Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged the nation’s
leaders to embark on a value reorientation in the country so as to unlock
the vast potentials of the country.
Besides, he urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to learn from its
defeat at polls and reinvent itself to provide a robust opposition in the
country.
Speaking weekend at the second University of Ibadan Alumni Association
National Public Lecture titled “Good Governance as a Catalyst for
Development: The Delta State Experience”, Governor Uduaghan said that “the
leadership of Nigeria must collectively fashion a new value system. This
is because it is the responsibility of leaders to mobilise the people
towards effecting the necessary changes in attitude.”
“It is the leaders’ duty to impart nationalism and patriotism in the
people. The leaders have the sacred task of ensuring that there is sincere
popular participation in conducting public affairs, rather than
indifference, cynicism and apathy,” adding: “I believe that the key to
unlocking the great potentials of Nigeria is to increase popular
participation. The people must be involved.”
He called on the ruling class to take the developmental yearnings of
Nigerians as expressed in the last general elections seriously, observing
that the voting pattern of the recent general elections has thrown a
challenge of unification and healing process on the ruling class
especially in-coming General Buhari’s government.
“The topic we are considering today is important at this juncture in the
history of our country as we transit from one government, from one ruling
party to another. It is happening at a time the yearnings of Nigerians to
join the league of developed states are palpable. On March 28 and April
11, the people spoke and we all heard. I think the decision of the people
should not be taken lightly.”
“Continuing, he said: “The election, however, also showed deep division,
perhaps more than anyone could have anticipated. It was the first time the
entire North would speak with one voice, and the old Eastern region also
with a voice. The North Central, contrary to traditional pattern backed
the opposition party- the APC. In voting, the entire North West voted
massively for General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC candidate, while those in
the South East and the South-South voted generally above 90 per cent for
the PDP. My interpretation is that these developments have placed a huge
burden on the president-elect and his team to begin unification and
healing process of the country.”
The governor opined that the PDP must learn lessons from its loss at the
last general elections, dig into its reserves and provide credible
opposition in the country stating “the PDP has to show that it is a party
of credible leaders with robust and visionary progamme. As opposition
party, the PDP has to be effective as a party and as the conscience of the
nation. This is not the time to despair. This is the time for hard work. I
call on all committed, knowledgeable and mature leaders to step forward to
pick up the pieces. If the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic
Congress could do it in Ghana, the PDP could yet bounce back. It has the
resources to do so. We may have lost the election but let us not lose the
lesson of the defeat.”
Dr. Uduaghan attributed the fast pace of development and ethnic harmony in
the Delta State to good governance and inclusiveness of all ethnic groups
in project allocation, development and appointment.
He opined that the development of investment attracting infrastructure,
the diversification of the economy, transparency and accountability in the
management of resources and fair and equitable distribution of political
appointments have made Delta State to tower above its peers in peaceful
coexistence and development.
The governor who said that the state Independent Power Plant Project would
be privatised in line with the Federal Government’s privatisation of the
power sector disclosed that pitfalls noticed in the operations of the
state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission [DESOPADEC] prompted
government reforms of the commission adding that a bill to this effect has
been sent to the state House of Assembly.
Dr. Uduaghan appealed to the incoming administration to build on the
foundation he has laid in weaning the state revenue base from oil,
expressing pride that he achieved great political inclusiveness when Delta
North Senatorial District produced the next governor without rancour and
bitterness.
The Governor who was conferred with honorary membership of the Alumni
Association pledged support to the Alumni Association in their
developmental efforts in the university.
Dr. Kemi Emina, National President, University of Ibadan Alumni
Association said that the Lecture Series highlighted developmental issues
and how such issues could be resolved for the benefits of Nigerians.
Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan,
Professor Isaac Adewole commended Governor Uduaghan for the lecture and
for putting ethnic harmony and infrastructural development in the front
burner.
Meanwhile Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has appealed to Alumni Associations
to assist in the development of their universities.
Governor Uduaghan who made this call when he paid a courtesy visit on the
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Adewole at
the weekend said that the task of funding and equipping universities has
become enormous to be left in the hands of government alone adding that
alumni associations should regularly identify projects they could sponsor
for the benefit of the staff and students.
He commended the university’s Alumni Association for embarking on the
construction of a one hundred bed post-graduate hall of residence.
The governor also commended the university management for its cordial
relationship with alumni association and for promoting greenery in its
campuses.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Isaac Adewole expressed
appreciation to Governor Uduaghan for contributing to the development of
universities and the medical profession in the country.