Why I Didn’t Pursue My Senatorial Bid – Uduaghan

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Immediate Past Governor of Delta state, has explained why he didn’t pursue his senatorial ambition in 2015 and why he wouldn’t be contesting in the 2023 general election against claims that he stepped down his senate bid for some aspirants in the race.

Uduaghan spoke on Wednesday at the 2022 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Lectures/Award Ceremony held at the Casa de Pedro Hotels, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

The former Governor maintained that contrary to speculations, he did not jettison his aspiration for the Red Chamber for a Delta South Senatorial aspirant but decided not to contest because of what he called “election fatigue”.

According to him, he never picked up a form for the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but only did once while he was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

“I indicated interest to contest, but at no time did I collect form in the PDP. I only collected in the APC. At no time did I step down. I only stepped aside, because of election fatigue,” he said.

Uduaghan, while delivering a lecture titled “2023 Elections and Role of the Media”, noted that by 2023 Nigeria would have enjoyed 24 years unbroken democracy, adding that the media had during the period enjoyed a lot of freedom, unlike under the military.

He, therefore, charged media practitioners in Nigeria to be more objective in their reportage since, according to him, media projections were at times far from the reality.

He also challenged media owners to be faithful with their workers by paying them as and when due to guard against being influenced negatively by corrupt politicians.

The former Governor said he was in support of the calls for traditional rulers to be given constitutional roles in governance in Nigeria, saying “with such power, authority and recognition, insecurity challenges will be curbed to a large extent across the nation.

“I feel very sad that we have not given our traditional rulers the special role they should play. I say this because a lot of cases are settled in the palaces. Traditional rulership must deal on dictatorship. They should be given the power, authority, recognition to play more roles in the society. I am sure if that is done, all these challenges in our society will be reduced.”