As the forthcoming 2019 general elections draw near, HardReporters can authoritatively report that the Delta state governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of the state, Mr. James Ibori and other top echelons of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in and outside the state have continued to mount pressure on the former governor of the state, Mr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, not to defect from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC).
Former governor Uduaghan, is gunning for the Delta South senatorial district position in the national Assembly in the forthcoming 2019 general elections to displace the sixteenth years incumbent occupier of the seat, Mr. James Manager, who constituents have described as a self centred, greedy and monumental failure among others.
Mr. Uduaghan, who has being enjoying mass supports from constituents across the three ethnicities of the senatorial district since he made his intentions known, though not public yet, had said that the defection development was not accidental as it stemmed from many remote and immediate issues regarding how he had allegedly been unfairly treated by the leadership of the party in the state as well as the state government led by Governor Okowa.
HardReporters can recalled that immediately former governor Uduaghan left office, his successor, governor Okowa and his principal secretary, launched a campaign of calumny and falsehoods as well as series of protests and the use of officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), against him.
“The truth is always bitter but its good to say it. The sins of former governor Uduaghan against “Oga”, that’s governor Okowa, was that in the wake of his governorship ambition, Uduaghan stood against him and tried all means to frustrate him, but God saw him through. Following this and others we might not know, “Oga” has vowed to pay Uduaghan back and that is exactly what has being playing since he resumed office as a governor.
“Oga is also behind the unfair treatment being meted to former governor Uduaghan by the party leadership. Uduagha’s relationship between Oga and the party leadership only appears cordial in the public but behind the scene the relationship is a sour one. Uduaghan was almost disgraced and humiliated during the last Delta state PDP congress that brought in Chief Kingsley Esiso.
“If you watch very well the former governor, Uduaghan was not there because he was denied all his candidates he pushed for but was later ceded only one candidate after much pressure from above. This is how Oga has being humiliating and paying back the former governor. You know governor Okowa is so good at playing vendettive and bitter politics. Even in hundred years, he will still do you back.” a Senior Special Adviser to the governor confided in our correspondent.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that, few months ago, Uduaghan concluded plans to leave the PDP, but former governor of the state, Mr. Ibori and blood cousin to Uduaghan, who is said not to be happy with the maltreatment being given his elder cousin, has continued to mount pressure on his cousin not to defect to the ruling APC.
“I can also tell you that, the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and other leaders and elders of the party both in the state and outside have being begging Dr. Uduaghan profusely not to leave the PDP to APC. But Dr. Uduaghan is still weighing all the pleas and I can assure you that Uduaghan’s last resort as it stands now is APC. We wouldn’t want to take chances, since we know already that governor Okowa is massively supporting Senator James Manager to return to the senate.” a close ally of Ibori stated.
An APC impeccable source who confided in our correspondent disclosed that already, the national leadership of the APC is in touch with former governor Uduaghan to join them adding that, “Just a matter of few days, we shall be having Dr. Uduaghan as our member. Uduaghan is a big fish and his reach is very wide across Delta state and beyond, we know his capacity. We have thrown our door opened for him now.”
