Why Niger-Delta must support Buhari’s efforts —Uduaghan

APART from Edo State, President Muhammadu Buhari did not score the required 25 per cent in the entire Niger Delta in the 2015 presidential election that brought him to power.

In spite of this, President Buhari has embarked on numerous measures and projects to tackle the debilitating problems of the region, former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said.

According to Uduaghan, the president’s approach to the Niger-Delta question is one of the best a Nigerian leader has adopted since the region became restive about 30 decades ago.

While most of the past leaders apart from late President Umaru Yar’Adua (who granted amnesty to Niger-Delta militants) deployed troops to the zone or adopted hard line stance, Uduaghan said that President Buhari has been using dialogue and execution of projects to address the issues in the area.

According to the former two-time governor of Delta State, who noted that the toughest challenge for any leader in the Niger Delta since 1997 has been the issue of peace and security, President Buhari had shown encouraging interest and embarked on activities to bring permanent solution to the Niger-Delta crisis.

Specifically, Uduaghan enumerated President Buhari’s activities in the Niger-Delta to include: mandating Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to visit virtually all the oil-producing states, engaging various stakeholders, which have brought some measure of peace in the region; embarking on some infrastructural and human capital development activities in the region; the opening of a Maritime University in Delta State; the setting up of a steering committee for the EPZ (Gas City); the plan for a deep sea port; the dredging of the Escravos-Warri River; the opening of the railway line to Delta Steel Company; the soon to be flagged off, by the president, the Omadino-Escravos Road that will pass through many riverine communities; the various road construction works by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); and the various TCN projects across the state, which he said are some of the positive activities in the region.

For the activities to bear enduring fruits, he said all well-meaning Niger-Deltans must put politics aside and support the president’s efforts in the region.

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Uduaghan, who formally left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said he was making himself the John The Baptist or forerunner of PDP leaders, who will later join forces with President Buhari to develop the Niger-Delta.

In a defection speech titled: ‘’Moving on to Bigger Playing Field,’’ he said: ‘’It is in the pursuit of this noble objective that I’m offering myself to help drive a process that would give the lives of our people in the Niger Delta more meaning. President Muhammadu Buhari needs people who will join hands with him to uplift our people. From my political experience, you have to be well represented and actively so at the “board room” when decisions are being taken. Delta State must be well represented. Niger Delta must be well represented.

‘’It is noteworthy to state that some organisations have been deeply involved in efforts to develop the Niger Delta and can always be relied on to collaborate with our President. It is also noteworthy to add that some previous administrations made significant efforts to develop the region. The current administration made such a significant impact in spite of the fact that apart from Edo State, President Buhari did not score the required 25 per cent in the entire Niger Delta in the election that brought him into government in 2015. This speak volumes of his genuineness to uplift the Niger Delta. Such an administration should be encouraged by the people of the Niger Delta. We can never be sure of the genuineness of another person who becomes the President.

‘’I have, therefore, after series of consultations and prayers, taken the decision to leave the PDP and join the APC. In doing this, I want to thank the numerous leaders, supporters and interest groups that have been urging me to remain in PDP. I am happy that after explaining some of the deeper issues to you, some of you that are politicians have agreed to join the APC in the near future. So, I am going into APC as “John the Baptist” to the numerous Deltans that are coming in, soon – very soon.’’