and we are going to make it very brief. From the freelance we are

having, all the movement PDP will come out very strongly during this election especially the Delta State, from the Presidential, the various House of Assemblies elections that is where we are. I don’t

know, also rounding up the next few months. We have a comprehensive press briefing sometime next week, we have a brief issue of questions to be raised, and you are free.

Your Excellency, during the PDP primaries some members  of the party who did not get the ticket joined other political parties, will that not affect the chances of PDP in getting the governorship position?

As for aspirants going to other parties most specific on governorship aspirants if I hear you correctly, I think we had almost eighteen governorship aspirants that contested under PDP and from the records I had; I think it was only two that move to other parties and they did not move to contest governorship, the two move to contest Senate if my records are correct and for us in PDP we try to see what we can do to stop those movement but we could not stop them. People have their individual ambition and individual aspiration. I can assure you that the PDP will still come out despite those two that have left. We will still come out winning the elections at various levels. I want to say,

I think it was Delta State that we had the least problem as a result of the primaries and that was because we allow free and fair primaries. A very safe primaries we dealt with all the security challenges and at the end really most of the aspirants, eventually every aspirants accepted the result of the primaries. They should contest the Senate or whatever reasons, so. Now, we are okay there is

no threat at all.

The Warri BRT is still causing a lot of pains to residents of Warri and time is running out for your administration. We want to know what your administration is doing for the completion of the BRT. And secondly too, last year the Commissioner for Environment demolished so many so-called illegal structures. Now the streets are dirty again, and the refuse are coming back. So Your Excellency we want to know what your administration is doing about clean environment for the

people?

As for the BRT, it is unfortunate that the BRT was cut up with the financial challenges that seem to be affecting most of the projects not just the state, nationally. There are states that are eventually

standing still now. They are not talking about projects, they are talking about salaries. We are still, what I want to say about the BRT, I think the contractors should go back to site this week, we have

some challenges with funding but I think we are getting better now. The challenge we also have with the BRT is the outer lane. When the contractors come to site what they would do first is to work on the outer lane. Sort of expand the outer lanes so that people can drive freely on the outer lane. Like I said they will be starting next week to work on the outer lanes. I happened to have driven past there last night; I discovered that we need to do quickly on the outer lanes especially around Our Lady’s School and the Urhobo College axis, a lot of work has to be done there. Let me assure people of Warri and Effurun that the project is not abandon; we are doing something about it.

Well as for illegal structures, I must confess and we must confess that Warri streets are cleaner than ever before. Am I right? At least sweeping is going on in Warri, if you doubt me go around this town

around 12 midnight. When you go round during the day you might not appreciate what I am saying, drive round this town around 12 midnight. You will see that streets in Warri are cleaner that before and a lot of the waste, there is a lot of improvement in the management of the waste. Now what I used to notice is that at about 10, 11 in the night, a lot of the median of the expressway are loaded with waste; people go and dump waste there. I had to sit down with the waste management team, the government one, the Seefor and the others and we have agreed that there must be another way of managing those waste that have been dumped. I think they have devise something now. Even when I went out last night, there is still some place where you have the waste in the median not as bad as it used to be, there is going to be a continuous improvement. They have placed order for big dustbins that will be kept in on the side of the road, people will put their waste and in the morning it will be pick up, it going to take quite some time to produce or install. That will be the ultimate in terms of managing from the various homes. That is the biggest challenge when you clean your house, how do you manage the waste? like I keep saying the waste management is a comprehensive thing that involve all of us from the point of generation which is our various homes, various factories, various outfits to the point of disposal, there are PSPs, I don’t know how many of us actually subscribe to the PSPs; how many of us are making payment to the PSPs so that our waste can be taken away. Waste

management depends on all of us and as a government, we are doing what we can to ensure that the town is clean and for illegal structures, a few of them are coming back but I think many of them are still very scarce to come back but I think people are just stubborn. We still have court cases on the demolition we did last year. Some people took us to court but in my clear conscience, I don’t have any apology of what we did last year. For those who follow me, it was in Refinery road, I saw a lot of women I was discussing with, asking them where are you from. Many of them are not from this area not even Delta. Why will you come to Warri? Someone told me in Warri, you are allowed to

do whatever you wish to do. In fact that particular woman is from Calabar. So, I ask her will you be allowed to do this in Calabar. She said they are not allowing that is why they come here to do it. Warri should not be a dumping ground for people who build illegal structures.

Your Excellency, one of the agenda of this administration is Security. Security in Warri has become a problem, people using Keke to rob persons in the town. Is there a solution to that and what are leaders like you doing to reduce the tension as elections are approaching?  Is there no way politicians address the electioneering or electioneering process without heating up?

