By Emma Amazie, South-South Regional Editor

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in his second term is running an aggressive campaign on the ground to erect a legacy that would endear him in the hearts of the populace. It is a race against time.

THERE is no doubt that the two years between 2011 and 2013 are the golden years of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s six year stewardship of Delta State.

In the first term opposition elements had matter of fact attacked the government without batting an eyelid, but nowadays, it is with moderation. Chairman of Labour Party, LP, in the state, Comrade Emeka Nkwoala, captured it thus, “We believe there has been some developmental efforts, but there is still room for improvement.”

The Delta State House of Assembly under the leadership Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei as speaker has also constructively engaged the governor in the last two years.

Many, however, thought that with up to six legislators in the 29-member legislature, the Democratic People’s Party, DPP lawmakers would turn to stormy petrels in the chambers, but so far, it has been a robust relationship between the executive and legislature.

Attempts by some DPP leaders to influence their representatives in the House to challenge their PDP counterparts were greeted with a quiet retort that the lawmakers were all working together for the growth of the state.

Gov Uduaghan

The only area of difference of note was the refusal Governor Uduaghan to sign the Anti-Kidnapping and Terrorism Bill that was passed by the House of Assembly upon his opposition to the death clause contained in the bill. The lawmakers nevertheless overrode the governor’s veto.

Workers in the state were shocked when the government, for the first time, paid their May salaries within the first two weeks of the month. It is a new policy the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bernard Okumagba said would be sustained henceforth.

“The state government resolved to be paying workers early. Accordingly, the salaries for the month of May, 2013 was paid early and going forward, workers’ salaries will be paid before the 20th day of every month.”

The governor has also upped the ante in the renovation of decrepit public primary and secondary schools in the state in the last two years, and this has set his government apart from his predecessors.

In the health sector, he has retooled the public health system in the state with the Delta State Teaching Hospital, Oghara and Eku Baptist Hospital, Eku, now government-owned, fitted with up-to-date facilities. The Central Hospital, Warri is not left out, while pregnant women are praying for him day after day because of his free maternity programme.

The governor’s weakest link used to be road construction, but the governor has moved to address that in 2013 with an aggressive focus on roads in Warri, Effurun, Asaba, Ughelli and some other parts of the state.

Uduaghan is on course- Labour Party
The Labour Party chairman, Nkwoala in his mid-term assessment of Uduaghan said, “Critical analysis of these three- point agenda shows clearly that the governor is actually on duty, despite some few ugly incidents, here and there. However, central to the development of any state is the issue of job creation through massive industrialization.

Nothing to cheer – DPP
Democratic People’s Party, DPP chairman in the state, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, was, however, emphatic that Uduaghan’s “second term is not better than his first term – development wise”, even though he agreed that construction works were on-going on the roads and new schools built.

His words, “There is nothing to show. The construction of roads and drainages started last year and at a time, it was said that the 2012 rains slowed down the pace of work. All through the dry season, these works were not completed. The rains have come again. “The tunnels called drainages, being constructed haphazardly all over Asaba are something else. These do not meet the standards of drainages being constructed in states like Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River to mention but a few.

“‘Certain projects awarded by the present government and those inherited from his predecessor are yet to be completed such as the Airport project, the  Agbor erosion menace, the Asaba-Ogwashi-Uku- Ughelli dual carriage way, the Inter-Bau  round about- Okpanam road project”.

Defective implementation – ACN
The chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh in his comments said:

“Let me say that the economic development of the rural populace has not changed much. It is also of note that the urban renewal programme of the governor has not yielded much result as the planning and implementation are defective and lack speed.”

I score him average – Ikimi
Coordinator of the Forum for Human Rights Defence and Justice, Delta state, Barrister Oghenenabor Ikimi, said, “I will score Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration since May, 2011 on the average based on a holistic examination of his administration’s three point agenda, as it would be totally unfair for me to write off his administration,” even as he noted the continuing menace of youth unemployment.

Tackling of unemployment
“Hence, I want to suggest that for the remaining life span of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration, he should concentrate on agriculture to tackle poverty, hunger and youth unemployment in the state. I believe that once youth unemployment is tackled, insecurity would gradually disappear,” he asserted.

Ex-militant leader, “Gen” Augustine U. Ogedegbe poured commendation on the governor while the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR flayed the administration at mid-term.

Uduaghan initiated big projects – Odili
Governor Uduaghan’s Manager, Communications, Mr. Paul Odili, who responded to the tirades of the opposition parties, said, beyond Asaba Textile Mill that the administration is creating opportunities for industries to operate in the state.

He also described as ridiculous assertions that roads being constructed were of poor standard asserting that “Uduaghan’s government is not about first and second term.

It is a continuum of programmes and policies of the administration.