Nigeria’s Delta and Security Challenges: Using the Delta Beyond Oil strategy, a governor’s approach
on FEBRUARY 11, 2013 · in SPECIAL REPORT
7:18 pm


Being a paper presented by Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan,CON, at the School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University, Washington, USA last week

INTRODUCTION: I am greatly honoured to be here today, in the midst of professionals who have committed their time and resources to steering a formidable think-tank that fosters important global issues. In a very special way, I will like to express my profound gratitude to Professor Peter Lewis and, through him, to the entire leadership of the School of Advanced International Studies, SAIS, Johns Hopkins, Washington, DC for inviting me to speak at this august event.

Your invitation was a most welcome one. Besides the fact that it provided me the opportunity of reflecting once again on a subject that is most dear to my heart, your invitation also helps to keep the dialogue going. Today, I will be sharing my perspectives on the Security Challenges within Nigeria’s Delta State and the conscious steps my administration has taken to substantially address the challenges of public safety and security in Delta State, one of the oil-producing States in Nigeria. In doing so, I shall approach the subject with some preliminary and background comments.

DeltaState, located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, was created in 1991 out of the defunct BendelState in the former Mid-Western Nigeria. It is one of the nine Niger Delta States. A multi-ethnic State, Delta has a geographic spread of approximately 60 per cent land and 40 per cent water with a population of over four million people.

At the investiture of my administration, in 2007 we articulated a three-point agenda: Peace and Security, Human Capital Development and Infrastructure Development. At the core of this agenda is the attainment of economic growth that will guarantee a peaceful, stable and safe atmosphere in DeltaState.

Delta State as at 2007: Broad challenges on ground: Fourteen years ago, Nigeria as a country returned to constitutional and democratic civilian rule after prolonged years of military dictatorship and authoritarianism which destroyed most vital public institutions in the country. The entrenched, institutional and endemic abuse of basic rights and freedom under the Military culminated in bottled up agitations, tension and pent-up emotions, especially in the Niger Delta where agitations for control of natural resources graduated into criminal activities. This expectedly escalated under civilian, democratic rule.

Like all Governors in the Niger Delta, this was one complex challenge I met upon assumption of office in 2007, which my administration had to address frontally during my first term (2007-2011). Thus the challenge of public safety and security was quite evident as at the time I assumed office in 2007. There were other problems confronting the young administration ranging from political conflicts following my victory at the 2007 Governorship elections, to violent youth conflicts, armed insurgents, to ferocious ethnic rivalry amongst the various ethnic groups in DeltaState. This was aptly captured by Professor Michael J. Watts who co-authored The Curse of the Black Gold when he noted that “the Delta is awash not only in oil but in ferocious intra and inter-community struggles…”

Magnitude of the challenges

Perhaps, to appreciate the magnitude of the challenges of public safety and security at that time, it might interest you to know that within 48 hours of my inauguration in 2007, I had to embark on an unsolicited visit to the “creeks” in the Niger Delta region at the time, to free some foreign nationals working with a multi-national oil company, who were kidnapped as hostages. This was necessary because attacks on vital oil installations and armed insurgencies in the Niger Delta region were already threatening to cut national oil output by significant percent.

There were other challenges which were not totally peculiar to DeltaState but cuts across the constituent States of the Niger Delta but their scope and seriousness, however, vary at that time. These include challenges of public healthcare system, lack of requisite infrastructure necessary for stimulating growth and development, absence of a functional and effective educational system, social problems and broad issues relating to the proper functioning of government in a democratic setting. Though the administration before mine tried to tackle some of these problems, there was still a long way to go when I came in. We shall come back to this later.

The past few years was fraught with various security challenges including kidnap of foreign nationals, key government and political office holders, armed robbery attacks and assault on strategic government infrastructure such as oil pipelines by suspected militants. The Federal Government of Nigeria on its part, through its Amnesty programme, helped ameliorate and substantially quelled the effects of militancy in the Niger-Delta region.

The Delta State Government adopted a holistic approach to addressing the challenge of public safety and security. At the outset of my administration, we designed a strategy that set out to (1) identify and eliminate the root causes of such crimes and their criminal agenda, and (2) determine our policy responses to help prevent future occurrences.

The success criterion of this strategy was to improve our overall effectiveness in consolidating peace and development within the State. To effectively tackle and address the Challenges I met on assumption of office in 2007, my administration articulated a three-Point Agenda; Peace and Security, Human Capital Development and Infrastructure Development. At the core of this agenda, is the attainment of economic growth that will guarantee a peaceful atmosphere.

