THE Oil-rich city of Warri stood still for Governor Uduaghan as he marked his birthday, with the Governor saying that is attainment of fifty-five years of age is an act of God.
The thanksgiving service which held at the First Baptist Church, Mission Road, Warri was also used to thank God for the recent electoral victory of the Governor at the Election Petition Tribunal.


Worship songs heralded the thanksgiving service which featured prayers, sermons and testimony by Dr. Uduaghan.

Governor Uduaghan read a scripture from Psalm 30, which highlighted biblical King David’s adoration of God for saving him from his numerous foes.

Giving his testimony at the thanksgiving service, Dr. Uduaghan said after reflecting on the tortuous political journey he had undertaken so far, he has every cause to be thankful to God.

Dr. Uduaghan described the various travails he has gone through as challenges of development necessary for success.

He recalled the threat of insecurity in the Niger Delta as some of the challenges noting with joy that it was in the same Baptist Church that he wedded his wife in 1988.

Dr. Uduaghan said he has been pondering on the official slogan of Delta State which is the “Big Heart.”

He said a man with a big heart is in serious trouble, emphasizing that such a name cannot be associated with a state which is making God its centre piece.

He then announced a change of name in the official slogan from the Big Heart to the “Finger of God” which reflects the miracle God performed through Moses in the sight of Pharaoh as recorded in the book of Exodus.

The governor looking resplendent in native Itsekiri traditional attire, also spoke about the proposed constitutional amendment, saying that the Niger Delta region would lobby other geo-political zones to achieve its aims.

He said: ‘’It is the responsibility of the people of the zone to initiate some of the amendments. We have to lobby some people outside the region to achieve our aims. We need to do our politics well and we need to relate with other people. Mr. President said he will not interfere with whatever we put on the table’’.
Uduaghan commended the federal government for the huge success recorded during the amnesty offer, disclosing that he was worried when key militant leaders in the state did not turn in their arms some days to the expiration of the amnesty deal.

“The amnesty was tricky. At the last days of the amnesty, a lot of people had given up. On August 5, this state would have been something else. We did everything and three days to the end of the amnesty, we had a breakthrough. That is why I said it is the finger of God that has brought peace. We are challenged by what Mr. President is offering. He is offering rehabilitation to the armed youths. He is offering equity participation by the communities in the oil industry. These are what we had been clamouring for,” Governor Uduaghan said.

He appealed to the people of the state to give peace a chance and join hands with the government and work for the sustainable development of the state.
Also speaking, former governor, Chief James Ibori, while congratulating Uduaghan, described him as a true leader, courageous, hard working, loyal, efficient, effective and a decisive governor.

He prayed God to give the governor more strength, patience and wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state.

“In 1999, we took our destiny in our hands against all odds and hurdles, but if God is with you, there is nothing you cannot do. The celebration is not just about the birthday anniversary of our governor, every time I visit Delta, I look around me, I say praise God. I always say glory be to God because God took the right decision’’, Ibori said.

Ibori, who described politics as a practical game, noted that Uduaghan would floor any opponent at the polls anytime, any day because of his achievements, focus and vision to take the state to the next level of developments.

The former governor, who described governance as very challenging, called on the people to “evaluate our government in terms of concrete achievements that have been recorded’’.

In a sermon titled “Light Through Our Darkest Moment,” Rev. Felix Omobude of the New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin, said that it is in the darkest hour light shines brightest.

Rev. Omobude said a time always come when a man acknowledges the sources of his strength. He noted that the adversaries that come as opposition to open doors are there to teach some lessons and urged Governor Uduaghan to put God first in all his dealing.

He thanked God for lifting up Dr. Uduaghan and asked him to treat all Deltans with fairness.


Rev. G.O. Oyibo and Rev. C.F. Ugbede also prayed for the Governor and his family at the thanksgiving service that attracted the cream of the society from across the society.

State Chairman, PDP, Peter Nwaoboshi, also thumbed up the governor for a job well done, saying that Uduaghan has been a perfect successor to Ibori.

Apparently in veil endorsement of the governor for a second term, Nwaoboshi said the party is happy with him for his achievement and being a loyal party man, underlining that “when the time comes, whatever you see, take it like that, because Uduaghan is a disciplined party man who pays his dues promptly’’.


The occasion was attended by PDP leader, Chief Tony Anenih, members of the state executive council, members of the federal and state legislature, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, National President of PFN and State Chairman of CAN, Archbishop God-Do-Well Avwomakpa among others.

For more details and information please join youth alliance for Uduaghan on facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=1225418070#/group.php?gid=176697904866

http://www.governoruduaghan.org/news_fetcher.php?fid=446

And also check out the website at www.allianceforuduaghan.com
Youth Alliance for Uduaghan (YAU) is a pressure group with members all over the nation and in the diaspora.