Uduaghan Pledges Support for South-south Presidency in 2015

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

By Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has asked Nigerians to support the South-south geo-political zone for president in 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan is from the zone, and he is seeking to run for a second term in 2015.
The governor spoke in Abuja yesterday when he visited the home of an Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark for honouring his (Uduaghan) 25 wedding anniversary.

He said by the constitution of the country, the president is qualified to run if he decides to go for second term.
He said “As a loyal party member and a PDP governor, Delta State and myself will support the South-south geo political zone to produce the president in 2015.

“I thank the whole of Nigerians for supporting President Goodluck Jonathan so far and for making him the president. We are banking on the support of Nigerians to allow the South-south complete its eight year tenure come 2015,” the Delta State governor said.
Impressed by the pledge of support and loyalty for the South-south, the Ijaw leader, Clark commended the Delta State governor, describing it as the right thing to do.

According to Clark, in an apparent reference to the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, on the allegation of the perceived deal between the President and the Governors said the Presidency was not the birthright of any one.
Clark who traced the electoral history of the presidential nomination convention of the PDP, said during the January 2011 convention the delegates from Niger State voted for former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and that during the actual presidential elections, that the presidential candidate  of the Congress for Progressive Change, General Muhammadu Buhari defeated President Jonathan in Niger State.

Accordingly, Clark said even if there was a deal between the PDP governors and the president, that the Niger State governor did not keep the Niger State side of the deal. The leader of the Ijaws said Nigeria is a country of equal opportunity and everyone is entitled to contest for any political office without hindrance.

Uduaghan was accompanied to the house of Clark by the former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Economic Adviser to the President, Prof. Nwanze, Political Adviser to the President, Gulak, Adviser to the President on Monitoring, Prof. Monye, former governor of Edo State, Prof. Osunbor, Mrs. Adikwu Bakare, Senator James Manager, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, among others