IMMEDIATE past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has advised those who are aspiring for political offices not to be blinded by their political ambitions as to resort to peddling falsehood against government but rather should concentrate on facts and issues.
Uduaghan who spoke in Asaba on Friday, at a stakeholders meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State said that “every man has a right to aspire to any political office in the country but such person must not tell lies about government to achieve his aspiration. Tell the people what you can do for them, do not spread lies”
He debunked the wide allegations of financial mismanagement against the state government by Prof. Pat Utomi, and urged him not sacrifice the truth on the altar of political expediencies.
Uduaghan urged the Lagos based Economist to consider actualizing his political ambition by contesting for Councillorship position so as to get basic facts on issues affecting governance in the state.
According to the former Governor, his experience with Prof. Utomi has distinguished him as someone with bogus ideas but, does not have the frame of mind for execution.
He disclosed that as the Governor of Delta State, his administration made Prof. Utomi chairman and member of several committees as opportunities for the Lagos-based lecturer to contribute to the development of the state but, “if Prof. Utomi attends any of the meetings, he will not spend more than five minutes.”
‘He bragged about his reach internationally, how he was going to bring international investors and we had to partner with him to organize a business forum outside the country with Nigerians in Diaspora for us to get the investors but, he did not spend 5 minutes before he left us, no investor came to the state through him.”
“You people should ask Prof, where is the Silicon Valley? He took us to his home town, Ibusa for the foundation laying ceremony of Silicon Valley, till date, there is nothing to show that the project has commenced; he has contested for the Presidency, he now wants to be the Governor but, I think he should start from his Ward, he should contest for Councillor,” Dr Uduaghan advised, amidst applause from the excited members of the PDP.
“It is not good to condemn what the incumbent Governor is doing because of your ambition, rather, you should bring out your programmes and sell to the people,” Dr Uduaghan said, stating, “Governor Okowa has done excellently well and we should join hands with him to develop the state”
The former Governor advised members of the PDP to remain united and urged those in elective or appointive positions to empower Deltans through the spread of democratic dividends.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the occasion, urged members of the PDP to open their doors to any Nigerian wishing to join the party including members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), while the Chairman of the party in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso said the meeting was necessary for members to be abreast with happenings in the party.