Public safety and security: My administration’s response: No serious discussion of insecurity or challenges of public safety and security problems is complete without referring to the socio-political and economic environment because security challenges do not occur in a vacuum. Thus, the state of infrastructure, education, employment, social sector, healthcare and the overall economic well-being of the citizenry have a direct and indirect correlation with the level of public safety and security.

Public safety and security

The social, political and economic environment often times, can explain the proliferation of crimes. According to the United Nations Crime and Justice Information Network, “no matter what part of the world, over a five year period, two out of three inhabitants of big cities are victimized by crime at least once.”

The UNCJI network further stated that, “the risks of being victimized are highest in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.” This begs the question of what commonalities exist between the two regions. The crime rates in these regions have been reported to be inversely proportional to their development indices. Social, political and economic development can, therefore, be said to be inextricably linked to security. Approaching the subject of insecurity from a different perspective, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), in its 2009 report, pointed that “looking back over the past 60years, at least 40 per cent of all intrastate conflicts can be associated with natural resources”. This again implicates the Delta region of Nigeria. And the situation in the region has global economic and political implications as well as dimensions.

Also, in one of the revealing studies carried out by the United States Institute for Peace entitled “Bringing Peace to the Niger Delta”, the author, Kelly Campbell argues that there are three perspectives in looking at the challenges of insecurity in the Delta region. The author listed them as lack of good governance, absence of social and economic development and unnecessary militarization of the area.

With these postulations as well as other practical experiences in mind, my administration set out to vigorously pursue Human Capital and Infrastructure Development, two planks of its three-point agenda, as a springboard to attaining the third plank – Peace and Security. This might appear to be a misnomer to a divergent school of thought which holds the view that human capital and infrastructure development can only take place within a secure environment. This other perspective was supported by the World Bank Report (1997) which noted that “sustainable economic development cannot occur without the basic guarantees of security provided by the rule of law.”

This school of thought implies that one action (security) has to occur before the reaction (development) but neglects to factor in the distinct peculiarities of different societies. We have reasons to believe that the situation in DeltaState tends to favour the deployment of investments as panacea to insecurity and not vice versa. After many years of military rule, marked by series of unfulfilled promises to the Nigerian people and in particular, the people of its oil producing states, the stage was set for distrust between the Government and its citizens.

As living standards declined, the struggle for survival exacerbated and the breeding ground for the crimes we experience today was set. Citizens sought economic ways of providing for themselves, and this further led to the increase in quick-money crimes such as oil theft, robbery and kidnapping.

Robbery and kidnapping

Having identified the root causes, my administration concluded that massive government investment in infrastructure, eliminating corruption at all levels and a sustainable improvement in the general standard of living of the electorate would significantly help to arrest and ultimately eliminate the spate of insecurity.

Earlier in 2003, the Human Rights Watch 2003:2, had reached a similar finding when it published, “the corruption of Nigerian political process that has left the oil mineral-producing communities of the region poor and underdeveloped has produced an unintended consequence: It has created a large class of young men who have no hope of legitimate work that would fulfil their ambitions, and are easily recruited into violence.”

To address this, we adopted a strategic approach. First, within the first few weeks of my administration, I quickly empowered the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), an interventionist agency set up to address the challenges of under-development in the Oil Producing Communities of Delta State, to go down to the rural, Oil-producing communities to create jobs, stem the growing army of unemployed youths and provide the much-needed infrastructure in designated host Communities. 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation accruing to the State or about approximately $222.5million annually is passed on to the Commission. Having ensured that this Commission effectively took-off, remained focused and committed to its mandate, we thereafter constituted the Delta State Waterways Security Committee, to help gather intelligence and information that would assist in crime prevention and detection.

In addition, we believe that a functional educational system could serve as great armour against crime. Consequently, my administration quickly re-opened, equipped and rehabilitated 42 high schools that were closed down in Warri and its surrounding towns and villages during an inter-ethnic conflict in DeltaState; a move which accordingly helped to engage some of our young boys and girls in productive endeavour. This ensured that they were no longer available to be recruited for criminal activities. To consolidate the gains of this initiative, we introduced Free Education Policy State-wide. The implication is that the Delta State Government is fully responsible for the payment of all fees associated with what is called the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, and NECO.

