Senate 2019: Ex-Delta governor gives details over claims that he dropped his ambition

- Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan says he is still in the race for the Senate against James Manager

- Uduaghan says there is no going back this time over the ambition

- He explains how the interest of Goodluck Jonathan made him step down in the past

The immediate former governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, on Monday, June 18, debunked rumour and reports that he had chickened out of the senatorial race ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Uduaghan made this known his Warri residence when he played host to the coalition of Bomadi LGA elders led by Revd Gbenekuru England and dozens of youths drawn from different groups.

A statement made available to NAIJ.com says the group which is an amalgam of all the community elders in Bomadi had inquired if the dynamic former governor stepped down again for James Manager, a current senator at his recent public declaration at the PDP mega rally for Governor Okowa which held in Oleh.

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Uduaghan, a medical doctor, said: “I have not stepped down for anybody and I am not going to even contemplate stepping down for anyone.

"In fact, I have put my hands on the plough and there is no going back. By the grace of God, we will be in Abuja in 2019.

“It was in the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan’s votes from Delta that made me withdraw from the race, last minute.

"The stability of the state was very important to me. I needed to concentrate on the state and prepare it for a peaceful transition; otherwise, I had all the machinery to win the seat if I had so wanted it like I do now.”

Concerning whether he was scared of the opposition, Uduaghan said: “I have paid my dues in stemming ethnic violence and militia uprising in the creeks to deserve the senatorial seat. How many people can make such sacrifice?

"How can somebody who has fought plenty political battles as a serving governor be scared of anybody? That is very laughable to me.”

The groups agreed that the constituency needed a new face saying they are sure that Uduaghan would help the district to get qualitative representation and that he would empower not just his Itsekiri people but also the Ijaw and Isoko people as he did when he was a two-term governor of the state.

“We had tested your capacity when you were governor we know that the Ijaw nation benefited from your administration.

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"Our son, the current occupant of the seat, who has been there for four tenures has tried his best but it is now time for a new beginning.

"It is the turn of the Itsekiris based on fairness and equity. Your Excellency, you are the new beginning for Delta South,” Revd England asserted.

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Source: Naija.ng