Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has announced his withdrawal from the Delta South Senatorial race.
The governor said his withdrawal was a sacrifice made for peace of the state.
He spoke in Asaba on Thursday ahead of the Senatorial primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) hold across the country this weekend.
Uduaghan said withdrew after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and the national Chairman, Dr. Adamu Muazu on Thursday, during which the political situation in Delta State was critically analysed.
He said, “I have to offer myself as a sacrifice to ensure that the political and security tension that had built up in recent times is reduced. In doing that I am aware that a lot of my followers will be very unhappy but I want to appeal to them that I have to do this for the sake of this state.”
Ijaw people through their traditional rulers had openly threatened to breach the peace of Delta State should Uduaghan forge ahead his plan to run and supplant their kinsman james Manager.
While denying that he was forced to step down, Uduaghan said that quitting the race will offer him the opportunity to concentrate on national issues and be able to manage the remaining the primaries of the PDP and the election proper next year.
Alluding to the alleged threats by the Ijaw to resume hostilities should Manager, their kinsman be shortchanged in place of Uduaghan, an Itsekiri, the governor said that maintaining the peace in the state was more important than electoral victories which are won at great human cost.
—