The WAEC and NECO certificates are among the requisites for admission into higher institutions of learning, including Universities. We are also awarding scholarships to thousands of University students for graduate and post graduate studies. Our star scholarship scheme, however, is the automatic scholarship for any Delta child that makes a first class to study anywhere in the world. By so doing, we are assured of a pool of highly trained human resources. We have also aggressively improved on the infrastructure in our schools by renovating dilapidated schools and building and equipping new ones. We also improving the quality of teachers by training and retraining.

Strategic approach

Again, as part of our strategic approach, we began implementing our holistic strategy by conceptualizing the brand identity, “Delta Beyond Oil”; a concept we believed would appeal to every Deltan. In its simplest terms, this perspective attempts to bring to the attention of the people of DeltaState, government officials and private sector operators, the need to understand that Oil and Gas are finite assets and exhaustible resources that cannot be permanently relied on to continually sustain the states that are dependent on it.

Correspondingly, we conceived and designed a new comprehensive economic development framework with investment strategies and approaches that ensured that other sectors of the economy in the state are brought on stream. The idea was to expand and complement oil receipts as alternative income sources and focus on Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) to fund the operations of government, the provision of social services and provide for development investments in Delta State.

This new comprehensive economic development strategy recognizes that the state is endowed with other vast reserves of agricultural, solid mineral and human resources. Therefore, it focuses on diverse sectors including commerce and industry, manufacturing, infrastructure development, Information and Communication Technology, education, Healthcare, culture, tourism and hospitality as potential sectors for private sector participation.

In the Health sector, we embarked on free maternal Healthcare Programme. Our objective was to build a healthy, sound and resourceful women population as well as reduce the rate of infant mortality. During my first term, we had an average of 1,641 deliveries monthly while about 12,240 pregnant women attended our ante-natal hospitals monthly. On the whole, an average of 4,612 women booked monthly for the free maternal Healthcare scheme in our hospitals across Delta State.

Within this comprehensive economic development framework, and in furtherance of our related development strategy, we embarked upon a broad range of programmes to pursue our economic diversification and empowerment programmes. They include the development of physical/transport infrastructure, industrial infrastructure, power infrastructure, human capital, SME development and micro or cottage enterprises development programme through a nationally acknowledged and acclaimed micro-credit scheme.

Some of our direct government investments aimed at catalyzing state-wide development include the completion of an InternationalAirport in Asaba, the State capital and the on-going expansion of an existing airport at Osubi, near Warri, the commercial hub of DeltaState. The Asaba airport is the most modern airport in Nigeria today. Taking advantage of the huge economic activities in Onitsha market, which is about 15 minutes away, it has the potential of being the busiest airport in Nigeria.

Transport infrastructure

In addition, the state government invested in the construction of new roads/bridges, the renovation and expansion of existing roads and the d ualization of a network of strategic roads that link rural to urban areas; urban to urban areas as well as roads that link Delta state with other states of the Niger Delta. The transport infrastructure is intended to facilitate easy movement of goods and services within and outside the state and boost economic activities in the state through their multiplier effects in the transport service sub-sector.

Recognizing the need to partner with international development agencies and citizens of DeltaState in the diaspora, my administration launched an outreach programme in 2009 in New York under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Walter Carrington, a former United States (US) Envoy to Nigeria. We believe that there are eminent Deltans in the diaspora who have both the technical expertise and the web of contacts to bring to the table for the overall development of Delta State.

In fact, Deltans in the US have been most supportive. The success story of India, China and many Asian countries is a clear testimony to the fact that when properly harnessed, the diasporans are a great asset.

You think God is asleep,the innocent souls that dead in cause of those boys your country trained is the cause of your failure today.

Governor Uduaghan Holds Interactive Session with the Media

His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) the Executive Governor of Delta State today  held an interactive session with Media men in the state at the Press Centre Government House Asaba. His Excellency demystified series of projects and programs completed and on going in the state. He categorized most of the projects under his three (3) points agenda Human capital development,Infrastructure,peace and security.

In the area of Human capital Development: The Governor told the press that his administration was able to come up with a comprehensive  scholarship scheme both local and international scholarships for Delta State  students who had 2.2CGPA and above in the university,those  who made 2.1 in higher institutions, the less privileged, aviation scholarship,the 1st class scholarship amount 5million per students yearly,maritime  students,Law students and other numerous scholarship programs.
 
He also made emphasis on the micro credit  scheme which has also helped to assist petty traders,farmers and youths across the state. He said the building of a shoe factory is on going which is in line with the Delta Beyond Oil program hence it will be able to reduce the rate of unemployment in the state.

