Date Published: 03/28/10

One man one vote should count, says Gov Uduaghan

Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State is to flag off a sensitization campaign of the people to ensure that “one man one vote” counts in the next general elections in the State.

The Governor who disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos, while receiving the 2009 Governor of the Year award bestowed on him by National Daily newspapers, said that it has become necessary to make elections acceptable in the state and Nigeria in general.

“As part of our contributions to the electoral reforms, Delta State Government will commence the campaign in a few weeks time, to educate the people on their right to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice”, he stated.

According to him, “It is intended to achieve a one Deltan one vote election that will be acceptable to the electorate and the observers, both from within and outside the country”

Governor Uduaghan who was accompanied to the event by his wife, Roli, was also adjudged the Most Outstanding Governor in the South South geo-political zone of the country. The event was chaired by a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

In addition, the Delta State Governor restated that Peace and Security remained top of the administration’s three point agenda stressing that the recent bomb explosions in Warri was an isolated incidence.

“Our strategy is putting the necessary structures in place and consistent engagement of all stakeholders… But even security operatives do know that you never can guarantee 100 percent security. Flashes do occur, but it is the way you manage them that matters”, he said

 He re-affirmed the willingness of the State to cooperate with the Presidential Committee to tackle Post Amnesty challenges, as well as gave insights into how the State has keyed into the Global Climate Change Programme to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

In his address, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of National Daily, Mr. Sylvester Ebodaghe, said the Governor of the Year Award bestowed on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was not an attempt to do what other organizations were doing.

Ebodaghe explained that in picking the Governor Uduaghan for the prestigious award, the newspapers’ Board of Editors visited Delta and other States of the federation to assess what was on ground, and were convinced that Governor Uduaghan has done a lot to bring development and empowerment to the people.

Said he:  “It is noteworthy that under his leadership, Delta State has remained most peaceful, focused and forward looking, thus becoming a favourite investment destination for investors from all parts of the world.”

Presenting the award to Uduaghan, on behalf of the organizers, Chief Anyaoku said that what he saw when he visited Delta State recently, was far more than what was presented in the citation read on the Governor.

Former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana was the Guest Lecturer at the colourful award ceremony which also featured the presentation of awards in various categories to other deserving individuals and corporate bodies.