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Tag: Emmanuel Uduaghan

  • 2023: Why I am backing Atiku, Okowa, Oborevwori – Uduaghan

    2023: Why I am backing Atiku, Okowa, Oborevwori – Uduaghan

    Former governor of Delta, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan on Saturday in Warri, Delta State, charged supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to vote for the party massively in the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Uduaghan made the plea at the flag-off of the PDP Delta South ward-to-ward campaign.

    The former governor described the gathering organised by the leadership of the PDP in Delta South as a “reconciliation meeting in several areas’’.

    He urged party members and supporters to unite as one and indivisible family and deliver PDP candidates at all levels.

    He said it was a thing of joy that Delta produced the vice-presidential candidate of the party in the person of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and enjoined the people to support him.

    “No matter the misgivings you have against him before, he got there by the grace of God. We have no option than to support him to succeed. We must all queue behind him and give him the maximum support.

    “Whatever is in your heart, give a space and support our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his vice-presidential candidate, Gov. Okowa. I beg you, am serious with what I am saying,” he said.

    Uduaghan also urged the people to vote for PDP’s governorship candidate, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta South senatorial district candidate, Mr Michael Diden, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates.

    “For the state, we must all come together and deliver our candidates. I am saying this with all seriousness. I am old enough in the politics of Delta to be able to access people and know those who are sincere and those that are not.

    “I appeal that we concentrate on our candidates and deliver them. People should stop spreading unnecessary rumours that will divide the party the more; we should put stories together that will move the party forward,” he said.

    Uduaghan also appealed for orderliness during voting and urged members and supporters to mobilise aggressively to polling units to cast their votes.

    “I appeal that we concentrate on our voting units and wards and deliver our candidates. Let’s put our differences aside and put together what can make us victorious as leading party in Delta,’’ he stressed.

    He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving a pipeline surveillance contract and enjoined him to constitute a substantive Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board without further delay.

    He said that people from Delta South should be deeply involved in the hierarchy of the board.

    Uduaghan thanked government at all levels for their assistance to victim of recent floods and appealed to individuals to also emulate governments and assist victims.

    Earlier, PDP Chairman in Delta South, Mr Julius Takeme said the party was ready to go into full campaigns from Nov. 14.

    Also, the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Organisation in Delta, Mr Funkekeme Solomon urged party members to work in unity to win elections.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Gov Uduaghan endorses Okowa for VP, Oborevwori for Gov

    BREAKING: Ex-Gov Uduaghan endorses Okowa for VP, Oborevwori for Gov

    Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has endorsed the vice president ambition of his successor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and also the governorship aspiration of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Uduaghan on Saturday hosted leaders and candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta South Senatorial District when he harped on the need to deliver five over five for the PDP.

    This is in departure to insinuations making the round that both Uduaghan and James Ibori, also a former governor of the state were not on the same page politically with Okowa.

    “We must all come together and deliver our candidate. I am saying this with all seriousness and from the button of my heart. I am old enough in the politics of Delta State to assess people so I know those who are sincere and those who are not sincere.

    “It will benefit us more to deliver our candidate than deliver a candidate of another party. I am saying this from experience and that’s what will happened. If you deliver a new candidate he will satisfy his people first before you,” Uduaghan said.

    TNG reports the meeting which was convened at Uduaghan’s instance, was his first public appearance in a political engagement after the governorship and presidential primaries of the party.

    “This is a major reconciliatory gathering to unite our party ahead of the general elections. PDP built us. We will do whatever we can do to give back to the party. I appeal to everyone to thread carefully because power belongs to God. We may have issues in our party but that doesn’t mean we should kill ourselves,” Uduaghan said.

    The Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan Hall, off Ogunu Road, was packed full of party leaders and faithful who were very eager to hear from their leader and two-term Governor of Delta State on the direction to go ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Commenting on the chances of the PDP winning the general elections, the elder statesman said it was only God that made Okowa emerge as the vice presidential candidate of the party.

    He used the opportunity to declare support for the Atiku/Okowa and Sheriff/Onyeme tickets as well as those of the Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly of the PDP and urged everyone to do the same.

    “We must thank God that we have someone from our state as the VP candidate of our dear party. We have no option but to support him and Atiku to succeed. We must queue behind him and deliver our party at all levels,” he said.

    Continuing, the Delta South Leader said, “I believe that we will benefit more if we deliver our own candidates than to deliver those of other parties. I want to appeal that we should put our differences aside and put up what can give us victory at the polls come 2023.”

  • BREAKING: Uduaghan welcomes baby boy with Natasha Akpoti

    BREAKING: Uduaghan welcomes baby boy with Natasha Akpoti

    Former Kogi Governorship candidate, Natasha Akpoti and her new husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan have welcomed a baby boy.

