…says Buhari means well for N-Deltans

By Festus Ahon

ASABA—Imm-ediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday said he decided to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, to help drive a process that would give the lives of his people in the Niger Delta more meaning, insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari needs people who will join hands with him to uplift the people of the region.

Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan

Uduaghan, in a statement titled Moving on to the bigger playing field, said: “In this era of partisan politics, it is necessary for the people of the Niger Delta, and Delta State in particular, to identify more with the Federal Government led by the APC. By so doing, we can push some of the agreements between our leaders and the Federal Government through, and also engage the government to do more.

“Politics is about interests. The Niger Delta is a major area of interest for me, because I staked my life going into the creeks several times  without security and sometimes coming back at night negotiating peace. I will, therefore, give the strongest support to any President that shows commitment in the affairs of the Niger Delta.

“I call on, and enjoin, other well-meaning leaders in the region, who have very useful contributions to make, to come on board and join hands in helping this Federal Government to pursue a robust development agenda that would uplift our people.

“Whatever milestone that appears not to have been achieved yet is not for lack of efforts. Joining hands with and supporting the process will lead to a faster delivery on expectations.

“Since the inception of the current APC administration at the federal level, there has been an encouraging interest and activities by President Buhari to bring a permanent solution to the Niger Delta crisis. This has pointed in a direction that is at once progressive and developmental.

“Very significant is that Mr. President mandated the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, to visit virtually all the oil producing states to engage various stakeholders. This is unprecedented in the history of the region. Such engagement processes have brought some measure of peace in the Niger Delta. Things can only get better.

“Beyond the engagement processes, however, the Buhari administration has embarked on some infrastructural and human capital development activities in the region.

“From my political experience, you have to be well represented and actively at the ‘board room’ when decisions are being taken. Delta State must be well represented.

“Niger Delta must be well represented. In Delta State, the opening of a Maritime University; the setting up of a steering committee for the EPZ (GAS CITY), the plan for a deep sea port, the dredging of the Escravos-Warri River; the opening of the railway line to Delta Steel Company, the soon to be flagged off, by Mr. President, the Omadino-Escravos Road that will pass through many riverine communities; the various road construction works by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the various TCN projects across the state are some of the positive activities in the region.

“It is noteworthy to state that some organisations have been deeply involved in efforts to develop the Niger Delta and can always be relied on to collaborate with our President. It is also noteworthy to add that some previous administrations made significant efforts to develop the region.

“The current administration made such a significant impact despite  the fact that apart from Edo State, President Buhari did not score the required 25 percent in the entire Niger Delta in the election that brought him into government in 2015. This speaks volumes of his genuineness to uplift the Niger Delta. Such an administration should be encouraged by the people of the Niger Delta. We can never be sure of the genuiness of another person who becomes the President.”

“I have, therefore, after series of consultations and prayers, taken the decision to leave the PDP and join the APC. In doing this, I want to thank the numerous leaders, supporters and interest groups that have been urging me to remain in PDP. I am happy that after explaining some of the deeper issues to you, some of you that are politicians have agreed to join the APC in the near future. So I am going into APC as “John the Baptist” to the numerous Deltans that are coming in, soon – very soon.”