By Rita Enemuru
Former governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has adduced “election fatigue” to why he is not in the race for the 2023 Delta South Senatorial seat.
Uduaghan said this at the 2022 press week of the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Lectures/Award ceremony hels at the Casa de Pedro Hotels, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
He explained that he never picked up a form for the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but while he was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said, “I indicated interest to contest, but at no time did I collect form in the PDP. I only collected in the APC. At no time did I step down. I only stepped aside because of election fatigue”.
According to him, having contested series of elections, he decided to take a bow in elective politics.
Speaking on the topic, “2023 Elections and Role of the Media” the ex-governor joined the recent calls for traditional rulers to be given constitutional roles in governance, stating that with such “power, authority and recognition” security challenges will be curbed to a large extent.
“I feel very sad that we have not given our traditional rulers the special role they should play. I say this because a lot of cases are settled in the palaces.
“Traditional rulership must deal on dictatorship. They should be given the power, authority, recognition to play more roles in the society. I am sure if that is done all these challenges in our society will be reduced,” Uduaghan stated.
He added that by 2023 Nigeria would have enjoyed a 24-year “unbroken democracy,” noting the media has in the period “enjoyed a lot of freedom, unlike in the military”.