    The news of the birth was shared by veteran singer, Daddy Showkey, on his Instagram page on Saturday.

    Daddy Showkey, who performed at the couple’s wedding in March wrote: “Congratulations my brother, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan and His lovely wife, Chief Natasha H Akpoti Uduaghan on the birth of their newborn baby”.

  • Uduaghan’s daughter, Orode reacts after losing PDP House of Assembly ticket

    Uduaghan’s daughter, Orode reacts after losing PDP House of Assembly ticket

    Orode Uduaghan, daughter of former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan has reacted after losing the House of Assembly ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Warri North Constituency.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Orode on Sunday lost the House of Assembly ticket to Fred Martin, who won the PDP ticket for Warri North Constituency after polling 25 votes from the party’s delegates to contest the House of Assembly seat in the 2023 general election.

    Orode, however, said she remains committed to serving the people of Warri North, Delta state and Nigeria in her own capacity despite losing out in the PDP primary election.

    She congratulated the winner and stressed that Fred would be held to the highest standards in flying the PDP flag for the Warri North Constituency seat in the 2023 general election.

    She stated thus: “I want to thank everyone who has offered support since I declared my intention to represent Warri North constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly under the People’s Democratic Party. The journey was not without its challenges, we fought well and hard and your immense support served to strengthen the conviction for what was possible.

    “I would also like to congratulate Honorable Alfred Martins on his victory at the PDP primaries. Our conviction is that service is a privilege, and we will hold you to the highest standards of this privilege ceded to you today by the party. We entrust to you again the vision for a greater Warri North and beseech you to serve our people dutifully as you vie for your second term.

    “I thank my incredible campaign team for working tirelessly towards our #greaterwarrinorth agenda. You made history and served notice that systemic predispositions could be shaken in Delta state. This is only the beginning.

    “There is no political title as important as the title of citizen, and our political choices must match our aspirations. I, therefore, call on all well-meaning Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process come 2023.

    “I remain committed to serving the people of Warri North, Delta state and Nigeria in my own capacity.

    “God bless Nigeria, God bless Delta state, and God bless the great people of Warri North. A Greater Warri North begins now. We have only just begun”.

  • FLASH: Uduaghan’s daughter, Orode floored in PDP House of Assembly primary

    FLASH: Uduaghan’s daughter, Orode floored in PDP House of Assembly primary

    Orode Meyiwa Uduaghan, daughter of former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan has lost the House of Assembly primary conducted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Warri North Constituency.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Fred Martin won the PDP ticket for Warri North Constituency after polling 25 votes from the party’s delegates to contest the House of Assembly seat in the 2023 general election.

    Orode was floored after polling only 7 votes to emerge in the second position in the primary election.

    Martin as the PDP’s House of Assembly candidate for Warri North Constituency will now slug it out with candidates that will emerge from other political parties in the 2023 general election.

  • Ex-Gov Uduaghan’s cousin, Oritsejolomi set to marry Kogi princess, Natasha Apoti

    Ex-Gov Uduaghan’s cousin, Oritsejolomi set to marry Kogi princess, Natasha Apoti

    Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, cousin to former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan is set to marry Kogi Princess, Natasha Apoti.

    Chief Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom, an Engineer turned lawyer, will marry Apoti, a single mother of three in a traditional marriage ceremony that will be held on March 5, 2022.

    It was gathered that the traditional marriage ceremony will take place at Apoti’s late father’s residence in Obeiba-Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State on the scheduled date.

    Apoti was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last gubernatorial election in Kogi, who gave Gov Yahaya Bello goose pimples before the election.

    She also contested the last Kogi Central Senatorial election on the platform of SDP in 2019 and lost the election to Senator Yakubu Oseni of APC.

    Apoti, 42, subsequently contested the November 16, governorship election and also lost to incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    On the other hand, Oritsejolomi is a business mogul and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Webster Group of Companies.

    Oritsejolomi had earlier bought Apoti a Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus car worth $750,000 (equivalent to N311,745,000.00) in what seems to be a Valentine gift.

    But, as it stands, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus gift looks more of a marriage proposal gift.

    Akpoti’s marriage ceremony invitation card has been making the wave all over social media, most especially Facebook.

    The marriage ceremony may turn out to be the talk of town in the coming days.

  • BREAKING: Delta guber aspirant, Kenneth Okpara is dead

    BREAKING: Delta guber aspirant, Kenneth Okpara is dead

    A governorship aspirant under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 guber election in Delta State, Olorogun Kenneth Okpara is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Olorogun Okpara, who was a former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Delta, was confirmed dead in the early hours of Friday.

    Okpara died on Friday 19th November, 2021 at Capital Hill Hospital, Warri at the age of 60.

