Francis Sadhere
The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, to go back to work while negotiations were still going on, stressing that these were not the best of time for the doctors to embark on a strike actions.
The Governor made this appeal yesterday at Asaba during a press briefing with Journalists in the State
He said; “This is not the best of times for the health sector to be shut down. We are in a very critical time where terrorism has taken sway of the country’s security. If we embark on the strike it only means we are supporting terrorism. But our mission is to save lives and we should not encourage the terrorist who derive pleasure from taking lives. What will happen if the terrorists decide to strike again?
Governor Uduaghan also appealed to the Federal Government to speed up the process of negotiations with the medical doctors so that they can go back to the hospitals.
Also the State Governor cautioned Deltans and Nigerians to be vigilant about their immediate environment and report any strange behavior by anybody living with them to security officers.
Governor Uduaghan said the security challenges faced in the nation called for strict vigilance by every citizens, urging all to know their neighbours and what they do for a living.
“These are trying times for the nation and we all have to be very vigilant. We must know who our neighbours are. If we suspect anybody that behaving in a very mysterious way or you see any car lying around, please report the situation to our security agents,” says the Governor.
He noted that Delta State has been experiencing influx of immigrants recently, stressing that the state government has put machinery in place to flush out all illegal immigrants.
However, he explained that other Nigerians who come into the state with good intentions would be allowed to carry out their legitimate businesses in the state.
Another security challenge faced in the state was the menace of cattle rearers who are still giving farmers trouble in the state, said Uduaghan.
He also said the state was still experiencing pockets of kidnapping in some parts of the state, adding that his government was working round the clock to flush out kidnappers from the state.
On pockets of communal clashes going on in some communities in the state, Governor Uduaghan said the state government has set up commission of enquiries who are looking into the matter.
Governor Uduaghan added that security agents have also been sent to the troubled communities to mop up arms used by the youths while the committee is working.
On the Ogborodo crisis, location of the EPZ project, Governor Uduaghan frowned at the attitudes of some of the community members who are still waging media war even after both parties have agreed that there will be no more media war until the committee submits its report.
The Governor appealed to the citizens of the state to patient with his administration on ongoing projects, explaining that the rains have forced some contractors to slow down on some jobs.
The State Governor said the biggest challenge the state was facing in Asaba and its environs was the issue of flooding, adding that the state has set up machineries in place to deal with flooding on those areas.
“No state can deal with flooding successfully in this area because of the terrain. Our biggest challenge is water coming in from Okpanamu area and because of this, we had to change the design of the drainage so that we cam dualize the road. Climate change is affecting us seriously,” the Governor said.
On rehabilitation of schools in the state, the Governor said he has approved the rehabilitation of more schools, just as he lamented the situation whereby criminals turn public schools to their hide out.
On the upcoming Local council poll in the state, the governor emphasized that he has no anointed candidate to take over chairmanship in any local government council in the state.
He said so far, the ruling party, PDP, was the only party that had picked forms for the council polls, noting that the party was also the only one actively involved in campaigns.
“PDP is the number one party in the state. We all are witnesses to what happened in Ekiti. We are taking over the states one by one. Our people who left are now coming back to the party. PDP primary is coming up on the 9th of August and I will want to appeal to our members to try and reduce the number of contestants so that thing will be easy for us,” he added.
