Supporting Uduaghan is not a risk to me - Opuoru

By: Tonebsky Nesta

Mr. Matthew Poko Opuoru, a House of Assembly hopeful for Warri South Constituency II Seat in the State House of Assembly is a renowned grassroots politician and PDP chieftain in Warri South local government. In this exclusive chat with our Correspondent, the former U.S. based politician and technocrat bare his mind on the performance of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as well as his aspiration as 2011 draws closer. Except:


Critics are quick to say that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has not done enough to merit a second term, considering the amount that comes to the state as federal monthly allocation as well as internally generated revenue. What is your take on that?

Let me use this opportunity to put the records straight, at the height of the Economic Melt Down, people suffered a great deal in the United States of America. Hundred of thousands of people lost their jobs. You could see despair, frustration, sense of hopelessness and terror on people’s faces. Hundreds of people lost their homes and became homeless. People lost a lot of money in investment on Wall Street. The unemployment line grew longer. Both General Motors and Chrysler, one of the largest motor industry in the world faced bankruptcy. The sale of Toyota cars declined drastically. People became afraid to even spend their little savings because of the unpredictability of the economy. As a result of the economic meltdown, the prize of crude oil fell from 175 dollars to below 80 dollars per barrel. There was panic all over the world, the continent of Africa was most affected. Oil producing countries, including Nigeria became devastated economically.

The monthly allocation from federal government to Delta State was drastically reduced due to the sharp fall of the prize of crude oil. This is the daunting task the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan faces on daily basis. How does he carry out his 3point agenda and at the same time fulfill previous contractual obligations with less money coming in?

These are challenges people fail to realize in their opinion about Governor Uduaghan’s administration, but I must add that in spite of these teething challenges, the Governor has performed creditably well in his 3 cardinal project in the last three years. Some of the Governor’s achievements worth quick mentioning are: Consolidation of peace to Warri and Niger Delta creeks, construction of Asaba International Airport and upgrading of Osubi Airport, which when completed will make Delta the only state that will have 2 International Airports. He is also embarking on the dualization of the 160-kilometer Ughelli-Asaba highway, Koko-Ugbenu-dual carriage-way, the Warri Industrial Business Park as well as the establishment of Independent Power Project. The Governor while launching Delta Diaspora Direct D3 at the United Nations Plaza in New York USA, appealed to Deltans in the Diaspora to come home and help build the state. Other notable achievements of the Uduaghan Administration includes: the launching of the Green Economy Initiative, Micro and Macro Credit Schemes geared towards poverty eradication, the Youth Empowerment through Agriculture (YETA), planned establishment of 4 new polytechnics to compliment the existing ones as well as the award of automatic scholarships to Deltans who attained First Class in their degree courses. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s free maternal health care for children who are below 5years as well as for pregnant women and those above 70 years deserves great commendation by all well meaning Deltans and Nigerians in general. I must also note the free rural health scheme which was recently introduced by the Governor. He has also impacted positively on the lives of Deltans through DESOPADEC via the prompt and adequate released of funds to the Commission.

Don’t you think aligning with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan at this early stage is a risk?

People have been whispering to my ears words like “why do you support the governor so much when the road never clear?” “The political terrain is unpredictable”. My reply to them is which road never clear? What risk? I left the shores of Nigeria when I was 23years old with only 600dollars in my pocket and I survived the streets of New York. That is risk. Supporting Uduaghan is not a risk to me. It’s the right thing to do based on his performance as the executive governor of Delta State. I strongly believe aligning with him is a blessing to me and the Urhobos in Warri area. I advice all well meaning Deltans to join our progressive train. He is our leader and a visionary that will propel Deltans into the 21st Century. I understand the frustration of some people due to the economic meltdown. My appeal to them is to be patient, the economy is picking up. I have a plan that will create at least 10,000 jobs. I have the blue print which I will disclose at the right time.