Yes I have heard this story from intelligent report about the Keke Napep being used for arm robbery, kidnapping and all sort of things. One of the challenges we had with okada why we banned it was security challenges, now it seems to have transferred to Keke Napep; we are going to hold meetings with official of Keke Napep because if you are giving us problems in terms of security wise, we may also have a second look on the Keke Napep. I think the most critical issue is the elections coming up next month the presidential, national assemblies and the state elections and then like one of you have rightly noted there seems to be political tension in the system, the truth is there is no election where there is no tension because every election is about struggle for power. How far people go in that struggle varies. I learnt about good campaign and campaign have kicked off; people are raising various issues, personal issues. Some of the issues being raised might not be acceptable but as a politician, once you are there, once you come out to say I want to contest an election. You must be ready to hear anything from your opponent but it is your management of what you hear that is important. Yes, sometime we cushion ourselves on what we say because the tongue itself is worse

that the gun, we cushion on what we say but we also advised that when you hear what others are saying, how do you react? There is a lot of fear the election violence. If there is so much desperation; if we make it a do-or-die affair, it becomes very worrying! And we believe that there is no position that is not important or that is so important that we must resort to loss of lives. I think it was six

months ago that one of my leaders who opposed me so much in 2007 met me and said Governor if I knew the eight years was so short, I would not have opposed you the way I do in 2006, 2007 maybe I would have started benefiting earlier from this government. What that means is that four years is very short, eight years is very short, four years is even shorter, so if we realized this, we will not go the extent some of us are going into. I have heard sorts of things about why I did not go for Senate, bla, bla, bla, others. When you go for an election, you either win or lose. If I had gone for the election I would have either won or lost. I am sure I would have won but I have been in this state virtually since I was born. I have been in this government since 1999, I am part of the civilian government in 1999 and reasonably I know some of the crisis we had since 1999. I know a lot of had a lot of knowledge on what happened in the creeks in terms of destruction of properties and the lives that well lost. Till today we are still trying to re-build. All of things that were lost we have not finish rebuilding them, we are still in the process of rebuilding especially in 2003 what was the reason of the crisis we had was as a result of politics. In 2003 when we were having primaries at the stadium, some people left the stadium to start shooting guns in town here, people died and houses destroyed it did not end there at the main elections villages were being burnt in the creeks, children were being thrown in fire because certain persons did not accept the nomination of other persons even the headquarters of Warri North, Koko was burnt, things were burnt in Koko go and check the history and when I see the build up in the senatorial election, there was a lot of build up, the build up was not by one ethnic group but there was build up. I ask myself what would I be going to do in the Senate. This process will lead to another Warri crisis. I am sure you had more news as journalists but still not comfortable by coming here to this axis today. We are enjoying some freedom, there is no curfew. I had a very strong feeling if I had gone for the Senate primaries, today there would have been a curfew in Warri. Really I don’t want to leave office that kind of situation. That was the reason why I could not continue with my senatorial aspiration. Why am I using myself as an example because I believe that we do not have to go the extent to sometimes seek power, we do not have to insight our people; we do not have to cause chaos and war. Its unfortunate that the current campaign; somehow there is peace, regional and ethnic coronation which is unfortunate and sometime, some point religious coronation give another opportunists. The combination of ethnicity and religious in politics if not carefully managed can be very very dangerous and so we are appealing to our people to be very cushion especially in those two areas. There is a lot going on to prevent any serious violence, the issue of violence apart from the ethnicity and religious issue and also the activities of some politicians. Sometime the activities of some politicians on the electoral body itself can be a problem. Today we are talking of PVC (Permanent Voters Card) a lot of people are yet to get their Permanent Voters Card and what that means is that they may not be allow to vote and of course if they are not allow to vote we cannot edit their reaction. Fortunately I was listening to INEC Chairman, Jega, who said yesterday that they may give people opportunity to pick up their voters cards even unto the day before the main election. Let me make it clear, he said they may give opportunity to people but the closing date is 31st of January. For what he is saying it is going to be a challenge for the closing date they may extend it, if that happens, the less disfranchise people from the system but generally people are worried, we are doing something to reduce the worries.

Your Excellency, up till now, many are yet to understand what really happened in your swift of support from Tony Obuh so to speak to Edevbie the UPU candidate at the last minute. What happened Sir?

Did I tell you I was supporting Tony Obuh? Let me explain that, it depend on my followers you were talking to, if you were talking to certain persons, they will tell you I was supporting Tony Obuh. If you were talking to some other persons they will tell you that I am supporting Dr. Okowa because if you look at all the aspirants people that were close to me even my brother, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was he supporting? Olejeme! Why didn’t you call his name or her name? Anyway the history of the primaries will be told at the appropriate time not now.

Since 1999 you have contributed immensely to the growth of Delta State; the government, the people and the structures as Commissioner for Health, SSG and now the Governor. Sir what more knowing full well that Delta will miss you; what more can you do to assist this state to move forward after now and what capacity. Thank you Sir!

