Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan.
Concise New has identified five reasons why the Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Recall we had reported earlier that the senatorial hopeful dumped the country’s main opposition party for the ruling party.
Uduaghan made the announcement on Wednesday in a statement entitled ‘Moving On To The Bigger Playing Field’.
The statement released by Uduaghan said the former Delta governor took the decision to leave the PDP and join the APC “after series of consultations and prayers”.
Below are the five key reasons Uduaghan dumped the PDP for APC:
Buhari’s engagement processes in Niger Delta:
Uduaghan in his statement noted that the APC administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari has had encouraging interest and activities to bring a permanent solution to the Niger Delta crisis.
He said rather than using the military to harass our people, the Buhari administration has embarked on various engagement processes that have led to agreements and brought hope to the people of the Niger Delta.
“Since the inception of the current All Progressives Congress, APC, administration at the federal level, there has been an encouraging interest and activities by President Muhammadu Buhari to bring a permanent solution to the Niger Delta crisis. This has pointed in a direction that is at once progressive and developmental.
“Topmost in these activities are the ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES. Rather than using the military to harass our people, the Buhari administration has embarked on various engagement processes that have led to agreements and brought hope to the people of the Niger Delta”, Uduaghan said.
Buhari’s infrastructural and human capital developments activities in the Niger Delta:
The former Delta governor praised Buhari’s developmental projects in the region, noting that this was one of the reasons he joined the APC.
His words: “Beyond the engagement processes, however, the Buhari administration has embarked on some infrastructural and human capital development activities in the region. In Delta State, the opening of a Maritime University; 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 Mr. President, the Omadino-Escravos Road that will pass through many riverine communities; the various road construction works by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the various TCN projects across the State are some of the positive activities in the region.
“There are also various human capital development programmes especially the school feeding and the “social security net” that is making 5,000 Naira available to the poor, the continuation of the YouWin programme, the various SME programmes, and several other projects across the region have brought hope to the people”.
Creating an environment for peace in the Niger Delta:
Uduaghan in his statement revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari created an environment for peace in the Niger Delta.
“Indeed, once Mr. President was able to set his priorities pursuant to creating an environment for peace in the region, it became incumbent on every well-meaning Niger Deltan and Nigerian to assist the process of building an economically prosperous nation.
“In this era of partisan politics, it is necessary for the people of the Niger Delta, and Delta State in particular, to identify more with the Federal Government led by the APC. By so doing, we can push some of the agreements between our leaders and the Federal Government through, and also engage the government to do more. Politics is about interests”.
Buhari’s commitment in the affairs of Niger Delta:
Uduaghan revealed in his statement that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown commitment in the affairs of the region.
“I will, therefore, give the strongest support to any President that shows commitment in the affairs of the Niger Delta.
“I call on, and enjoin, other well-meaning leaders in the region, who have very useful contributions to make, to come on board and join hands in helping this Federal Government to pursue a robust development agenda that would uplift our people.
“Whatever milestone that appears not to have been achieved yet is not for lack of efforts. Joining hands with and supporting the process will lead to a faster delivery on expectations”.
Buhari’s genuineness to uplift Niger Delta and the need to support the President:
As stated by Uduaghan, despite not getting the required 25% in the entire Niger Delta in the election that brought him into government in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has shown genuineness to uplift Niger Delta and as such should be supported.
“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 organizations 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 Muhammadu Buhari did not score the required 25% 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”, he also said.