    Confirming the sudden demise, Delta State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo said Okpara had been very sick and had to be taken to the hospital for medical attention.

    He was born into the great Okpara Dynasty of Eku on February 8, 1961, in Eku Community, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

    He had his Primary Education at C.M.S, in Eku and attended Saint Peter’s Claver Aghalokpe and later proceeded to the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, where he bagged (Bsc. Accouting) in 1987.

    He subsequently went abroad for further education and did his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in the prestigious Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK).

    He was a product of Harvard University, JFK School of Government Executive Education (Cutting Edge of Development Thinking Programme) May, 2013, and Cambridge University London, Judge Business School, April, 2011.

    Okpara was also an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria,1999, fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation 1998, Microsoft Professional-Internet (MCP- 1) 2000, Microsoft Certified System (MCSE) 2000.

    He was also an International Financial Expert and a Chartered Accountant and was a Senior Financial Management Specialist with the World Bank who was saddled with the responsibilities of Financial Management, implementation support and supervision of its funded and multi donor trust fund investment projects in Afghanistan and South Asia.

    He had worked as a co-Task Team Leader/Manager for Public Financial Management Projects funded by the World Bank here in Nigeria as well.

    He was appointed the Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning in September 2011-July 2013 by Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State.

    Okpara was later appointed as the Honourable Commissioner for Finance by the same former governor, Uduaghan, in July 2013 – May 2015.

    TNG reports Okpara joined the 2023 governorship race few months ago and had the intention of becoming the next governor of Delta, until the cold hands of death took him away.

  • Roli Uduaghan stuns in beautiful 60th birthday photoshoot [PHOTOS]

    Roli Uduaghan stuns in beautiful 60th birthday photoshoot [PHOTOS]

    Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, wife of former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan turned 60 today.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Deaconess Uduaghan showed up for the day in beautiful photos shared on her husband’s official Facebook profile.

    Meanwhile, Dr Uduaghan used the opportunity to send a loved up message to his dear wife.

    Read message below:

    FOR MY DARLING PRAYING WIFE @60.

    For everyman, God created a woman.

    For every woman, there is a man.

    Sometimes we find it nearly impossible to meet whom God has created for us. Then we go round and round, doing trial and error and fall into wrong hands.

    I was lucky to meet mine over 34 years ago. Since then, we have been through thick and thin.

    God has increased us with children and grandchildren. He has increased us with material things. He has seen us through several challenges, including navigating us through landmines that would have exploded and consumed us.

    Lord, for ALL THESE, we are eternally grateful. Thank you for the multiple blessings you have showered on us.

    As she grows older Lord, envelope her with Good health, Grace, Wisdom and Strength to accomplish the tough physical and spiritual tasks you have given her.

    HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TO THE WIFE OF MY YOUTH AND MY OLD AGE.

    AGE GRACEFULLY.

    See photos below:

  • Uduaghan condoles with Deputy over wife’s death

    Uduaghan condoles with Deputy over wife’s death

    Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has condoled with his former deputy, Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama over the demise of his wife, late Dr (Mrs) Tuwere Nelly Utuama.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr. (Mrs.) Utuama died after a brief illness at the age of 65 years.

    Dr. Uduaghan’s condolence message was contained in a statement released by his media assistant, Monoyo Edon.

    In the statement, Dr. Uduaghan described the demise of Dr. (Mrs.) Utuama as a very heavy loss to his family especially his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Roli Sheila Uduaghan who was very close to the deceased.

    Dr. (Mrs) Utuama as the wife of the Former Deputy Governor, was quite supportive and participated fully in the activities of the Former First Lady.

    A very cerebral and spiritual woman, she accompanied the former First Lady in going round the State praying ane counselling, during the tenure of their husbands.

    These prayers, amongst other things, contributed greatly in bringing peace to the then troubled Delta State.

    “Though we can’t question God but Dr. (Mrs.) Utuama’s death is very painful. This is indeed a heavy loss to not just the Utuama family, but the entire Delta state,” Uduaghan stated.

    The former Governor of Delta State prayed for the repose of the soul of Dr. (Mrs.) Utuama and that God should give His Excellency, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, and his family, the strength to bear the loss.

    Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, was Deputy Governor during Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s two terms as Governor of Delta State between 2007-2015.

  • Why restructuring Nigeria may be difficult – Uduaghan

    Why restructuring Nigeria may be difficult – Uduaghan

    …proposes administrative restructuring

    The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, says achieving restructuring in Nigeria may be difficult considering lack of consensus and divergent views on what restructuring means to many Nigerians.

    Dr Uduaghan stated that the word “restructuring” means different things to different people depending on their background making it difficult to reach a common ground on what to be restructured.

    The former governor expressed this view while appearing as a guest on a radio programme, “The Discourse”, on Classic FM in Lagos.

