Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has advised the Proprietor of Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi, to first contest as a councillor in his ward, before aspiring to be Governor of the State.
Uduaghan who spoke Friday in Asaba, at a stakeholders meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), advised those who were aspiring for political offices not to be blinded by their political ambitions as to resort to peddling falsehood against government but rather should concentrate on facts and issues.
He debunked the wild allegations of financial mismanagement against the State government by Prof. Utomi, and urged him not sacrifice the truth on the altar of political expediencies.
According to him, “every man has a right to aspire to any political office in the country, but such person must not tell lies about government to achieve his aspiration. Tell the people what you can do for them, do not spread lies.”
The former governor urged the Lagos-based Economist to consider actualizing his political ambition by contesting for Councillorship position so as to get basic facts on issues affecting governance in the State.
He noted that with his experience with Prof. Utomi, he had distinguished himself as someone with great ideas but, did not have the frame of mind for execution.
Uduaghan disclosed that as then Governor of Delta State, his administration made Prof. Utomi chairman and member of several committees as opportunities for him to contribute to the development of the State but said “if Prof. Utomi attends any of the meetings, he will not spend more than five minutes.”
“He bragged about his reach internationally, how he was going to bring international investors and we had to partner with him to organize a business forum outside the country with Nigerians in Diaspora for us to get the investors, but he did not spend five minutes before he left us, no investor came to the State through him.
“You people should ask Prof, ‘where is the Silicon Valley?’ He took us to his home town, Ibusa, for the foundation laying ceremony of Silicon Valley. Till date, there is nothing to show that the project has commenced.
“He has contested for the Presidency, he now wants to be the Governor. But, I think he should start from his Ward, he should contest for Councillor,” Uduaghan taunted Utomi.
He said it was not good to condemn what the incumbent governor was doing because of personal ambition, adding; “Governor Okowa has done excellently well and we should join hands with him to develop the State.”
The former governor, who advised members of the PDP to remain united, urged those in elective or appointive positions to empower Deltans through the spread of democratic dividends.
In his speech, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, urged members of the PDP to open their doors to any Nigerian wishing to join the party, including members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), while the Chairman of the party in the State, Barr. Kingsley Esiso, said the meeting was necessary for members to be abreast with happenings in the party.
Culled from Pm News.
