Buhari Cannot Afford to Neglect South-south, South-east, Says Uduaghan

Emmanuel Uduaghan

As a new government is set to emerge on May 29, the South-south and South-east geo-political zones must not be denied their dues in power sharing and resource allocation, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor of Delta State, has cautioned.

Speaking on Sunday night at a ceremony in Lagos where he was conferred with the Man of the Year award by the Silverbird Television, the governor noted that both geo-political zones are critical components of the country that should not be relegated in the power equation under any circumstance.

He said equity, fair play and justice are essential ingredients to enthroning peace in any society.
“The incoming government cannot afford to ignore the South-south and South-east whether or not they voted for the party,” Uduaghan said.

He said the three virtues were his constant guiding principles through his time as governor of Delta State without which the implementation of his developmental agenda would have been more challenging.

“There is no sacrifice that is too much for peace to be won, especially personal sacrifice,” he stated, adding that when he found out that the peace he labored to build over the eight years he has been governor would be upset by his desire to seek election into the Senate, he quickly sacrificed his ambition.

“By laying the foundation for peace in Delta State through equity and fair play, we were able to actualise our development programmes and create a new economy under the Delta Beyond Oil initiative,” the governor said.

“That Delta is now indisputably acknowledged as the most peaceful state in the Niger Delta is due to the pursuit of equity as well as the passionate implementation of policies that unleashed the latent entrepreneurial potential of Deltans through the micro credit scheme that provided access to cheap funds and professional mentoring for emerging businesses.

With complimentary emphasis on the provision of first class infrastructure, maternal and child care programmes that guarantees free medical care for expectant mothers and children up to five years and quality education, Uduaghan said Delta State has been placed on a trajectory to sustainable development beyond the vagaries of the oil economy.

The governor dedicated the Silverbird Man of the Year award to the people of the state whom he said have jettisoned their differences to build a peaceful and united state.

Two elder statesmen of state extraction were also honoured at the ceremony. Chief Philip Asiodu, former Minister of National Planning and Dr. Gamaliel Onosode, frontline industrialist were conferred with the Life Time Achievement awards.

Speaking after receiving the award, Asiodu who was also Chief Economic Adviser to former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo, called for the restoration of the core values of the civil service.

According to him, before the purge of the service by the military in 1975, the civil was fashioned to be independent, professional and primed to serve any government in power.

Asiodu said for Nigeria to rebuild and reinforce the institutions of good governance, the civil service should be returned to its core values and shielded from political interference.