He also talked about infrastructural  development and on going projects across the state. In his words "the on going construction of roads, schools, Airport, are in line  with our infrastructural  development programs and we made provision for the erecting of good structures in Delta State University (Anwai Campus)". He said the second batch of secondary schools construction will soon take  off as soon as the State House of Assembly approves the 2013 budget. Stressing that priority will be given to  the schools in the rural areas.

In the area of security, His Excellency told the media men that  his major reason for the banning of okada in Asaba and Warri is to reduce that rate of crime in the state, and that so far it has helped to limit the crime rate. He said the recent release of security vehicles to the State Police Command  was to help tackle the issue of kidnapping and armed robbery. He urged the State Commissioner of Police to put his men to work in other to put an end the issue of kidnapping in the state.

After the briefing by His Excellency, questions were raised by the press men in line with the areas demystified by His Excellency.

Questions raised on Human capital development agenda.

Mr. Festus one of the journalist,asked His Excellency why roads are not being  constructed in Ughelli unlike other parts of the state.
His Excellency  assured Mr.Festus that the road  contractors will soon get to Ughelli and that Mr. Festus should have also commended him for the rehabilitation of schools and other projects on going in Ughelli.

Another journalist  also raised issue about the petition written to EFCC on the allegation of the N 7billion spent to clear the hills at the international Airport. In response to that question, His Excellency admitted that a  petiton was written, and that the issue has been sorted out with the EFCC. Stressing that the international Airport is one vital project that he can boast of in his administration due to the fact that it was built at a cheaper rate among other airports in the country. He clarified to the media men that the total cost used in building the Airport is N27.7billion which the alleged N7billion scandal was part of. He said due to the contractor's delay, and the notification of the NCAA's visit to inspect the airport before bigger planes can start coming in, they decided to  level the hills to enable the NCAA give credit and permission for bigger planes to start landing there.

 Another issue raised was the delay in completing the Asaba stadium.
His excellency said the stadium would have been completed but that the contractor demands for a review of the contract stating that the money was not enough. But in view of his complains,the Governor said the DLA will take charge of the remaining work for prompt and quick completion.

Issues were also raised why the state hosts series of  summits.
He gave vital reasons why summit should be seen as an avenue to develop our country and states. He said one of the major challenges affecting the country was addressed recently at the Nigerian Medical  Association (NMA) Summit. Which is the need for doctors not to go on strike and how to check mate those who abandon their patients in public hospitals and go to their private hospitals.
 He told some of the the media men who taught he used the flood victims funds for something else to desist from making untrue reports, and that they should learn to be patient and tolerant so that the public will not be misinformed with untrue stories. He emphasized why he really held  back the N500 million given to the State by the Federal Government, stating that he wants the technical committee to come up with a comprehensive report that will help to ascertain the level of damage and total cost before the funds can be released to the State Committee on Flood Victims Rehabilitation. His Excellency has also urged the committee to use the money  for the purpose it was meant for.

At the end of the interactive session, His Excellency gave awards to secondary school students who excelled during a literary session held at Unity Hall, Government House Asaba. Mr. Louis Akamaka  a teacher, was given an award of  diligence and went home with a Toyota Corrola  car gift. Indeed Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan three (3) point agenda is working,Delta state is moving. God bless EEU.

I was told he used the funds for something else. People spread false news anyhow,thank God for this post. God bless EEU.

His Excellency Dr.Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan Governor of Delta State through the Ministry of Health has substantially reduced mortality and morbidity rate in the state though the provision of quality, accessible and free healthcare services to the generality of Deltans. Based on this vital points the Nigeria Medical Association  deemed it fit to host her  first ever Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) National Health Summit tagged "Repositioning the Medical Profession  with the Nigeria's Health System for National Development" which commenced today at the state capital Asaba. 

Present at the Summit was the Senate  President  Senator  David Mark (GCON), who declared the Summit opened, the Minister of Health Prof Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu, the  Governor of Edo State  Comrade Adams Oshiomhole , Governor  Peter Obi of Anambra State, the Governor of Abia State Chief  Theodore  Orji, Senator Dr Chris Ngige,the Asagba of Asaba Prof Obi Chike Edozien amongsts  other dignitaries. 

