The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged the people of the South-South Region to give maximum support to the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Governor Uduaghan who canvassed for the support during a State Luncheon to mark the 2013 Democracy Day celebration Tuesday, May 29 in Asaba, reminded the people of the region that they needed to ensure that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan succeeded as president of the country for the benefit of the region.

He admonished the people of the region to desist from attempts to discredit the president, stressing that “the politics of Nigeria is still regional and the interest of the South-South is paramount to us all as people of the region” adding that “nobody from the region should be in the forefront of the campaign to pull down our son, the president. It is not right and should not be encouraged.”

He stated that the Jonathan’s administration has creditably handled the biggest security challenges facing the nation and his transformation agenda was working. He called for prayers and maximum support from all Nigerians to enable him to succeed.

“Delta state as part of the South South region must lead the support for President Goodluck Jonathan who has become the first President of Nigeria from the region. Mr. President has spent barely two years in office and he should be given more time and the maximum support to succeed.

“The politics of Nigeria is still very regional where every region is struggling for its own interest. As a people of the South South geo-political zone, we therefore owe Mr. President every support that would make him succeed while in office, despite the security challenges which he has tackled headlong.”

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan also charged politicians in the state to ensure that they do not overheat the polity as they prepare for the 2015 polls. He noted that power comes from God and as such everybody should ensure that they maintain the existing peace in the state and eschew violence.

He admonished them not to do anything that will disrupt the peace and security currently enjoyed  in the state.

Dr. Uduaghan who gave a scorecard of his administration’s achievements in the last two years explained that the “Delta Beyond Oil” vision of his administration was meant to diversify the state economy and make it less dependent on oil revenues.

He explained that the various strategies to ensure that the state was peaceful and secured has paid off handsomely as various foreign countries and embassies have acknowledged the relative peace in the state.

On the menace of kidnapping and armed robbery, Governor Uduaghan reiterated the government policy of demolishing any house used for kidnapping and keeping kidnap victims. He stated that anybody including native doctors who aid and abet kidnapping in the state would be treated an as accessory to the crime.

While commending the judiciary and the State House of Assembly for their support in handling the issue of kidnapping, Governor Uduaghan enjoined all Deltans especially community leaders and youths to cooperate with the government in its fight against kidnapping.

On the Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Dr. Uduaghan reminded the people that “the money for the commission is meant for development of the Oil Producing Communities and not for sharing” stating that “now that the commission has overcome its initial challenges , soon they will give an account of what they are doing”.

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who informed the audience that the state Independent Power Plant in Oghara would come on stream in 2014, stated that the initial challenges facing the project has been overcome.

According to him” electricity is the fulcrum around which industrialization revolves. In this regard, government is procuring and installing electricity transformers to boost power supply in the state capital and other towns in the state…..We are collaborating with the federal government on the National Integrated Power projects and the development of distribution injection transmission sub-stations in the state.”

While stating his administration’s laudable achievements in the health sector informed the gathering that the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara has become a medical tourist haven, Governor Uduaghan restated that the hospital has become a referral centre for neonatal cases. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensure that all health facilities in the state met world class standards.

In his address, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, the State PDP chairman, commended Dr. Uduaghan for his developmental strides and assured him of the support of the party and all Deltans in the achievement of his“Delta Beyond Oil” vision.

*Uduaghan Vows To Prosecute Saboteurs

IN a bid to ensure that government policies and projects were protected and remained in good condition, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has directed that anybody who destroys government project should be prosecuted.

The Governor, who commissioned different projects in Asaba and its environs as part of activities to mark 2013 Democracy Day, stressed that it was a crime to destroy projects executed by government.

He stated that anyone caught destroying or disrupting projects being executed by government would be prosecuted henceforth.

The Democracy Day activities commenced on Sunday with an inter-denominational church service at the Flock of Life Bible Church, Effurun and the finals of the first edition of the Governor’s football competition  Cup for secondary schools in the state.

“If we see you damaging any of our projects, we will prosecute you,” the Governor stated, adding that those who wants to cut across a road for any reason should consult the Ministry of Works so that where roads are damaged, such would be repaired immediately.
Some of the roads commissioned by the Governor include the Government House road through Cabinet office and the reconstructed Okpanam road.

In a related development, Governor Uduaghan was also at the newly re-constructed Asagba Mixed Secondary School, Asaba to commission it advised the children to maintain the facilities in the school and keep the school premises clean.

He admonished them not to destroy the school properties adding that any student caught would be punished, and charged them to be loyal and respectful to their teachers and parents in order to be good citizens of the state.

The governor explained that his administration was investing much on infrastructural development especially in schools stating that education was paramount to his government.

Emphasizing further, he said “As a government, I have taken the issue of education very seriously, that is why we are developing infrastructures in the sector. We made school fees free and have increased the number of teachers”.