Why I’m Going To Senate, By Uduaghan DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan explained at the weekend that his ambition to represent Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly was fuelled by the need to enable oil producing communities have 10 per cent equity participation in oil companies operating in their areas. Speaking while addressing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the State’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) attended by aspirants and leaders of the party at its secretariat in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan said that he was determined to ensure that the Niger Delta region was no longer short-changed. Dr. Uduaghan promised to pursue with vigour the participation of oil producing communities in their naturally given resources to address years of neglect and insensitivity to their plight by the oil companies. “My desire is to ensure that the 10 per cent equity participation by oil producing communities in oil companies sees the light of the day, my passion is to vigorously pursue this goal … this informed the decision to represent my people (Delta South Senatorial District) at the Senate”. he said. The Governor said he has demonstrated the spirit of sportsmanship in the pursuit of his Senatorial aspiration, promising to embrace his opponents should he win or lose as politics, to him, was not a do-or-die affair. Governor Uduaghan dismissed allegations of imposition and manipulation of the ward delegates lists levelled against him by some leaders of the party, pleading with aspirants to shun mudslinging and falsehood as well as acts capable of inciting members of the party against one another. Meanwhile, the expanded Executive Committee meeting of the State’s PDP, attended by leaders and aspirants on Friday elected Chief Edwin Uzor as Acting State Chairman of the party as well as affirmed its position in the harmonised list of ward congress of each local government area as reached by leaders and elders of the party in the state. Governor Uduaghan, who is the leader of the party in the state, charged the acting chairman to be firm and steadfast, particularly in this period of the primaries to guarantee a level playing field for all aspirants. The Governor explained that Uzor was elected following the resignation of the former chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi who left to pursue a political ambition, explaining that the acting chairman would be in charge pending the conduct of state congress to elect a substantive chairman. Speaking shortly after his election, Chief Edwin Uzor who was the state PDP Auditor, pledged to carry everyone along and give support to Dr Uduaghan’s administration particularly his three point developmental agenda. Highlight of the meeting was the motion by Chief Nwaoboshi for the retention of the ward delegates list without alteration as prepared by the elders and leaders of the party. The motion for the retention of the list which the Executive committee said will be used for all the primaries was seconded by the Majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Monday Igbuya. Governor Uduaghan has commended communities that have been supportive of contractors executing projects in the State, saying that their cooperation was aiding the successful completion of projects. The governor who gave the commendation at the weekend during the commissioning of some projects executed in the state by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), noted that such collaborative efforts by host communities, was enhancing the delivery of dividends of democracy by government. In particular, he praised the peaceful disposition of the Ndokwa nation towards government projects, stressing that it was encouraging to both government and contractors. Dr. Uduaghan observed that the Ndokwa nation’s friendly and peaceful disposition towards contractors handling government projects contributed to the smooth execution of the Kwale end of the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriage road project. He advised the Ndokwa nation to reciprocate the construction of the projects by supporting President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspirations, promising to commence commissioning of road projects executed by the State Government in the area soon. Governor Uduaghan who is also the chairman, NDDC Advisory Council of Governors, commended President Jonathan for the present board of the commission, describing it as very resourceful. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia as well as the commission’s chairman, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw said that the projects were strategic to the development of the areas, stressing that the commission was poised to transform the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. They paid tribute to Governor Uduaghan for giving quality advice to the NDDC board and appealed to the youths in the area to shun criminal tendencies to attract more developmental projects. Projects commissioned included the 18.4 kilometres Ugiliama-Eweshioum Abbi road in Ndokwa West Local Government and the 42 kilometre Iselegu-Utagba Uno-Obiaruku road in Ukwuani Local Government Area as well as the 25.7 kilometre Isselu Okaigben-Idumuje Ugboko road and link bridge in Aniocha North Local Government Area which links Delta and Edo states. Also commissioned was the 520-bed space ultra-modern students’ hostel located at the Delta State University, Abraka built and donated to the school by the NDDC.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:51:43 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015