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| Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan |
said that the State cannot continue to remain in the opposition party if it
must enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Uduaghan made the remark when he paid homage to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame
Ikenwoli in his palace on Tuesday.
The former governor who recently defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) officially announced to the
monarch his intention to contest for the Delta South Senatorial District
seat at the National Assembly.
Addressing the crowed, Uduaghan said he would give equal representation to all
the ehnic groups that constituted the Delta South Senatorial district.
They are: the Itsekiris, Ijaws and Isokos.
According to him, this is the era of “practical politics” where one
need to belong to the ruling party otherwise the door would be shot against the
person.
“Before now, I was in PDP, once in a while in life, you look at the future
and asked yourself what is there.
” Where you were before might be good but when you look at the future and
find that where you were before is stagnant or moving backward.
“Whereas in front of you, there is hope, progress, a road that is leading
you and your people to better place, then you live the place that is
stagnant,” he said.
Uduaghan said that going by the zoning arrangement among the ethnic groups. it
was the turn of the Itsekiri to produce somebody to represent the district at
the senate.
“Delta South is a district where we agreed among the Itsekiris, Ijaws and
Isokos that there will be a rotation at the senate level.
” Now it is the turn of the Itsekiris,” he said.
It will be recalled that the incumbent senator, James Manager, representing the
district at the senate is from the Ijaw enclave and had been there for the fift
times.
Responding, Ikenwoli thanked the former governor for his decision, adding that there
was no harm in trying.
“I want a senator that will truly represent the three ethnic groups, it is
our turn if we want rotation.
” Now that it is the turn of the Itsekiris, the Ijaws and Isokos should
support the Itsekiri because that is our agreement.
“This decision will lead you to success, God will give you the knowledge,
strenght and resources to fight the battle,” the monarch prayed.