    He posited that what Nigeria needs is an “administrative restructuring” that will set the country on the path of development.

    Uduaghan, who was Delta State governor between 2007 to 2015, pointed out that since there is no consensus/agreement on restructuring, achieving it would be ‘almost impossible.”

    “I like the way you put the question. What is restructuring to me? That is because restructuring means different things to different people and that is why we cannot as a country be talking about restructuring or achieve restructuring.

    “Some people see restructuring on a geographical basis. Let us just build this country into several States and all that, let us merge some States you know, some parts of the country have taken over every position in government, all the appointments belong to one part of the country or we need to redistribute them. They look at restructuring from different geographical issues.

    “But some of us, I in particular, l look at restructuring on issues of administrative basis. Administrative in what sense? The percentage of funds that goes to the Federal government compared to the State and Local government, the gap is much.”

    The former governor who recently returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after over two years sojourn in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) explained that the administrative complexity that exists between the Federal, State and the Local Governments hinder the country’s progress.

    He blamed some of the reasons why the country was not achieving much on huge vested responsibilities on the FG through the ‘Exclusive List’ which bars the state and governments from performing some duties even right in their domains.

    While citing personal experience in office, Uduaghan explained, “What are the responsibilities of the various arms of government? You say FG has these responsibilities on an exclusive list, the State government, this is what you can do, the local government this is what you can do or cannot do, and that has caused a lot of roadblocks in achieving some of the things we are supposed to achieve.

    “Let me just give an example of what happened when I was in government. You see there are Federal roads and there are State roads. The Road between Ughelli and Asaba is a Federal road of almost 159km. It’s longer than the Ibadan/Lagos road…Warri Port is a Federal government Port, it’s not a state Port. We are only able to do advocacy with the federal government so they can improve on the port.

    “Now with an improvement in Warri Port, more ships are coming into Warri Port. Many traders from Onitsha import their goods through Lagos port and have to drive the goods through that Lagos-Benin road which was very bad at that time. Of course it takes two to three days to get their goods to Onitsha.

    “We said if we work on that Ughelli-Asaba Road, dualize it and the goods come through Warri Port. With the goods from Warri Port within two/three hours it will be at Onitsha.

    “But for us to be able to even start on the Ughelli-Asaba dualization it took us two years to tackle the Ministry of Works at the federal level because it’s a federal road. They said as a state government you need permission from the Federal government to do it.

    “So for two years, we didn’t get that permission. It got to a point I said look is the road not in Delta? I must start it and that is how I started that road, let the federal government come and beat me for starting it.

    “And that is why I started that road and I am happy that my successor is continuing with the road because with that road is properly dualized and with an improvement on the Warri Port the congestion happening in Lagos Port will be much reduced.

    “So, that is why if we have a restructuring that ensures that whatever road is in your state, do it. There should be nothing like Federal road and State road. If you have the money to do any road in your state whether Federal or State do it because it will improve the movement in the state.”

    “So, mine is administrative. The country should be restructured in such a way that each style of government is able to meet all its financial needs in running its own responsibility.

    “The federal government is taking too much. Why will the federal government from Abuja decide to go and put up a building, primary school building or primary health care center.

    “But if we restructure this country and say ok Federal government remove all your hand from primary health care centres and leave it for local government and the state government then we will not have all those conflicting issues”, Uduaghan added.

    Speaking on other issues, Uduaghan said since his return to the PDP, he has been engaging himself with mentoring of youths for leadership positions.

    On why he left PDP for the APC, he said, “I left the PDP at the time I left because when I left office after some years I could not breathe. You know like they say literally I could not breathe and I needed to be able to breathe so I left and was able to breathe.

    “Some of the issues I had when I left office while in APC some of them were dealt with. I was approached by my colleagues in PDP, held several meetings and some agreements were reached. I would say the knee that was on my neck that made me not be able to breathe was relaxed that’s why I came back.

    “People have different reasons for moving from one party to the other. Very Different reasons and it happens all over the world. Donald Trump , the President today, didn’t start from the Republican party.”

    “I am a firm believer in encouraging younger people. I’m a firm believer in that. I have been a commissioner, I have been SSG and have been Governor. I’m getting involved in mentorship. I believe strongly in the issue of mentorship

    “Right now, it is informal mentorship I’m doing. I hope I can make it formaI and to be able to mentor younger people. We have, I want to repeat, we have challenges in the political terrain in terms of people accepting certain realities and certain truths.

    “You may want to mentor younger ones. Are they ready to be mentored? I see many younger ones who just believe that they are experts because they have one social media page whether on Instagram or Facebook and all that, where they write every junk day.

    “So, they just believe they are experts because they are able to put a lot of rumours and hate speeches on Facebook so they are not even ready to take advice”, the former Delta governor further stated.