 In his welcome address, the President of the Nigeria Medical Association Dr. Oshahon Enabulele commended His Excellency Dr  Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan for hosting the first National Summit of the Association. The NMA President said the Association decided to host the maiden National Health Summit of the NMA in Delta State  based on the credible records set by the Governor  in the health sector. He said its on their records that Delta  State  is the only state that has done perfectly well in the free health care and mobile clinic initiative introduced  by Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON). The Senate President  Senator  David Mark also commended the Governor  for introducing the free health care program and challenged other State  Governors  to adopt this initiative stressing that health is wealth and that the two most important thing the government can render to her citizen is health and education. This he said Governor  Emmanuel Uduaghan has done very well in Delta State.

In a closing remark by the Chief Host, Governor  Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan urged doctors and nurses  across the state to be diligent in their jobs and also desist from any act that will bring down their  reputation. There is no doubt that His excellency through the ministry of health has affected the lives of deltans positively through the health sector.The summit continues tomorrow.

His Excellency Dr.Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan Governor of Delta State through the Ministry of Health has substantially reduced mortality and morbidity rate in the state though the provision of quality, accessible and free healthcare services to the generality of Deltans. Based on this vital points the Nigeria Medical Association  deemed it fit to host her  first ever Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) National Health Summit tagged "Repositioning the Medical Profession  with the Nigeria's Health System for National Development" which commenced today at the state capital Asaba. 

Present at the Summit was the Senate  President  Senator  David Mark (GCON), who declared the Summit opened, the Minister of Health Prof Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu, the  Governor of Edo State  Comrade Adams Oshiomhole , Governor  Peter Obi of Anambra State, the Governor of Abia State Chief  Theodore  Orji, Senator Dr Chris Ngige,the Asagba of Asaba Prof Obi Chike Edozien amongsts  other dignitaries. 

 In his welcome address, the President of the Nigeria Medical Association Dr. Oshahon Enabulele commended His Excellency Dr  Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan for hosting the first National Summit of the Association. The NMA President said the Association decided to host the maiden National Health Summit of the NMA in Delta State  based on the credible records set by the Governor  in the health sector. He said its on their records that Delta  State  is the only state that has done perfectly well in the free health care and mobile clinic initiative introduced  by Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON). The Senate President  Senator  David Mark also commended the Governor  for introducing the free health care program and challenged other State  Governors  to adopt this initiative stressing that health is wealth and that the two most important thing the government can render to her citizen is health and education. This he said Governor  Emmanuel Uduaghan has done very well in Delta State.

In a closing remark by the Chief Host, Governor  Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan urged doctors and nurses  across the state to be diligent in their jobs and also desist from any act that will bring down their  reputation. There is no doubt that His excellency through the ministry of health has affected the lives of deltans positively through the health sector.The summit continues tomorrow.

GARRI (x7):
Read about how Uduaghan has embezzled over N1.5 trillion in the past 5 years..

www.saharareporters.com/news-page/delta-state-movement-indicts-governor-uduaghan-siphoning-n15-trillion-public-funds-declare

please if you lack current informations,kindly make research before making post. Can you please tell us the projects abandoned by ULO,and if you must know, that other states built their Airport in a lesser rate unlike delta state does no mean fraud has occurred. Are you aware of the hils, and hard rocks before now? I don't know where you get your informations from,but I know you are here to look for you daily bread but blackmailing the governor is not the best way to achieve that. We are not interested on your number. Bleep!

Recently,Edo state governor comrade Adams Oshiomhole told the Edo state people that he will not ban Okada because he belong to the working class,and he knows clearly that the ban of Okada will definately increase the rate of unemployment in the state.But in a state like delta state,governor Uduaghan left all the abandoned projects and complete the only project which was recorded as the only project he has commissioned for the past 6years.The commissioning of tricycles (ke-ke) was the only project the swine has completed,and this gave rise to the unemployment rate in the state.The tricycles he purchase were given to their thugs and PDP members.
Prosperity holds it against him that he has failed the masses and his name will not be remembered for good by Deltans.

The goods once lament when the wicked once are ruling.But God will deals with them the way he deal with pharaoh.[b][/b]

Is my advice to the Anioma groups, to stop ringing their bells as if the governorship position is their birth right.This is politics,nobody deprived them from contesting since the inspection of democracy,and am sure they contested and failed.Likewise 2015 is pregnant and can give birth to either the urhobos,Ijaws,iteskiris,or the Anioma.

mutiply: In your wildest dream.......tales by daylight stories

some arrest took place today.But no politician yet. The BBC news I truly want to hear is the arrest of one politician.

Jenams: delta state is very interestin

how do you mean?

