BY EMMA AMAIZE,Regional Editor, South-South

FORMER Director of Delta State Waterways Limited, a legal practitioner and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Itse-Elijah Wilkie, strongly believes that Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has done well in spite of criticisms. He robustly defends his stance in this interview with Vanguard. Excerpts:

What is your view on criticisms that Dr. Uduaghan failed in his first term?
The opposition against Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan on the premise of non- performance is another way of critics saying he did not share the “booties” of democracy. Their best assessment of him is that he completed projects of his predecessor. I think this is the merchandise of pathological critics with blundering ignorance. Before taking his oath of office in 2007, His Excellency made a decision that it would not be business as usual. That decision he said led to grave resistance and dirty fights. The governor’s critics are in a brawl for business as usual of sharing the “booties” of democracy to the detriment of the common man. Most governors discredit their predecessors and embark on new projects. Some of the secretariat buildings in Benin City nearing completion by Dr Samuel Ogbemudia while he was governor of old Bendel State are still standing and have been taken over by the destitute and e homeless just because of lack of spirit of continuity in governance.

In Owerri, the International Market started by ex governor Achike Udenwa has been abandoned. The market exhibits the concept of a visionary with full comprehension of the commercial aspirations of his people. Here in Delta State, Uduaghan is a governor that believes in continuity in governance. This is a plus and not a minus.

The Governor has touched the lives of the ordinary citizens of the state. Consider the provision of  free health care for children and pregnant women; housing scheme for the common man; subsidised transportation system with buses; payment of examination fees for both primary and secondary students; scholarship scheme for First class graduates in any part of the world; construction of roads, bridges, and the Asaba International Airport and the expansion of the Osubi Airport;  Delta State University Teaching Hospital; the Naval base; effective street lighting covering over 270 kilometers illuminating towns and villages to help in the area of security, which has become a national example worthy of emulation; environmental beautification; establishment of polytechnics with new infrastructure added to the new structures in the different state tertiary institutions; construction of a modern civic centre.

Young men are been trained in Amukpe near Sapele in Agriculture and empowered and about 15,000 eligible Deltans have been employed. Some other unemployed are empowered through the Micro Credit Scheme, the best in Nigeria. So far, 85,000 persons have benefitted. Salaries are paid before they are due. Added to these, he has delivered on his agenda to provide peace in the state.

Do you see hope for Deltans in the next four years from his second term inauguration speech?
Certainly, there is much hope. I believe the first term was ground breaking. This is the time for aggressive development. The foundation has been laid.

In his inaugural address, he exhibited the virtue of the visionary leadership of a philosopher king. He kept saying repeatedly of Delta State in the next four years “imagine for a second”, “just picture for a second”, “think for a moment” I did and must say that what I see is awesome – Delta without full dependence on oil; the logistic hub of the South-South and South-East with private investment participation.

An international airport in operation at Asaba and the extension at Osubi Airport in Warri; added to the dualized strategic roads from the ports to anywhere in Delta and the South- East; improved electricity with the N15 billion National Independent Power Project, private sector participation with $250 million Delta Leisure Resort project; Delta OFN Ltd., Chinese investors in Bendel Glass factory, Ughelli, $10 billion Petrochemical plant, Fertilizer Plant all operating;  repositioned DESOPADEC reaching out to the oil producing riverine areas, the Warri Industrial Business Park, the Koko Export Free Zone; and the Asaba ICT Park all operating.

My imagination reports that in four years, Delta State will be a phenomenon.  All these will translate to creation of jobs and development of all nook and crevices of Delta State. We are on the verge of experiencing the best of the governor.

Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP)  won in 12 local government areas while Uduaghan won in 13 local Government areas, don’t you think he is a strong challenge to the Governor?

As the Governor rightfully said in his inauguration speech, his victory is for all. No winner no loser. He said the time for partisan politics was over and time to build a united Delta of our dreams had come. I believe the challenge is over. The battle has shifted to the Election Tribunal.  The issue before the tribunal is subjudiced and it is not proper to discuss it. However, I can venture to say that Governor Uduaghan will triumph.