Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was on Wednesday screened
for the Delta South Senatorial Primary of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) by a five-man committee, chaired by Alhaji Mohammed Babaginda.
Other members of the panel were Dr. Frank Okafor, Mr. Mike Ewausia,
Rev Yakubu Abudullahi with Dr. Kabi Illelah as secretary/member.
Dr Uduaghan who appeared before the committee, which sat at the PDP
Secretariat in Asaba, told journalists that he was confident of
victory at the primaries because he was the most qualified to
represent the Delta South Senatorial District.
He declared that his level of experience as governor, exposure,
contacts, among others, placed him far above other persons in the race
for the party’s ticket in the senatorial race.
“I believe that I am the most qualified of the candidate to represent
my senatorial district, the legislature is about making laws that will
affect the lives of the people positively, I believe that a lot of
laws have to be put in place to ensure the development of the
district,” Dr Uduaghan said.
Governor Uduaghan who was beaming with smiles, exchanged pleasantries
with other aspirants who came for the screening, explained that it was
customary for him to appear before the committee.
According to him, there was no discrimination when it comes to
appearing before the screening panel, adding that every aspirant for
elective position in the PDP must appear before the screening
committee.
The governor who said that there were three areas he would concentrate
on when elected into the Senate, observed that there was the need to
put in place laws to improve the lives of the people of the Niger
Delta region, guarantee equity participation of the oil producing
communities in oil companies and for the protection of investments and
the environment.
“Having been in the Executive, I want to go to the National Assembly
to represent Delta South Senatorial District to enable oil producing
communities gets 10 percent equity participation in oil companies
operating in their areas. This will open up the area and stop all
agitations, if the communities have equity participation, they will
ensure the protection of the pipelines, companies, property and lives
of the staff.
“There is the need to provide legal framework for investments in the
country so as to attract investors. Nigeria is not the only country
with crisis, but because other countries have legal framework to
protect investors, investors still flock to those places, we need to
put up laws to protect investors in our country, this is what I want
to go and pursue in the legislature,’ he said.
He noted further, “you know my emphasis on the environment and green
economy, I will carry that campaign to the National Assembly, our
degraded environment need to be cleaned up and protected, I will
ensure that laws are in place to do just that”