The delta state governor,has ordered the arrest of those involved in the illegal purchase of tricycles from the state government. This order was made after a report from the committee set up by the state governor to investigate how the 1,250 Tricycles were distributed. His Excellency said the reduction of the tricycles price as against the actual price was not to create avenue for business,but to assist the Okada riders in the three(3) towns the banned affected. He told the commissioner of police to ensure that all those involved in this act,should be brought to book and those tricycles should be recovered from them immediately. A source also told Deltans how una see am? On Facebook, that one Mr.Ejele has 60 tricycles parked in his compound,investigation is on going to ensure that justice is done.
For more details,visit Deltans How Una See Am? On Facebook.

As his Excellency closed the tennis competition yesterday in Asaba,he told talented deltans who are into sports to be rest assured that his administration is set to improve on their talent and also to make them world stars.More details and pictures on Deltans How Una See Am? Group on face book.

COMRADE OVUOZOURIE MACAULAY, SECRETARY TO DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT (SSG) MARKS HIS BIRTHDAY
Just few days back,his excellency also marks his birthday.

Omo_Tier1:
backwardness is not something to sing aloud about He should go for tutorials on governance from Edo

What has the Edo state governor done,that he has not done?

His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) Governor of Delta State,after the recent commissioned of 1,250 tricycles,and 101 buses early this year,commissioned 50 Marcopolo Air Conditioned Buses, 10 Tata Buses and 100 Units of 15 Seater Hiace AirConditioned Buses today at the Event Centre Asaba. He assured Deltans that before the end of Janurary 2013,most of the roads will be constructed. We pray God to give us fair weather to enable the contractors commence work.

His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) Governor of Delta State,after the recent commissioned of 1,250 tricycles,and 101 buses early this year,commissioned 50 Marcopolo Air Conditioned Buses, 10 Tata Buses and 100 Units of 15 Seater Hiace AirConditioned Buses today at the Event Centre Asaba. He assured Deltans that before the end of Janurary 2013,most of the roads will be constructed. We pray God to give us fair weather to enable the contractors commence work.

frivoke: A very big happy birthday to you sir. And may God give you more wisdom to lead the state to the next level in Jesus name Amen.

Thanks

duality: happy Birthday your excellency may God grant you the wisdom to do the best for Delta state.

Amen.

nkem Kalu: How many years is he celebrating?

I am plus one today.Governor EEU (CON) .

oniwo: ;DHappy birthday to you our GOD chosen Governor.
May God Amighty continue guilding you and your family Amen.
The best governor ever witness in the land of delta.

Thanks for being there. God bless you friend.

ikachi1: Despite the fact that our governor is the worst civilian governor that Delta state has ever dreamed of, I still wish him a happy birthday. May this birthday give him the opportunity to change his ways and work for the people of the state rather than enriching his families and cronies while there is no tangible project despite all the inflow of unimaginable amount of money into the state coffers.

why did you make such comment? Maybe you are not following up series of development and human capital programs on going in the state.

condralbede: Happy birthday my birthday mate.....hop U wil wish me same too?

Definately I wish you all u wish me.Thanks

joebol: And how and why must this make d frontage?

because he is a man of dignity.

oseiwe: I don't like him but I'm still gonna wish him well. Na d wife I wan flog.

What has the wife done to u?

kessyur: Happy Birthday to u sir. I pray in this celebration rebirth good governance for Deltans, especially the IKA CLAN. I wish you the best in governance, competing with the likes of Fashola and not Orji of Abia.

Amen

Okija_juju: Okay...

I hope he didnt declare a state wide public holiday like Rochas Okorocha did..

No he did not. He is not lawless like others.

Help us lord.

Inspite of payment of teachers and lecturers in the state,governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan still invested huge amount yearly on scholarship programs to encourage and assist delta state students studying within the state and diaspora.

These scholarship  programs are of different categories.
* Free enrollment of primary (6) six and junior secondary school examination.
* First class scholarship worth N5,000,000 per annual.
* Student Special assistance Scheme worth N20,000,paid yearly to those whose  CGPA is up to 2.2.
 * Student Special assistance scheme to physically challenge persons in different categories.
* Primary school - N20,000   per session
* Secondary school- N30,000 per session
* Higher institution- N50,000    per session
*Local scholarship scheme,for under graduate,Masters,and Phd.
* Under graduates - N100,000 per session
* Masters                - N 200,000 per session
* Phd                          - N300,000 per session 
* Student who made 2.1 - N3,000,000 per session
   And other forms of Scholarship for  children of deceased  civil servant, medical and law students.

 These programs are in line with the human capital development agenda.