Uduaghan: I Can't Decide Who Would Suceed Me

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Thursday said he was not in a position to determine who his successor in 2015 would be as he was only an individual.

He said although he occupies an important or influential position as the state's chief executive officer, in matters affecting elective positions, he was incapable of solely deciding who should succeed him in office.

Uduaghan, who said this during an audience participation programme on the state's television/radio in Warri, "Ask the Governor," gave kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan for what he called his courageous  move to allow the convocation of a national conference on the Nigerian nation.

He noted that it was a step in the right direction for Mr. President to reckon that Nigerians from diverse culture and background needed a forum to bare their minds on certain fundamental national issues, especially at these trying times in the country.

On security situation in the state, the governor said the state government was doing everything within its power to effectively tackle the security challenges, including ransom kidnapping that had prompted a special security operation in Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area.

Uduaghan said it would be sentimental and laughable to expect the government to halt the current operation in Kokori town on account of the reported protest by some women of the community, who demonstrated topless over alleged militarisation of the town in connection with the arrest of the kidnap kingpin from the area, Kelvin Oniarah.

The governor stressed that the security operation to fish out and prosecute the accomplices of the said Kelvin, using the Kokori area as hideout would continue, "whether women protest nude or not."

He further sued for the cooperation of all law abiding people in Kokori and neighboring communities to rid the area of criminals, saying it was unreasonable and inhuman to call for amnesty for kidnappers.
"I will not support the granting of amnesty to criminals," Uduaghan stressed, asking, "Do you know the number of persons thy have killed? They are not people you treat with kid gloves."

In the same vein, the governor criticised the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Okechukwu Aduba, for reportedly telling journalists that the police had been unable to ascertain the whereabouts of Mrs Mercy Mokobia, who was  kidnapped because the police were not magicians.

Uduaghan said such a statement was unbecoming of a security chief who was employed and being paid to protect lives and property of the citizens.

Mokobia, who is a lecturer in the Delta State University Abraka (DELSU), was kidnapped from her home in April this year and is believed to still be in captivity of her kidnappers despite the concerted efforts by the local ASUU to secure her release from the criminals.