Uduaghan Still Giving Reasons For His Defection To APC …Receives Olu's Blessings
Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr.
Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Tuesday said he decided to defect to All Progressives Congress (APC)
from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because his former party has become
stagnant.
He also said he changed his mind to be part of the ‘progressives’
since he realised that APC has been the only party in the forefront of fighting
for the people of the Niger Delta region.
Uduaghan stated this yesterday when he paid a
consultative visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, at his palace in
Warri, noting that these were few of the
reasons he joined APC.
He, however, assured the monarch that he is
contesting for Delta South
senatorial seat to represent, not only the people
of Delta South, but also the entire Niger Delta region.
The former governor said Delta State cannot
continue to play opposition party, noting that if the state continues to be in
the opposition, it might be left behind in the scheme of things.
The Delta South senatorial hopeful pledged to use his
position as a senator, if eventually elected, to ensure that the Petroleum
Industry
Bill (PIB) which had been in the National Assembly
for so long, is passed into law.
"Ogiame, I am here as your son to pay homage.
It's been a long political journey for me. You came into the throne at a time I
was taking political holiday. Ogiame, today I am here to tell you that I am out
of that political holiday, and I am back to the political trenches of Nigeria
politics.
"There are few Nigerians who know how to play
politics, and I can assure you that your son (Uduaghan), is part of that group
of politicians," he said.
Uduaghan boasted that he is one of those politicians
in the country who have the capacity to open doors in the politics of Nigeria.
He added that when he looked at the future of his
political career, he discovered that his former party was stagnant and moving
backwards.
"Just few hours after I moved to the APC, I
was invited to the APC caucus
meeting in Abuja where I mingled with the high and
mighty in Nigerian politics," he added.
The ex-governor said Delta South senatorial
district needed somebody in the National Assembly that can follow up the demands
of the people and ensure that development comes to the people.
He also assured the monarch that unlike most former
governors who are alleged to have gone there to retire, he is going to the Senate
to fight for the people of the Niger Delta.
The Olu of Warri, who gave his royal blessings to
him, said he was happy that Uduaghan had decided to come out to represent his
people in the red chamber.
The traditional ruler said Uduaghan is the only
Itsekiri governor since the creation of the state that has all it takes to
represent the people of Delta South Senatorial district.
Ikenwoli said: "Recently, I asked you why you were
here while your mates are
in the Senate, you gave me your reason why you
backed out when you had the opportunity. You said you did that for peace to
reign.
"No Itsekiri man has had the opportunity to
become a governor of this state. You are the only Itsekiri man who has been the
governor and that means a lot to me.
The Olu maintained that it is the turn of the Itsekiri to
produce the senator for Delta South, according to a gentleman agreement the
three ethnic groups had.
He therefore called on the Ijaws and Isokos to support the
aspirant from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality and embrace one another.
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