There is no doubt that by May 29, I would have spent about 16 years in government which is a lot. The person himself be the government, remove some government habits and behaviours. Myself when I leave office I still believe that 16 years experience is a lot of experience not just to wish to throw away like that there must be implementation of those 16 years experience, there must be passing on of those experiences on much younger one good or bad, successful or unsuccessful, all the aspect on your younger one because as they take up the mantle of leadership, one of the thing I really want to do when I leave office is the leadership institute because some of us in this government without any development on our leadership skills. Sometimes we were seeing some of thing we are seeing for the very first time I believe that will consciously develop the attitude of our younger ones in various aspects especially in governance as they take up various positions, they are better prepare to take up positions. Don’t forget I am a professional, I may not sit on a consulting table to be administering drugs and others but there seem a lot I can do in the health care industry.

I just want you to give us some latest situation reports on the EPZ project as regard the crisis between the Itsekiris and the Ijaws over that project and you will recalled that at the weekend the President was around and met the Olu of Warri and you were there, sir I want you to throw my light on what is going on now as regards the issue over that EPZ project.

The people called it EPZ but is really a Gas City Project  EPZ is just Export Processing Zone. Controversy surrounding the ground breaking ceremony last year which Mr. President could not make it thrown up a lot of issue some may be politically while some security wise which we had to manage both in Abuja and locally and in got to a point in December where Olu called a meeting on the various stakeholders, chiefs and all that and I was also invited trying to explain the situation but he requested to see Mr. President. He could not be there immediately because of career programme but the President decided that he had something to do in Warri then he will used the opportunity to

see the Olu in a courtesy and during that courtesy the Olu raised the issue of the project, I must say that at first the Olu thanked the President for bringing the project to this area and also expressed his

joy on behalf of the Itsekiri people that project he is committed and he did say that the project will be beneficial to everybody whether you are Itsekiri, Ijaw or Urhobo or whether from Delta or not from

Delta. The Olu emphasized that the project will be beneficial to everybody. Himself and Itsekiri people are in full support of the project and requested that Mr. President hould come and do the ground breaking. Of course his response, Mr. President thanked Olu for receiving him and explained why he had to put off that ground breaking and one of the areas he emphasized is that he had to put it off from intelligent report that got to him if he came for the ground breaking, after that there might be ethnic crisis. He emphasized that it was not because anybody threatened him that nobody can stop him from coming to anywhere especially around this area and he was sure that if he came

for the ground breaking, nothing would have happened to him, he would have come and done the ground breaking and left without any issue. It is what would have happened after the ground breaking that he was worried about that make him and I was so happy that he vindicated my position that nobody can stop Mr. President from coming to Delta State. I did say it and emphasized it and people took me on that the President did not come that somebody had told the President. Not an

individual that can stop the President, it wasn’t anybody that stop the President. The President is a very powerful position, he has all the instruments to go to anywhere in this country he wants to go and nobody can stop the President from coming to Delta. I am happy that the President stated it himself and nobody can stop him and nobody stopped him from coming to Delta. I am stressing this because of some of the write up I have seen because of the people who are ignorance about the workings of government. Any way he now said we should fix a date and I should work with his people in the villa and Ministry of Petroleum Resources to fix a date for the ground breaking but that if it is not possible before the election (February 14) which the Itsekiri people would have wished it was done before then but it is not going to be possible before February 14. Two reasons, first which

is much important is the ground breaking he is not just going there to toil the soil which also involve the foreign investors. The one that was put off many of the foreign investors had already being in Nigeria and to get a date to get them back; you have to give them enough notice. Without them, it is unfair there is no ground breaking and the other challenge is that getting them to be here before the February 14 election. The Olu and Itsekiris quite understood this situation. Everybody left there happy. It is unfortunate after that people went to town who claim speaking for Itsekiri has no right or authority from any person to speak. I think people should learn to separate politics from personal issues. If you don’t want to vote for Jonathan, just look for another reason; don’t say Itsekirs don’t want to vote for Jonathan. You cannot speak for Itsekiri except you are the Olu of Warri, who speak on behalf of the Itsekiri people who is the only one to speak on behalf of Itsekiri or somebody he had delegated to do so and I know all these people nobody has delegated them, if they are saying they will not going to vote for President Jonathan is for their personal reason. They are speaking for their personal reason and they are not speaking for Itsekiri people. I must say that we are confident politically that the President will get a lot of votes from this area. We want to ensure that he gets the maximum votes from this area. The Gas City Project is on course, or what do you call it EPZ is still on course and we will try and do the ground breaking before May 29. President did not come the last time because of the intelligent report that after he had done the ground breaking there might be some violence which will scarce the investors that is why he did not come.