Tejiri Ebikeme/Francis Sadhere
The Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has told the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) that his administration has no misunderstanding with the association, stressing that his relationship with the association was a very cordial one since he became the Governor of the state.
Governor Uduaghan said this at the NBA, Warri Branch 2014 Law Week held at Chevron Club, Effurun, Delta State.
The Governor stressed that the NBA, Warri branch had consistently kept his governments on its toes, adding that the issues they raised were for the development of the state and the good of the people.
He specially thanked the NBA for their support since his inception into office, noting that NBA had contributed immensely to the development of the state.
He said; “First let me thank you, lawyers for all the support you have given this administration. I call it support because when you draw the attention of the administration about issues that affects the state in a very mature way, they had to be attended to. And for me there is no greater support than that. In our position, people tell us what we want to hear. But when we see people who tell us what will not make us happy but to effect changes, that to me is more greater support than any other support.”
On the two lawyers that were murdered early this year, the Governor assured the NBA that his government will get to root of the matter, stressing that he had ordered the police to carry out a full investigation into the matter.
“We have mandated the police to speed up investigation on that matter but we understand that the bar association is not happy with the way the police are handling the case. You have written to the Inspector General of Police and we will do a follow up and get to the root of the matter because when the situation arose there were a lot of stories right, left and center from different people. Let us allow investigations to go on and the true situation will be revealed,” the governor said.
While sympathizing with the families of the late lawyers, the state government will do everything within its power to bring the killers of the lawyers to book.
The Governor promised to fulfill all promises made to the NBA, assuring that them that construction of the Warri High Court was very much still in progress, contrary to rumours going round that the project was an abandoned one.
Speaking on fiscal federalism, Governor Uduaghan said Nigeria must practice it the way it is supposed to be practised.
On Delta State participation in the ongoing National Confab, he said the state was among the few states in the country that has submitted its positions to its delegates.
On the environmental condition of the state, Governor Uduaghan explained that his government had to embark on the cleanup of Warri and its environs because of the dirty nature of major cities in the state.
He said all illegal structures in the state will be pulled down to make the state look clean, adding that the state was aware of the challenges of continuity, even as he assured all that the government will not relent in its efforts to keep the state clean.
The Governor used the opportunity to reveal that the state was having some financial challenges because of the cut in revenue from the Federal Government which was attributed to rising oil theft.
On infrastructures, Governor Uduaghan said that work has commenced at site of the Warri Industrial Business Park, explaining that work on the project was delayed as a result of litigation from the communities.
