By Charles Emeni
National Democratic Party, NDP House Of Representatives Candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State, and National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Mulade Sheriff, PhD, Wednesday, expressed shock over the death of former Delta State Governor, His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, saying “he was a leader, father, and elderstatesman in his lifetime”
In the words of Comrade Mulade, “This is not just the death of a former governor, it is the fall of an Iroko tree, the exit of a political colossus, and a monumental loss to Delta State, the Itsekiri Nation and the entire Niger Delta.
He described Dr. Uduaghan as a brilliant scholar, with public service that has remained exemplary and a lesson in loyalty, diligence, and competence in all that he did.
As Health Commissioner under former Gov. James Ibori, Chief Mulade said, Dr. Uduaghan revolutionalised the health sector delivery, improved the welfare of medical personnel, and upgraded government hospitals and other health Centres in the State.
And as Secretary to the State Government, he served as the engine room, the stabilizer, and a bridge in the Ibori administration, mastering the art of governance and statecraft, Comrade Mulade said.
As the Executive Governor of Delta State for two terms of eight years, he said, he was not a governor who made the noise, but his projects made the noise for him, and that was why Deltans fondly, and unanimously christianed him “The Talk and Do Governor”.
Comrade Mulade particularly recalled the beauty of the late Governor’s administration, anchored on his 3-point Agenda of Peace and Security, Human Capital Development, and Infrastructural Development; and his visionary “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative.
Long before Nigeria began the debate on Economic diversification and Energy Transition, Comrade Mulade said, Dr. Uduaghan saw tomorrow, with his “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative.
“Through the initiative, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan dared to dream of a Delta State that could survive without crude oil by investing massively in Agriculture, Tourism, Entertainment, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), Industrialisation. And in all of these, history will will for ever remember him”,, Comrade Mulade said.
“He was a father to me personally, and a strong supporter of Environmental Justice and Peace Advocacy in the Niger Delta Region,” he added.
